Director charged over cancelled 2025 food festival

The director of a food and drink festival which was cancelled just weeks before it was due to go ahead is facing court proceedings, trading standards officials confirmed.

The Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival was set to take place between 18-20 July last year at Aireville Park in Skipton, but Staffordshire-based Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd pulled the plug on 4 July 2025.

Its director, Jon Arrowsmith, had since been charged with multiple licensing, advertising and event management offences, North Yorkshire Council's trading standards team said on Wednesday.

Arrowsmith, of Thurlstone Road, Walsall, is expected to appear before York Magistrates' Court on 2 September.

Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd took over the three-day festival in 2024 after former operator B3 Events Ltd went into liquidation.

Cocker Hoop, which also organised Lichfield Food Festival in Staffordshire, promised masterclasses with celebrity chefs such as Hairy Biker Si King, live music and luxury camping.

A fortnight before the event was due to take place, chefs James Martin, Rosemary Shrager and Galton Blackiston announced their withdrawal from the event.

Disco performers Brutus Gold's Love Train also said they would no longer be appearing.

On 4 July 2025, Arrowsmith announced the cancellation of the event, prompting an investigation by the council's trading standards officers.

The investigation led to charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.

Both Arrowsmith and the company are accused of failing to provide the necessary information for an entertainment licence application and not submitting a press notice ahead of a deadline.

They are also accused of offering tickets for sale without providing the correct information about the event and failing to correct Facebook posts advertising appearances of Si King despite the appearance being cancelled.

Arrowsmith and the company allegedly failed to confirm contracts with chefs and other acts who were due to appear at the food and drink festival.

The company has its registered offices at Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre, Lichfield, Staffordshire, the council said.

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