Whitby Goth Weekend in October cancelled due to spate of local Covid-19 cases

They had been working with Scarborough Council to conduct a risk assessment for the gathering, but before a decision was reached, more than 10 restaurant, pub and cafe businesses in Whitby announced they were temporarily closing either because staff members had tested positive for Covid-19, or as a precautionary measure.

In respect of the current situation, WGW organisers have now confirmed the event will not go ahead this year after previously implying it was likely to. The April weekend was also cancelled as it fell during the height of lockdown.

A statement on their official Facebook page read: "Obviously our post yesterday was ill-timed and, perhaps, ill-informed. We had all of our ducks lined up but they weren't quite the right ones.

"Our arrangements concerning 2020's Whitby Goth Weekend were made before the news stories (about the businesses closing) broke and paperwork was already being retracted when our social team made the post.

"We were informed at 7pm last night of the severity of the situation in Whitby through, shockingly, formal channels, and not through angry Facebook messages from the usual anti-goth crowd.

"Obviously, we're not foolish enough to hold Goth Weekend during a period of such sudden escalation and, with this in mind, have to revert to our plans for cancellation.

"Our plans are always with the safety of Whitby and the community in mind; something long-term followers of the event should be well aware of. We would never make a decision if we felt it could lead to any form of unnecessary risk and made our original decision based on formal reassurance from our venues.

"We can only apologise for the inconvenience or confusion caused, and sincerely hope the situation - and those affected - sees a strong recovery very soon.

"Balancing the concerns of the local community and the concerns of Whitby's severe drop in tourism coffers isn't always the easiest job.

"Whitby is largely composed of independent businesses, many of whom are particularly vulnerable with the current state of affairs, especially hoteliers who live on their premises.

"We've started contacting major accommodation providers to see if we can negotiate our beloved goths to get longer to settle their balances, and continue to seek logistical support from local authorities."

The rival Tomorrow's Ghosts festival has also been called off.

There have been Covid-19 cases among staff at Coast Cafe Bar and The Horse and Hounds in Hawsker, the George Hotel, French bistro Mademoiselle's, and Egton Bridge-based B&B the Postgate Inn.

Two tearooms - Rusty Shears and Stokers - restaurant Cosa Nostra, bakery Botham's, Mr Cooper's Coffee House, the Coliseum Cafe and pubs The Endeavour and The Black Horse have also closed as a precautionary measure to allow staff to be tested.

Some will close for up to a fortnight to enable staff to isolate and for deep cleaning.