The director of the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, which was cancelled weeks before it was due to take place last summer, has made his first appearance at Crown Court.
Jon Arrowsmith, sole director of Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd, which organised the event, faces multiple charges connected with the organisation and advertising of the festival following an investigation by North Yorkshire Council’s trading standards team.
However, during a brief hearing at Bradford Crown Court, it transpired that he was not represented and so he was not arraigned.
Her Honour Judge Sophie McKone adjourned matters for four weeks until November 19.
The three-day Skipton-based food and drink festival, set for July 18-20 last year, was cancelled just a fortnight before it was due to get underway.
It was to have taken place at Aireville Park for the first time with celebrity chefs, live music, comedians, hundreds of food producers, and camping available in the grounds of The Skipton Academy.
Thousands of people were expected at the event, which promised legendary music acts such as Sister Sledge and Tony Christie, as well as celebrity chefs James Martin – a previous patron of the festival – and Rosemary Shrager.
Mr Martin, Ms Shrager, and fellow chef Galton Blackiston announced they would not be attending two weeks before.
A previous Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival before it was taken over by Cocker Hoop (Image: Submitted)
Music act Brutus Gold's Love Train, which had appeared at previous events, also pulled out.
It is alleged by Trading Standards that Mr Arrowsmith, 59, of Thurlstone, Walsall, Staffordshire, and Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd failed to provide the necessary information for an entertainment licence application as well as not submitting a press notice ahead of a necessary deadline.
It is also alleged that tickets were offered for sale to the public without providing the proper information about the event; and that there was a failure to confirm contracts with chefs and other acts that were due to appear at the festival.
It is additionally alleged that Facebook posts advertising an appearance by television presenter and Hairy Bikers star Si King were not corrected despite it being cancelled.
Cocker Hoop took on the event – which had previously been staged at Funkirk Farm, Carleton – after previous owners Events By B3 went into liquidation in May 2024.
Cocker Hoop Creative’s registered offices are at Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre, Lichfield, in Staffordshire.