Doune the Rabbit Hole music festival creator Craig Murray admits 'fault' as repayment plan confirmed

The creator of Doune the Rabbit Hole has taken responsibility for the music festival going “bust” and confirmed a repayment plan to those owed money.

Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival Ltd entered liquidation in December, two months after being accused of failing to pay artists and production staff who operated at the site in both 2021 and 2022.

In December, a spokesperson told STV News that “supply chain issues” had affected income levels, which did not allow the business to cover the budgeted costs outlined for the 2022 event.

The festival, which was headlined last year by Amy Macdonald and Belle and Sebastian, has since relaunched under the previous management of Festival Beverage and Property Services Ltd – which operated the 2018 and 2019 editions of the site.

Craig Murray, the former diplomat and blogger behind the company, revealed on Twitter that financial issues which led to the festival’s liquidation were “his fault”.

He said: “I have spent the last three weeks battling (I think now successfully) to keep the Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival going, it has been taking up about ten hours a day, seven days a week.

“I try to help. It went bust last year which was my fault.

“It made huge losses from two Covid cancellations and the only way I could see to recover its losses was to go much bigger. But that didn’t work, it didn’t sell the tickets we needed to.”

Mr Murray revealed that the company has reached resolution with the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union and the Musicians Union (MU) on the holding of the festival in 2023, following an agreement of a three-year repayment plan.

This was confirmed by the MU, which revealed that any workers at the event will now be offered 100% deposits upfront, but “urged” any potential performers at the festival to speak to the union before accepting work.

A statement read: “BECTU and the MU recently met with representatives from Doune the Rabbit Hole who informed us of their plans to repay their creditors over the next three years through the liquidation process which is currently ongoing.

“The festival also provided assurances that anyone performing or being engaged to work at the festival this year will be offered 100% deposits up front.

“We continue to urge BECTU members to speak to us if considering accepting any work at the festival.”