Local waste collection company Divert has announced its partnership as the official waste partner of the 2025 Ilkley Beer Festival and Ilkley Half Marathon.
The Ilkley Round Table organises the beer festival and half marathon to raise money for good causes within the local community. Last year the beer festival raised a whopping £55k for local causes, with the half marathon generating £30k, which is expected to rise to £50k in 2025.
This year Divert will be providing bins and waste collections for the events free of charge to help keep the events clean and tidy and ensure as much money as possible is generated for the local community.
Mark Hall, co-founder at Divert comments:
“As a proud Ilkley local, I’m delighted that we can support the beer festival and half marathon. Both events are a staple in the local calendar and help to raise a huge amount of money for our local community.
“Divert is based in West Yorkshire and we’re always on the lookout for ways we can support local causes. By teaming up with the Ilkley Round Table to handle their waste needs free of charge, we can help guarantee that more money flows back into the community.
“At Divert our ethos is all about directing as much waste away from landfill as possible, so it also means we can ensure any waste is disposed of in a responsible method, keeping the events sustainable.”
Ilkley Round Table member Peter Haigh added:
“We’re delighted to have a local company supporting the Ilkley Round Table events. Having Divert provide us with waste collection free of charge has meant that we can eliminate this cost from the events and ensure more of the money we raise goes directly back into the community.
“The support we receive from local companies like Divert helps us to continue to hold our events throughout the year and support well-deserving charities like LS29 Special Needs Support Group, AWARE, and Living Lights among others.”
Ilkley Beer Festival is being held this weekend, 7th and 8th of February at the Kings Hall & Winter Garden. Over the course of the festival, 16,000 pints of beer are drunk and 5,000 Lishmans pies are eaten by revellers turning out to sample the breweries on offer. Tickets for the two Saturday sessions are sold out, with a few available for Friday and can be purchased here.
Taking place on 13th July, Ilkley Half Marathon enters its sixth year with a route that takes runners through the stunning landscapes of West Yorkshire, offering breathtaking views and challenging hills along the way. Participants and spectators can enjoy amazing street food, live music, and family-friendly entertainment. Entries are still open for the 2025 event and more information can be found here.