by Sam Hawcroft
The new team behind the Hornsea Bike Show has appealed for more support from bike-related traders, sponsors and volunteers to ensure the success of this summer’s event.
Hornsea Bike Show is set to return on Sunday, August 17, bringing back one of the town’s most popular events after last year’s cancellation.
The show is being revived by a new organisation, Hornsea Events CIC, after the original Hornsea Biker Event was shelved because of the ill health of its previous organisers, the Hornsea Foundation. Now, with a fresh team in place, plans have been well under way since September.
Alan Cusworth, who has been involved since the event’s inception in 2015, is part of the group leading the revival. He said: “People really missed it when it didn’t go ahead last year. It brings thousands into the town, and there was a lot of interest in getting it running again.
“I was contacted by a few people, and we decided to start afresh with a new team. We’ve put together a good committee, and now we’re working hard to make sure it goes ahead successfully.”
While excitement is building for the event’s return, Alan said securing enough bike-related traders and exhibitors had been one of the biggest challenges. He added: “In previous years, we had people say they’d come, and then they just didn’t turn up. That’s frustrating because it’s a key part of the event.
“This year, we’re really keen to get as many bike-related stalls as possible. We don’t even charge some exhibitors, especially if they’re showing bikes, because we just want to make sure they’re there to give people plenty to see.”
The team is also appealing for more volunteers to help with the event, both in the run-up and on the day itself. Alan added: “When you’re organising something this big, you need as many hands as you can get. It’s not just about the event itself – there’s all the planning, admin, setting up, stewarding and packing down afterwards. In the past, it’s often been the same few people doing most of the work, which is tough. The more volunteers we have, the easier it is for everyone.”
Sponsorship is another crucial area where the team needs support. The costs of running the event have risen sharply in recent years, with expenses including road closures, medical cover, security and licences, all of which has to be paid up front before the event even happens.
Hornsea Events was set up as a CIC (community interest company) rather than a charity, a move designed to make the event more sustainable in the long term.
Alan said: “When it was run as a charity, a lot of time was spent on fundraising, which is great, but it made it harder to secure the money needed to actually put the event on. As a CIC, we can focus on making sure the event is financially viable so we can keep it going year after year. If we do really well, we’d love to support local causes, but right now, the priority is making sure the show survives.”
Despite the challenges, the team is optimistic about the event’s future and has been encouraged by the support they have received so far from Hornsea Town Council and the local community. Meetings have been held to drum up interest, and there is already a strong sense of anticipation within the town.
Alan added: “We started planning back in September, and it’s been great to see how many people are excited about it coming back. But we still need more help – from traders, volunteers, auto jumblers and the wider biking community.”
Anyone interested in getting involved can contact the organisers at [email protected] or visit Hornsea Events – Bike Show on Facebook.