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....if there is no money there is no money.
Pride has been rocked by yet another setback after severing ties with one of its biggest supporters.
It is thought Wild Fruit had questioned whether Pride could afford to put on the summer event.
The company, which had been due to run eight bars and a dance tent in Preston Park during the event, has now been told by Pride trustees that its bar contract has been terminated.
The board of trustees said the decision had been made as Aeon Events PR Limited, which owns Wild Fruit, had breached its contract by not paying the first instalment of its £71,000 fee.
But Aeon Events bosses said money had not been paid after Pride refused to show the company their books to prove they could actually afford to host the August 7 spectacular.
Paul Kemp, from Wild Fruit, said: “Since last year’s losses by Pride, we were advised to request to view Pride’s financial situation before handing over not only our own money but that of businesses who sub-contract bars from us.
“We have made it very clear to Pride that, without receiving or viewing written financial reassurances that Pride has enough funding to stage the event in its entirety (including both the dance and cabaret tents), we are not prepared to commit any funds.
“After witnessing the cancellation of the Beachdown festival last year, we felt it only fair that Pride demonstrated to us sufficient funds were in place to stage this year’s event with all the main attractions, and provide insurance cover for our license fee.
“We cannot gamble blindly with both ours and other businesses money, and so it has come as some surprise that we have received written notification from Pride that our bars contract has been terminated.”
Mr Kemp said Aeon Events, which has been involved with Pride since 1995, was disappointed.
He said: “It is saddening to think that this really is the end of a great chapter in Pride’s history, when local LGBT businesses were key to the event and essential funds were raised for our voluntary groups.”
Judith Mason, Pride’s fundraising and communications manager, said: “We have terminated the bar contract with Aeon Events due to a breach of contract, a non-payment.
“At this stage it is unknown about the dance tent.”
Pride has been rocked by yet another setback after severing ties with one of its biggest supporters.
It is thought Wild Fruit had questioned whether Pride could afford to put on the summer event.
The company, which had been due to run eight bars and a dance tent in Preston Park during the event, has now been told by Pride trustees that its bar contract has been terminated.
The board of trustees said the decision had been made as Aeon Events PR Limited, which owns Wild Fruit, had breached its contract by not paying the first instalment of its £71,000 fee.
But Aeon Events bosses said money had not been paid after Pride refused to show the company their books to prove they could actually afford to host the August 7 spectacular.
Paul Kemp, from Wild Fruit, said: “Since last year’s losses by Pride, we were advised to request to view Pride’s financial situation before handing over not only our own money but that of businesses who sub-contract bars from us.
“We have made it very clear to Pride that, without receiving or viewing written financial reassurances that Pride has enough funding to stage the event in its entirety (including both the dance and cabaret tents), we are not prepared to commit any funds.
“After witnessing the cancellation of the Beachdown festival last year, we felt it only fair that Pride demonstrated to us sufficient funds were in place to stage this year’s event with all the main attractions, and provide insurance cover for our license fee.
“We cannot gamble blindly with both ours and other businesses money, and so it has come as some surprise that we have received written notification from Pride that our bars contract has been terminated.”
Mr Kemp said Aeon Events, which has been involved with Pride since 1995, was disappointed.
He said: “It is saddening to think that this really is the end of a great chapter in Pride’s history, when local LGBT businesses were key to the event and essential funds were raised for our voluntary groups.”
Judith Mason, Pride’s fundraising and communications manager, said: “We have terminated the bar contract with Aeon Events due to a breach of contract, a non-payment.
“At this stage it is unknown about the dance tent.”
