Council cutbacks force rethink over charges for historic venue

A REVISED strategy has been drawn up for one of Yorkshire’s landmark entertainment venues after a financial safety-net was removed by a cash-starved council, leaving theatre promoters at greater risk of losses.

The detailed proposals for the Royal Hall in Harrogate are aimed at ensuring the grade II* listed building is now opened for dozens of community events each year while also remaining financially viable.

The move comes after funding totalling nearly £150,000 from Harrogate Borough Council will not be repeated during the forthcoming financial year, prompting a new sliding scale of charges for renting the venue.

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A deal for Harrogate Theatre to take over the day-to-day running of the Royal Hall was approved by councillors in January, while the updated proposals are now due to be considered by the council’s cabinet on Wednesday.

The venue continues to be overseen by the Harrogate International Centre (HIC) – an arms-length organisation owned by the council, which announced in June last year that it was considering leasing the Royal Hall to an external operator.

Acting HIC director Simon Kent said discussions had been held with representatives from the theatre and the Harrogate International Festival, both of which will be charged heavily subsidised rates for staging events at the Royal Hall.

But he admitted the theatre would have to be more cautious with the events it stages at the Royal Hall with the removal of the six-figure council subsidy.

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Mr Kent said: “The Royal Hall has been seen as the town’s village hall for many years, but the HIC needs to ensure that it is being run as a commercial venue as well.

“The new arrangements are aimed at being as transparent and open as possible, and ensuring that the Royal Hall is used by the community as much as possible.

“Everyone has huge affection for the building, and I am fully aware of the emotions that it provokes. But unfortunately we cannot provide free access for everyone, and we have to ensure that it remains viable for the long-term future.”

Concerns had been growing over the Royal Hall’s future because of a lack of events since it emerged taxpayers had been footing a daily bill of £1,000 to keep it operating.

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However Harrogate Theatre has staged a programme of high-profile shows at the Royal Hall throughout the year – including appearances by comedian Dara O’Briain and musician Bob Geldof as well as a show featuring the stars of the popular BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing.

The bid to breath renewed life into the spa town’s venues was heralded at the start of this year as the biggest shift the Harrogate district’s arts world had seen in the last half-a-century.

The new arrangements for the forthcoming financial year will mean organisers of community events will be able to hire the venue for £1,650 a day.

However, Harrogate Theatre and the Harrogate International Festival will be charged a daily rate of £850 for a total of 20 events each.

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Mr Kent stressed that there is no cap on the number of events, and both the theatre and the festival are being encouraged to look towards using the Royal Hall more regularly.

Daily commercial rates are due to be set at £7,170, while banqueting events will cost £3,000 during 2013/14.

A target was set for the Royal Hall to be used for a total of 150 days during the current financial year. While it is expected that the number of bookings will fall short – it is expected the venue will be used for a total of 138 days.

The venue opened in 1903 as the Kursaal and hosted performances from Elgar to the Beatles, but structural damage forced its closure in 2002. It was re-opened by Prince Charles in 2008 after a £10.7m refurbishment.

The venue managed to stage just 57 events during 2010-11 – only eight of which were commercial.