Another crisis for Stratford BID as event planner pulls out of Stratford Food Festival which was meant to go ahead on 16th and 17th September

Businesses have been left reeling, particularly those that have ordered extra stock in anticipation of increased trade. Sarah Louise of Mr Simms sweet shop described the decision as a “joke” and said: “I have £1,500 of chocolates that were ordered for our stall that I'm now stuck with - at a time when my business is already struggling. I have absolutely no words.”

News emerged that the food festival was in jeopardy after Cocker Hoop Creative, who were working with Stratford BID to help put it on, sent an email to businesses on Tuesday morning sharing the bombshell news of its withdrawal.

Announcing a “postponement until July 2024”, the email said: “This has been an extremely tough decision to make and over the last few days we have been working with Stratford BID, our partners in the activity, in trying to find a workable solution to the issues we have raised, however this has not been fruitful.”

When pressed on what the “issues” might involve Cocker Hoop director Jon Arrowsmith told the Herald: “The decision is due to factors we were struggling to work alongside – and these are deliverable timescales – it’s a really hard thing to explain.

“We required information on where businesses were going to be sited, and we didn’t get that so that gave us a delay. For us, when we do these events, it’s important that we get all the information so that we can then give the traders the information they require.”

He added: “I don’t want to apportion blame at all.”

Cocker Hoop pointed to its successful track record in putting on events such as the Lichfield Food Festival over the last few years.

Mr Arrowsmith said it wasn’t a fear for his company’s reputation that led them to make the decision to pull the plug on their involvement with Stratford, but because he was concerned about the impact of not having a “polished” festival would have on the town.

“I was worried that it wouldn’t show Stratford as one of the foodie places around. It needed a rethink and a regroup on how the event was delivered and we are still intending to deliver it, but at a later time.

“We took the decision it would be better to delay it and produce a polished event than have something that we wouldn’t deliver in other areas.”

He added that his company offered to help BID organise the food festival after hearing how previous BID manager Diane Mansell dramatically quit in March, leaving the future of the town’s festivals in doubt.

Mr Arrowsmith explained: “We reached out to them in May and said, ‘We’d like to help you and support you.’ We understand that they’re up for re-ballot and they need all the support they can get, although we don’t want to get involved in politics.”

It is understood that while Cocker Hoop was not being paid by BID, it was set to make a profit from charging stalls – at £125 a day it could add up to thousands of pounds.

Many critics on social media this week questioned why BID had not been able to organise its own food festival and pointed to the successful food festivals going ahead at Shipston, Alcester and Leamington this month.

Another hindrance to any plans to just forge ahead is the fact that BID has apparently been left with all but one of its ambassadors – at one point there were four – leaving them short staffed.

As the Herald went to press the tone of the statements made by both Cocker Hoop and BID became more acrimonious.

Mr Arrowsmith initially maintained: “BID have been very understanding of our reasons for pulling out and have been really supportive. We feel we need more time on to get things right, and look forward to putting on the food festival in July 2024.”

However in a brief statement released on Tuesday, BID did not sound particularly understanding. A spokesperson said: “Today, we were made aware that Cocker Hoop Creative have taken the decision not to run the Stratford Food Festival due to logistical issues.

“We are surprised and disappointed that they have decided to pull out of organising the event at this eleventh hour. We are currently in talks with other possible providers to see if there is any way the event can go ahead as scheduled or at a later date.”

They added: “Contrary to reports, there is no arrangement for Cocker Hoop Creative to run a BID event in Stratford in July 2024.”

On Wednesday Mr Arrowsmith hit back on social media, and said: “We never stated the 2024 food festival would be in conjunction with BID but as a private-run event, which we have already made mention of this to the council.”

Town centre businesses pay a levy to BID in order for them to create trading opportunities and improve things like footfall. Businesses vote every five years on whether to retain a BID. The next ballot is in February 2024.

The events this week have done nothing to assuage the negative comments BID faces from rival factions, such as BAGS (Business Action Groups Stratford) which campaigns against BID’s re-election.

Among those calling for the BID board to step down is businessman and former mayor and BID board member Kevin Taylor.

He said: “In the BID business plan for term three they boasted of all the things you wouldn’t have without them: town hosts, food festival, river festival, motoring festival and safer streets, to mention just a few – we currently have none of this.

“It’s time for a radical change, it has been blatantly obvious for a very long time that this organisation is incapable of delivering in its current format.”

Mr Taylor finished: “It’s time the board did the honourable thing and stand down and let a new organisation be created with a greater emphasis on business and community to create the best town centre in the UK.”