For information on the 2009 Liquorice Festival, 
please go to 

http://www.experiencewakefield.co.uk/events/

 Click on "search events".  In the "event category" box - click "Fairs, Festivals & Markets" and in the "location box" type "Pontefract"

Please note Pontefract Liquorice Trust no longer manages the Liquorice Festival.  Please direct all 2009 festival enquiries to Wakefield Council. Contacts: Visitors to the festival please visit the Experience Wakefield website (details above) All other enquiries please contact Debbie McKeith,  Wakefield Council, Email: debbiemckeith@wakefield.gov.uk

Site owned by Pontefract Liquorice Trust

(Please note Pontefract Liquorice Trust no longer manages the Liquorice Festival. 

Please direct all 2009 festival enquiries to Wakefield Council) 

• Last up-date 3rd March 2009

free hit counters

itinerary

PREss release - March 09

Wakefield Council to manage 2009 Pontefract Liquorice Festival

Since the Liquorice Trust took over management of the Pontefract Liquorice Festival in 2003, the festival has gone from strength to strength with audiences peaking at 25,000 in 2008.  This is due to the sheer determination of a hand full of local volunteers backed by the event management expertise of local arts company, Faceless.  In the past, the festival has enjoyed the financial backing of Arts Council England - Yorkshire, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Awards for All and Wakefield Council.  However, the nature of short term project funding is that organisations can not keep re-applying to the same funding pots each year and, despite numerous bids to trusts and foundations, PLT's funds have dried up. Last year, PLT matched donations from Wakefield Council with their own reserves. 

In a recent meeting between PLT, Denise Jeffery, Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration Culture and Sport, and local councillors Mark Crowther and Clive Tennant, it was agreed that PLT hand over project management of the Liquorice Festival to the council's events team.

Kebir Berry, Vice Chair of Pontefract Liquorice Trust stated, "this is a sad day for PLT as we have worked so hard in the past to ensure the success of the festival, but we are pleased that the local authority's events team have ensured us that Pontefract Liquorice Festival will continue to thrive under Wakefield Council's stewardship."