Brighton and Hove City Council has confirmed that marathon organisers will need to pay their debts to this year’s winners before they can return for the 2023 event.

This comes as Grounded Events said they were “extremely confident” that Brighton Marathon would return next year, despite financial difficulties and controversy over money owed.

In a statement this morning, the council said: “We have made it clear to Grounded Events that their obligations will need to be met before we consider granting permission to use council land for future events.”

The organisers are yet to confirm when people owed money will be paid.

The council said it is working with the events business to support them where possible, but added “we are not responsible for their finances or chasing debts owed by them.”

Grounded Events put their financial difficulties down to the pandemic, rising costs and fewer entrants.