Major festival will not be held at Bradford Live during City of Culture year

ORGANISERS say a major festival planned to take place at Bradford Live during City of Culture year will now be held elsewhere - amid "stonewalling" from the NEC Group.

Senior members of Bradford Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) told the Telegraph & Argus the organisation's national Great British Beer Festival Winter was due to be held at the city centre venue in February next year.

But as silence from the NEC Group over its commitment to Bradford Live continues, CAMRA has had no option but to move the 2025 event to a venue outside the city, the T&A has been told.

Ricky Holden, a long-serving member of Bradford CAMRA, described the news as "disastrous" for Bradford, saying the festival would have brought large numbers of people to the city.

He said he hoped the event may be able to take place at Bradford Live after 2025, however.

Bradford Live is a major regeneration project in the heart of the city (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Holden said: "CAMRA's national Great British Beer Festival Winter - which was due to be held at Bradford Live in February next year - has been relocated to a venue outside of Bradford.

"Bradford Live was the first choice for this premium event.

"CAMRA had been negotiating its booking for around three years.

"Despite having almost agreed terms with the NEC Group and obtaining full support from Bradford Council, the operator was not willing to make contractual commitments for the event.

"Everyone's being stonewalled by the NEC Group.

"We couldn't wait any longer and we've now had to move to another venue elsewhere."

He added: "It's disastrous for Bradford.

"This big event would have brought thousands of people to the city.

"Local businesses, therefore, will lose out on lots of footfall.

"It's such a shame.

"It would have been perfect holding this event at Bradford Live as part of City of Culture year.

"We can only hope we'll be able to hold the event there in future years."

Peter Down, another senior member of Bradford CAMRA, also told of his disappointment.

Peter Down, of Bradford CAMRA, at a previous festival (Image: Archive)

He said: "With Bradford Live opening and Bradford being City of Culture, we thought it would be perfect holding this national event in Bradford in 2025.

"We had our fingers crossed it was going to happen.

"Everything was going well until we started having issues with communication with the NEC Group.

"It got to the point where we needed enough time to organise things so unfortunately we ended up having to pull the plug on holding it at Bradford Live."

A spokesperson for CAMRA said the organisation was yet to publicly announce where the Great British Beer Festival Winter would be held in 2025.

The news comes weeks after the first two shows announced at Bradford Live - a couple of tribute acts - were cancelled.

The Birmingham-based NEC Group - which was soon due to take over the building as operator before opening Bradford Live later this year as a major entertainment venue - has repeatedly declined to confirm its commitment to the project.

The T&A approached the NEC Group and asked for a response to the concerns raised by Bradford CAMRA. No response was provided.

Bradford Council was also asked for a comment but no statement was given.

Last week, the T&A spoke to Bradford Live director Chris Morrell, who said the old Odeon building "certainly will" open as an entertainment venue.

Mr Morrell said there was "a lot of conversation going on" in the background and added: "The contract with the NEC Group is still in place and they're due to take over the building and commence a fit-out once we hand over to them within a few weeks' time."

Asked if Bradford Live would launch later this year as previously announced, Mr Morrell said he could not address that question "at the moment".

He did not comment on the events which had been cancelled.

Mr Morrell said the "finishing touches" were being applied to Bradford Live and added: "We're looking forward to showing it off to everyone.

"The scale and flexibility of the venue will make it the best of its kind in northern England.

"I think everyone will be astounded at how spectacular it is.

"It'll be a fabulous venue."