Festival Republic have paid an undisclosed sum for a majority stake in The Big Chill festival and the parent company’s resources are set to bring in a range of new developments.

Owned by Melvyn Benn, Festival Republic have now added The Big Chill to a roster of festivals they have a stake in that includes Glastonbury, Latitute and Reading and Leeds.

Melvyn Benn said, “There aren’t too many great festivals that exist so when one becomes available I am naturally interested”.

Big Chill co-founder Katrina Larkin says the deal has come at an ideal time and means she is now able to focus again on the creative aspects of the business, “We have a very small team who have been doing the festival for 15 years so the deal with Festival Republic has given us the backbone to deliver a great festival”.

Larkin was a partner in the event with the Canteloupe Group bar chain and is still involved in running The Big Chill Bar and the Big Chill House in London, and the new Big Chill Bristol bar.

Katrina Larkin will be at Music South West on 11th November as part of the Association of Independent Festivals panel.

There will be a networking party at the Big Chill Bristol bar for Music South West on the night of 11th and 12th November.