Crime Writing Festival 22 – 25 July 2010

When the good people of the Harrogate International Festival first approached me in 2004 with the idea of becoming involved in their embryonic plans for a crime writing festival, a possible justification did not at first appear obvious. I asked for a little time to reflect.

That evening, over a glass of Old Peculier, as I enjoyed the wondrous mystery of the flavour therein, I was struck by the similarities of Old Peculier and a good crime novel. As with any captivating mystery, the answer is not immediately obvious, it is only after the plot unfolds that the true potential of the story appears. So to with Old Peculier, the full majesty of the taste is only appreciated after a few moments contemplation as the complex flavours unfold, leading to a totally satisfactory conclusion.

Warming to the theme, it further occurred to me that it was in Harrogate (home to the Crime Writing Festival and within close proximity to our brewery, based in Masham) where one of the greatest crime novelists of all, Agatha Christie, went missing and was subsequently discovered. Theakston has a close association with Harrogate which has a lot in common with Masham. They are two of the most beautiful towns in the county and both attract visitors from all over the country, and indeed the world, to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the countryside beyond.

The final compelling case in favour of our involvement was secured with the realisation that both the Festival and Theakston Old Peculier have a very large number of devoted fans from overseas and in particular from the United States, reflecting the international appeal of our two organisations. And so the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Festival was born!
Continue the story.