Statement from the owner
It is with immediate effect that Swingathon announces its separation from the founders of Hob Events as business associates, whilst they conduct business activity using the OnlyFest brand name.
In November 2023, Swingathon engaged the assistance of Hob Events to help coordinate OnlyFest, to be launched at Swingathon 2024.
OnlyFest was designed to run as a subsidiary of Swingathon, as set out in the initial planning stages of the festival in August 2023, with its first launch at Swingathon, July 2024.
This was a verbal and non legally binding agreement between the founders of Swingathon and the directors of Hob Events at the time.
At no point was directorship, business handover or rights ever discussed between the aforementioned parties.
One month after the festival, in August 2024, the two directors of Hob Events informed Swingathon that they had themselves registered OnlyFest as a UK Limited Business under both of their names.This registration took place on the 23rd July 2024.
They additionally Trademarked the event, whilst at the Festival on 19th July 2024, without any consent from Swingathon; adding Matt Cole in November 2024.
Additionally, they then listed Matt Cole as a third director on Companies House on 21st August 2024, without his knowledge or prior consent.
This resulted in an unwarranted and awkward business and legal situation with the directors from Hob Events, thus becoming indirect legal owners of the OnlyFest business name; with no prior control over the operating business itself, including any business management or finance.
After multiple attempts at a reasonable and amicable solution, none was concluded. It was the intention of Swingathon that an amicable resolution would be agreed and that both directors of hob Events would recede and remove the limited business as it wasn’t theirs to list.
After five months of attempted negotiation, it was evident that the founders of Hob Events had no intention of doing the right thing and insisted on continuing with this circumstance.
Whilst the founders of Hob Events continue to use the name OnlyFest indefinitely, And, with all avenues of reconciliation exhausted, the founders of Swingathon have decided to disassociate with Hob Events whilst the case remains with the Legal Team.
I requested my name be removed from Companies House, as I feared that there was a high-risk to business with business activity, including sponsorship being conducted in my name. This was removed on the 6th January 2025.
It remains a concern of Swingathon that business conversations, covering potential sponsorship, have possibly been conducted under the Swingathon name and therefore via proxy and false pretences.
It is with this in mind, Swingathon will be reneging any business associations with Hob Events, due to the business risks associated with this situation and the conduct of its directors.
Please note. Any potential sponsorship discussions or any other business dealings with the remit of OnlyFest before the date of this statement and which have not been in direct discussion with Matt Cole are of no legal binding, written or otherwise.
Traders and sponsors of OnlyFest 2024, who have dealt with Swingathon (Matt Cole) directly are asked to get in touch directly to discuss.