Police investigate ‘number’ of complaints over cancellation of Padstow Christmas Festival

A number of complaints have been made to police about the Padstow Christmas Festival, the force has confirmed. Traders who paid thousands of pounds in deposits just to have the event canceled have reported the issue in the hope of a solution.

After being told they wouldn’t get a penny back, despite the event not taking place in 2024, with the organizer saying it used the money from this year’s deposit to pay bills from last year’s event.

Devastated traders, however, accused the organizer of fraud saying this should never have happened. Some claim that they took out the money just days and weeks before the cancellation, thinking that the cancellation was already pending.

READ MORE: Urgent hunt for car used in dramatic gas station raid

READ MORE: Fears the Cornish family’s holiday home will cause the cliff to collapse

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Since notification of the cancellation of Padstow Christmas Market in 2024, police have received a number of complaints. Investigations are ongoing at this time.”

Merchants say they understand all details have been forwarded to the police department’s fraud squad. Anyone affected is urged to get in touch by calling 101 and quoting reference number 257140524.

News of the event’s cancellation first emerged in early May, with the organizer citing rising costs and a lack of sponsorship as the reason. The prized event, which brought thousands of people to the area for the festive season each year and massively boosted the local economy, was reportedly set for its 17th year.

In the days that followed, heartbroken traders who had recently paid deposits for the Christmas Market portion of the four-day event demanded answers about whether they would get their money back. It was soon confirmed that there was no money to return.

More than 60 traders were believed to have secured places for this year’s market, which is due to take place between December 4 and 8, with a sizeable deposit. An initial email informing them of the cancellation failed to address what would happen to any deposits and left them understandably concerned.

Tina Evans, the organizer of the event since its inception, later also said that she also lost this money due to paying various bills before the event. It later emerged that no business or service provider had yet paid deposits prior to their involvement later this year.

This led to pocket traders still demanding to know where their money went. Ms Evans then confirmed she had used this year’s money to pay off old debts, apologizing. She said she was “very upset” and felt the traders were “not interested in (her) suffering”.

This came as she claimed she used deposits paid to secure a market place for 2024 to pay off outstanding debts from last year’s event. “I’m so sorry you got hurt,” she wrote in an email, which can be read here.

“I wouldn’t have wished it on the world, but I did and I still feel like it was the right decision. This left all summer to recoup any financial loss you suffered. You have such a great deal and I know you will enjoy it. successful. I’m really, really sorry.”

It was never confirmed which sponsors were said to have pulled out of the event, but main sponsor Sharp’s Brewery confirmed it was not one of them. He said he was “deeply saddened” by the decision.

Join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and be the first to hear what’s happening near you