A LICHFIELD business and its boss have been charged with a number of offences connected to the cancellation of an event in Yorkshire.
Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd and its director Jon Arrowsmith had been due to stage the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival in July 2025.
But the event was cancelled by the company just weeks before – a move which also saw Lichfield District Council block the business from continuing to run the Lichfield Food and Drink Festival with management instead taken in-house.
North Yorkshire Council's Trading Standards officers launched an investigation following the cancellation of the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, which has led to a number of charges for both Arrowsmith, of Thurlstone Road in Walsall, and the company:
- Failing to provide the necessary information for an entertainment licence application and not submitting a press notice ahead of a necessary deadline.
- Offering tickets for sale to the public without providing the correct information about the event.
- Failing to confirm contracts with chefs and other acts who were due to appear at the food and drink festival.
- Failing to correct Facebook posts advertising an appearance of television presenter Simon King despite the appearance being cancelled.
Arrowsmith has been summoned to appear in court before York magistrates on 2nd September.
