Fraudulent ticket touts' appeal rejected

30 Nov 2021

Two touts who amassed millions reselling tickets have had appeals against their convictions dismissed.

BBZ Limited’s Peter Hunter and David Thomas Smith were jailed in February 2020 following the first successful prosecution of a company over fraudulent ticket resales. 

The pair will now serve their full sentences - four years and to-and-a-half years respectively. 

They used at least 97 different names, 88 postal addresses and more than 290 email addresses to evade ticketing platform restrictions for events including Ed Sheeran concerts and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre performances.

Upon upholding the conviction, The Court of Appeal noted: "[The] ticketing market is one which appears to be characterised by a high degree of criminal fraud.”

National Trading Standards Director Wendy Martin called the ruling a “major milestone” in efforts to combat unscrupulous secondary ticket sales.

Rishi isn’t coming to the rescue 

phone screen with twitter logo
26 Oct 2021

This week’s budget shows that there’s no easy path to high wages and low ticket prices in theatre. So what’s next? asks Robin Cantrill-Fenwick.

Scotland starts enforcing vaccine passports

19 Oct 2021

Venues that fail to comply face a maximum £10,000 fine but policing falls to overextended local authorities and underserved security.

Safety inspectors shut down Manchester theatre

11 Oct 2021

Manchester’s Grange Theatre has been closed with immediate effect after safety inspectors found faulty electrics and wiring in the building.

A statement from the theatre says it will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen.

All events in October and November have been cancelled, with ticket holders set to be refunded.

Located on Oldham College campus, the theatre’s annual pantomime has been transferred to nearby Queen Elizabeth Halls.

Legal challenge to vaccine passports in Scotland fails

01 Oct 2021

The policy has taken effect but tech issues are rife, guidance is lacking and venues say there hasn't been a "meaningful consultation".

Vaccine passports put on ice

16 Sep 2021

In yet another U-turn, vaccine passports will become England's 'Plan B'. What can venues expect this winter?

Scottish theatre scraps 'risky' panto plans

13 Sep 2021

PACE Theatre Company will not produce a Christmas pantomime this year because it is too financially risky. 

The company's home of 30 years, Paisley Arts Centre, is experiencing delays to its £2.8m refurbishment and won't reopen in December as planned.

"Coupled with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the uncertainty about any future restrictions, we feel the risks are too great to commit to staging a production this year."

READ MORE: Danger for small pantos as sales lag by £23m

It will not pursue an online panto either. Last year's production was only possible because of an emergency grant.

"Without this additional funding, the model is not sustainable," a statement from the company said.

PACE has produced the pantomime at Paisley Arts Centre since 1988.

The loss of the panto has left "a massive hole" in its funds and it is seeking donations.

Danger for smaller pantos as sales lag by £23m

02 Sep 2021

A decline in group bookings - mostly from schools - is driving a loss in income that is expected to hit smaller producers hardest.

Call to patronise local museums as visitors favour big name sites

19 Aug 2021

Museums have not yet returned to full strength despite restrictions lifting. The challenges for smaller and larger sites this summer differ.

Watchdog moots law changes to stop illegal ticket resales

17 Aug 2021

The proposed changes could apply to up to 75,000 sellers, representing 90% of the value of tickets in the UK.

Battersea Arts Centre brings in 'pay what you can' model

07 Apr 2021

The National Portfolio Organisation has pursued its plan to widen access in spite of the pandemic and says funders have been "universally supportive".

Bursting the bubble: where next for socially distanced seating?

31 Mar 2021

Auditorium formats that worked well between lockdowns aren’t the answer to achieving full houses as restrictions are lifted. Urgent adaptations are needed to maximise capacity – and revenues – says Robin Cantrill-Fenwick.

PRS backpedals on streaming licence for small events

04 Feb 2021

A temporary change to its controversial fees has received both a warm welcome and a cold shoulder.

Shock and anger as PRS announces streaming licences

27 Jan 2021

The music industry is furious after steep new tarrifs on streaming live events were introduced with little to no consultation.

Scalable performance pilots planned for March

22 Jan 2021

The Music Venue Trust is in discussions with the Government and other partners about a series of highly Covid-secure events in London and Bristol that would eventually reach 100% capacity.

Re-opening safely and reaching more audiences

A woman in a floral dress and face mask looking an art installing of floating flowers
19 Jan 2021

A new ticketing system designed by museums for musems is providing free support with the twin challenges of running timed entry and generating much needed income. Merrin Kalinowski explains.

Artists protest PRS plans for livestreaming licences

15 Jan 2021

The music industry is up in arms over the licensing body’s plan to impose tariffs of up to 17% on live streaming ticketed performances.

Testing isn't enough to bring audiences back, survey suggests

03 Dec 2020

Mandatory masks, social distancing and temperature tests make audiences feel more comfortable returning to venues - and on-the-spot testing won't change that.

Ticketing companies aghast at 'ridiculous' funding awards

29 Oct 2020

Many ticketing companies believed they weren't eligible for Cultural Recovery Fund grants. Arts Council England says they should have read the fine print.

Museum visitors fall from post-Covid peak

06 Oct 2020

National Museums Liverpool and the V&A consult on redundancies amid a month-long decline in visitor numbers for England's major museums.

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