Proceeds from the upcoming Lakes Hospitality Trade Show will provide a cash boost for four events in the county.
Cumbria’s lonest running trade show returns to the Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre near Kendal for its record-breaking 48th year on February 26 and 27, with a commitment to ploughing back any income generated over the two days back into the county’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Following a formal application process, it’s been revealed that four event organisers will each receive marketing grants from a pot of £10,000 – directly from the show’s proceeds – to help draw in visitors from Cumbria, the North West and further afield.
The 2025/26 recipients are Ulverston International Music Festival, Ambleside Sports, The Derwentwater Head rowing event and a new exhibition at The Dock Museum in Barrow.
To qualify for the funding, applicants were asked to demonstrate how their events would benefit local businesses and achieve significant visitor for the local economy.
Each successful applicant will now benefit from a package of PR and marketing activity to promote their event, delivered by Cumbria Tourism’s marketing and communications team.
It follows similar grants awarded by the Lakes Hospitality Association in the previous 12 months for the Westmorland Dales Festival, Keswick Film Festival, Muncaster Castle Sausage Festival and Amblefest.
The news comes as the final countdown to the Lakes Hospitality Trade Show is well underway, with 160 companies expected to exhibit to around 1,800 delegates attending across two days.
The free-to-attend event will bring together a wealth of knowledge, expertise and innovation in one place through the exhibition stands, kitchen demonstration theatre, talks and a new food hub.
Sarah Tasker, of the Lakes Hospitality Association, says, “The Lakes Hospitality Trade Show is a not-for-profit event and in these challenging economic times, it’s vitally important that we continue to reinvest money back into the industry, so we can help give businesses and supply chain companies the practical support they need to thrive for the future.
“All four of this year’s grant recipients have shown a real dedication to creating a fantastic visitor experience, generating real benefits for our local businesses and communities. So we are thrilled to be offering this helping hand to maximise those benefits for the wider hospitality industry!
“Of course, this ethos is reflected in the show itself, which is all about coming together to find support by sharing knowledge, asking questions and catching up with like-minded businesses of all shapes and sizes who are also interested in the latest trends and innovations.
“We’re particularly excited to host a brand new food hub bursting with local produce, created to promote smaller foodie businesses looking to increase their reach and profile. We look forward to opening the doors for 2025!”
