Pocklington has become the first town in East Yorkshire to declare its intention to bid for UK Town of Culture 2028, placing it among the early entrants nationally.

The town’s bid is firmly rooted in community spirit, social cohesion, and delivering lasting benefits for residents, community organisations, and local businesses.

The bid is being led by Pocklington Rugby in the Community — a well-established independent local charity and recipient of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service — with strong support from Pocklington Town Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. This partnership structure provides long-term stability and consistency, helping to build a strong and deliverable programme of events while creating a lasting cultural legacy for the town.

The next stage of the process is the submission of an Expression of Interest by 31 March 2026.

To shape the bid, PRITC Chair Andy Bowden and Town Mayor Roly Cronshaw, supported by advisers, have undertaken extensive consultation with residents, community groups, organisations, and local businesses. The feedback has highlighted the deep pride people feel for Pocklington and has generated a wealth of ideas for a vibrant cultural programme in 2028.

The bid has also received strong endorsements from individuals and organisations working across culture, sport, and the environment. Supporters include Paul Banks, lead guitarist of Shed Seven; BBC One Show wildlife filmmaker and artist Robert Fuller; former England rugby international Rob Webber, Jon Traill of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust; and the town’s MP, The Rt Hon Sir David Davis, among others.

Andy Bowden, Chair of Pocklington Rugby in the Community said: “The moment we saw the Town of Culture bid announced we knew this was a great opportunity for our town.

An enormous amount of background research has been undertaken over the course of the last 6 weeks, with the bid team working tirelessly to ensure we represent the views of all our community and developing a structured base for the delivery of a fully inclusive and expansive programme for 2028 and beyond. We will continue to engage with the community at all stages and are confident we and the town will succeed."

Cllr Roly Cronshaw, Mayor of Pocklington, said: “As we approach the submission of our Expression of Interest for UK Town of Culture 2028, it has been incredibly encouraging to see how the town has come together in support of the bid. Community groups, businesses and residents have all shown real enthusiasm and pride in Pocklington, and that shared spirit has already strengthened the sense of cohesion across the town. Whatever the outcome, the process has already demonstrated the strength of our community and the pride people have in Pocklington’s culture and heritage.”

For further information see our Instagram and Facebook or email Andy Bowden at chair@pockritc.com