The Hop Festival could turn into no more than a village fete without more support from town centre businesses, warns its director.

David Thompson, who took over the reins three years ago and transformed its financial fortunes, says it is astonishing that so many pubs, restaurants and other businesses contribute nothing when they are making their biggest profit of the year.

He says this year’s volunteer-run festival, on September 3 and 4, is £9,000 under-funded and, with Shepherd Neame and the council only providing part of the cash, it is vital that businesses help.

David, who is also the landlord of the Vaults in Preston Street, Faversham, said: “The money that we make in the pub over the Hop Festival weekend keeps us open for the rest of the year and I have absolutely no doubt that many others experience this as well.

"If funding does not improve, I cannot see how the festival can carry on..." - Director David Thompson

“It is time that everyone gave something back. Everyone takes it for granted. If funding does not improve, I cannot see how the festival can carry on.

“I think we have three options – people step up and help to fund it, it goes back to being a village fete which we can afford, or it stops completely. I do not see any other options available to us.

“It would be such a shame if it had to go back to the small festival it was years and years ago – two stages in the Market Place and a few stalls.”

David runs the Faversham Hop Festival 100 scheme, encouraging businesses to contribute, but, despite delivering information to the places he believes could definitely afford it, he has received little interest or commitment.

He says that the festival makes the Faversham economy stronger and brings in thousands of visitors.

Entertainment director Graham Martin said: “People think that we are making lots of money from the festival or they think the council or the brewery is completely funding it.

“This is not at all the case and people need to start realising that. We put a lot of hard work, time and effort into this festival and would be devastated to see it go, but we need support.

“We would love it if businesses could underwrite the festival, which would mean it could live on for years and years.”

David added: “We are going to have a cracking festival.

“The music of every genre, the entertainment, the food and drink – it is going to be a cracker.

“But people have to wake up to the fact that funding is a problem and we cannot afford to carry on like this.”