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Jun 2024
Bootleg Beatles give Harrogate the boot after council raises Royal Hall fees
The Bootleg Beatles have cancelled their annual Harrogate gig after North Yorkshire Council increased the cost of hiring the Royal Hall.
The Fab Four tribute act, which was formed in 1980 and describes itself as ‘the world’s premier Beatles tribute band’, has been a regular in Harrogate each December.
But it has transferred this year's Harrogate gig on December 6 to York.
In a post on social media last night, the band said:
Sadly due to the local council’s decision to hugely increase rental fees with no notice, we will not be returning to Harrogate’s Royal Hall for the foreseeable future.
We are obviously disappointed that this has happened but our fans can still enjoy the show at the York Barbican.
The Stray Ferret contacted the Bootleg Beatles for further information. Manager Raj Patel said rental had “gone up quite a bit” and the council “sprung it on us without any notice” but declined to comment further.
The social media post was subsequently deleted. However, the band's tour schedule shows York rather than Harrogate for December 6.
The Stray Ferret asked the council this morning why it had increased the charge and by how much. We have not yet had a response.
But in January the council announced it was going to take over programming of the Royal Hall from Harrogate Theatre.
Jo Ireland, the council’s assistant director for culture and leisure, said at the time:
We are reviewing the agreements we have with all our cultural venues and organisations in North Yorkshire, and Harrogate Theatre is part of that work.
All existing arrangements will remain in place for 2024/25 whilst we complete this work which is being carried out in consultation with the cultural organisations affected.
Harrogate Theatre has an arrangement to book 30 events a year at the Royal Hall at a reduced fee and there are currently 33 events programmed for the coming year. Those bookings will be honoured.
Outside of this arrangement, programming at the Royal Hall and Harrogate Convention Centre will continue to be undertaken by the team at Harrogate Convention Centre.
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