Sponsors…
T&R Theakston LTD…
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is produced by the arts charity Harrogate International Festivals and includes a suite of three prestigious crime awards designed to support and celebrate authors at every stage of their career:
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction and the McDermid Debut.
We are proud to partner with the following organisations who support the delivery of the Theakston Old Peculier Awards.
Festival sponsor since 2004, Theakston Old Peculier beer is a world-famous, multi-award winning beer brewed by T&R Theakston Ltd. The company is one of the UK’s most famous and highly regarded traditional beer brewers. Theakston was established in Masham, North Yorkshire in 1827 by Robert Theakston and today is still controlled and managed by his direct descendants. Theakston Old Peculier is one of several, nationally available beer brands in their portfolio. The Company is renowned for its support in the community in cultural, sports and legacy activity, of which the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is the most prominent.
“When the sponsorship of the Festival was first proposed, a small conundrum was presented. In what way can we further associate drinking Old Peculier with reading a crime novel. This was tackled in the way that only these things can be done – with a glass of Old Peculier whilst in contemplatory mood with a little time on one’s hands.
““The parallels between drinking Old Peculier and a good crime novel became immediately obvious!” ”
The striking initial taste sensation soon developed into something magnificent as the full flavour of the beer opened out in all its glory with rich warming fruity full-bodied resonance before mellowing into a deeply satisfying finish. That was the Eureka moment! The perfect crime novel does not have the ‘whodunit’ on page one. After a gripping opening scene, the reader is drawn into the story with all its facets, experiencing, the characters, the plotting, the scenes and only at the end of the book, when the conclusion has been reached, the reader will then experience the satisfaction of the mystery solved. The parallels between drinking Old Peculier and good crime novel became immediately obvious!” – Simon Theakston
Theakston Old Peculier has been the title sponsor of the Crime Writing Festival since almost day one. The status of the Festival in the world of publishing grows in stature year after year, greatly enhanced by the Theakston Old Peculier stable of awards, the most wanted prizes in crime fiction.
Our Award Media Partner…
Our Award Bookseller Partner…
