Skiddle has taken outside funding for the first time in 25 years. UK investment firm Soho Square Capital has bought a minority stake in the ticketing platform, while founders Ben Sebborn and Richard Dyer will keep control of the business.
The amount of cash involved remains private. But the deal gives Skiddle fresh funding for a five-year plan focused on tech, marketing, new event types, and growth across Europe.
Comedy, theater, sports, and food events are high on the list. Skiddle wants to reach more than its core crowd of music fans, clubgoers, and festival lovers. The aim is to help users find a wider range of things to do while giving independent event hosts more ways to sell tickets.
Europe is another big target. Skiddle already operates in the Republic of Ireland and tourist spots such as Ibiza, Mallorca, Malta, Tenerife, and Marbella. Its new investor brings links to other firms with experience moving into European markets.
And the founders seem keen to keep their independence. Sebborn and Dyer say they chose Soho Square because it backs their vision without taking charge. They also want to give small promoters better tools and reach more fans.
There's a fair bit of history behind the deal. Sebborn and Dyer launched Skiddle in Preston in 2001 as a guide to local events. Ticket sales became part of the service in 2006, and the site grew into a major independent name in UK live entertainment.
The numbers give some context. Skiddle says it sold £178 million worth of tickets at face value in 2025, with 180,000 events on its site. Its promoter retention rate reached 98%, while annual revenue growth averaged over 20% across the prior two years.
That 98% figure stands out. It means most event hosts stayed with the platform, based on Skiddle's data. The company has also teamed up with the Association of Independent Festivals to fund memberships and offer marketing help for smaller UK festivals.
Meanwhile, the UK ticketing scene has seen some major deals. Fever bought DICE in 2025 after the latter had raised over $200 million from investors. Skiddle's move comes as platforms seek more reach in a busy live events market.
Across Europe, CTS Eventim is a major rival. The firm reported €3.08 billion ($3.48 billion) in 2025 revenue and calls itself the region's top ticketing and live entertainment company. Skiddle will face firms with far greater scale as it grows abroad.
The wider UK market has been growing as well. Industry group LIVE put consumer spending on live events at £6.68 billion in 2024, up 9.5%. At the same time, Live Nation has faced the risk of a UK competition probe over its role in live music.
For Soho Square, the appeal lies in backing a business that its founders still run. Director Joe Tebbutt sees Skiddle's ties with fans and promoters as a major asset, and the investment firm plans to support growth without taking full control.
Soho Square is based in London and backs midsize firms across Britain and Northern Europe. Its deals often mix senior or preferred funding with small equity stakes. The group can invest up to £40 million per deal, and its team has worked together for over 15 years.
Management will stay much the same. Sebborn and Dyer remain in charge alongside finance chief Peter Hinnigan, while Tebbutt gets a seat on Skiddle's board. This is the second deal made through Soho Square Partnership Capital Fund II.
Skiddle has the funding and a plan to enter more markets. Its next test is whether it can grow beyond its music roots while keeping the close ties with independent promoters that helped build the platform.
The amount of cash involved remains private. But the deal gives Skiddle fresh funding for a five-year plan focused on tech, marketing, new event types, and growth across Europe.
Comedy, theater, sports, and food events are high on the list. Skiddle wants to reach more than its core crowd of music fans, clubgoers, and festival lovers. The aim is to help users find a wider range of things to do while giving independent event hosts more ways to sell tickets.
Europe is another big target. Skiddle already operates in the Republic of Ireland and tourist spots such as Ibiza, Mallorca, Malta, Tenerife, and Marbella. Its new investor brings links to other firms with experience moving into European markets.
And the founders seem keen to keep their independence. Sebborn and Dyer say they chose Soho Square because it backs their vision without taking charge. They also want to give small promoters better tools and reach more fans.
There's a fair bit of history behind the deal. Sebborn and Dyer launched Skiddle in Preston in 2001 as a guide to local events. Ticket sales became part of the service in 2006, and the site grew into a major independent name in UK live entertainment.
The numbers give some context. Skiddle says it sold £178 million worth of tickets at face value in 2025, with 180,000 events on its site. Its promoter retention rate reached 98%, while annual revenue growth averaged over 20% across the prior two years.
That 98% figure stands out. It means most event hosts stayed with the platform, based on Skiddle's data. The company has also teamed up with the Association of Independent Festivals to fund memberships and offer marketing help for smaller UK festivals.
Meanwhile, the UK ticketing scene has seen some major deals. Fever bought DICE in 2025 after the latter had raised over $200 million from investors. Skiddle's move comes as platforms seek more reach in a busy live events market.
Across Europe, CTS Eventim is a major rival. The firm reported €3.08 billion ($3.48 billion) in 2025 revenue and calls itself the region's top ticketing and live entertainment company. Skiddle will face firms with far greater scale as it grows abroad.
The wider UK market has been growing as well. Industry group LIVE put consumer spending on live events at £6.68 billion in 2024, up 9.5%. At the same time, Live Nation has faced the risk of a UK competition probe over its role in live music.
For Soho Square, the appeal lies in backing a business that its founders still run. Director Joe Tebbutt sees Skiddle's ties with fans and promoters as a major asset, and the investment firm plans to support growth without taking full control.
Soho Square is based in London and backs midsize firms across Britain and Northern Europe. Its deals often mix senior or preferred funding with small equity stakes. The group can invest up to £40 million per deal, and its team has worked together for over 15 years.
Management will stay much the same. Sebborn and Dyer remain in charge alongside finance chief Peter Hinnigan, while Tebbutt gets a seat on Skiddle's board. This is the second deal made through Soho Square Partnership Capital Fund II.
Skiddle has the funding and a plan to enter more markets. Its next test is whether it can grow beyond its music roots while keeping the close ties with independent promoters that helped build the platform.
