Following the termination of the contract with Aeon Events Limited to supply the bars at Preston Park during Pride’s Summer Festival, Pride in Brighton & Hove has appointed 19Events Ltd, a local LGBT company.

The parting of the ways with Aeon Events came after months of protracted discussions during which Pride sought to accommodate a range of issues raised by the contractor.

“We are really disappointed not to be able to continue working with Aeon Events.  The company and its principle Paul Kemp have been outstanding supporters of Pride over the years.”

“Pride endeavoured to address all of Aeon’s concerns and even awarded the company a year’s extension to their existing contract as a gesture of goodwill and faith in them as a valued contractor, however they continued to withhold the contracted payments to Pride, the first of which was due in March.” said Robert Clothier, Chair of Pride.

“This was a clear breach of their contract terms. The contract fee received for the bars franchise is just one of the ways that we pay for the event and Aeon’s non-payment could have jeopardized the 2010 event.”

Aeon Events Ltd were given a final deadline to make the payments or risk losing their contract. They failed to meet the 11th May deadline and Pride terminated the contract with them and has subsequently sought alternative arrangements.

“We have had a number of companies seeking to become Pride’s bars contractor and we are pleased to have been able to conclude an agreement with 19 Events Ltd.  With this major issue satisfactorily resolved and our sponsorship figure already higher than last year’s record amount of £109,000, Pride and (No) Prejudice promises to be a great success on all fronts,” said Robert Clothier.