AN 'urgent call' has gone out for a buyer to save Skipton's Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival.

Events By B3 Ltd, organisers of the event, described as the 'UK's largest food and drink festival', has ceased trading with immediate effect and will enter liquidation.

Founded in 2015, the three-day festival expanded rapidly and was held at at Funkirk Farm, off the A59 between Broughton and Skipton, after initially taking place at Skipton Auction Mart. 

The festival, which is held during the third weekend in July attracted more than 30,000 visitors, 200 exhibitors and offered a diverse schedule of bands, street food, pop-up restaurants, workshops, food tasting and masterclasses from leading food and drink celebrities, including James Martin and the Hairy Bikers. It is estimated to have generated around £7m for the local economy.

Last year's event was however seriously affected by flooding which led to unforeseen costs making the event loss making.

This had a major impact on cash flow in the company in the latter part of last year which continued into 2024 and with ticket revenue being behind where it should be at this time of year the difficult decision was taken by the directors to cease trading.

Jonathan Amor and Richard Oddy, licensed Insolvency Practitioners with Azets have been engaged to manage the Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (CVL).

The proposed Joint Liquidators are urging interested parties to make contact as soon as possible to maximise the chances of securing the future of the festival.

Mr Amor, Head of Restructuring for Azets in Yorkshire said: “The Yorkshire Food and Drink Festival is the largest event of its kind in the UK and regarded for the contribution it makes to the local economy.

"Unfortunately, the business has been suffering from unsustainable financial problems and the directors decided that it would be in the best interests for all creditors for the company to cease trading and be placed into liquidation.

“The festival has now ceased trading and steps will be taken to market the assets for sale including the brand, intellectual property, digital platform, data and essential infrastructure such as marquees, tents and staging. We ask that interested parties contact the Leeds office of Azets as soon as possible.”

Unless an interested party comes forward to resurrect the festival unfortunately the event in July will not take place. Customers are encouraged to check with their credit or debit card providers if they can claim a refund by making a charge-back request on their purchase.