WentFest founders admit festival future uncertain
Festival goers may have seen the last of WentFest when the curtain came down on last weekend's music and comedy event.
Organisers Toby Foster and his partner Steve White appear to have accepted that the finances just do not stack up despite the fact the Hooton Roberts event in Rotherham had been "another great day, another great year."
Five days before the event Foster did his best to promote last minute ticket sales for a gig featuring headliner Jason Donovan, some of the Phoenix Nights cast, Chrissy Rock, Justin Moorhouse and Charlie Chuck.
But he admitted public perception might be a problem saying: "I don’t think people realise just how much there is at WentFest this year… events like this only happen if people support them."
Within a few hours of WentFest 2026 closing on Saturday, Foster posted on social media: "Me and Steve are so proud of the work that the brilliant team we put together have done over the past nine years.
"Unfortunately we've nothing left to sell/pawn/remortgage so we can't see how we can do another one, but that's the way it goes.
"To everyone who came and partied with us, thanks for being part of the family."
Last year, the BBC broadcaster admitted the annual shindig had never broken even saying they needed "to make sure that it can now sell enough tickets to support itself, which it hasn’t done so far."
There was an immediate public response online to the suggestion that there will be no WentFest 2027, with some fans pleading for a 10th edition, while others suggested its best days were staged on the front lawns at Wentworth Woodhouse, before moving to Hooton Lodge Farm in 2023.
One person suggested a slimmed-down version on fields in Harley might be the way ahead.
Another enthusiast, Andy Banks, posted: "Been some brilliant memories made over the past 9 years Toby! Be very proud. But just 1 more maybe..."
Kay Tasker-Smith agreed: "It was a wonderful day, so thank you so much for all the work you put into it. Obviously it would be wonderful to have on next year."
But Charlotte Schofield seemed to accept the inevitable: "You guys have created something incredible! Gutted it won’t make it to the 10th year but you definitely went out with a bang!"
David Scrivens concluded: "If this was the last one at least you can hold your heads up high and say you have given it your best shot. Fantastic day out… shame people don't understand what a fantastic day out WentFest is."