Fringe venues' fury at fees hike

Edinburgh Fringe venues are facing a huge hike in performance licences – even though the festival contributes around £75 million to the city's economy.

The city council is raising its fees by up to 500 per cent over the next three years, to the fury of the venue operators.

Edinburgh council says the licensing scheme runs at a loss of £177,000, which is ‘not financially prudent’.

So the fees for venues with fewer than 200 seats, the temporary performance licence which was £127 last year will soar in three leaps to £800 by 2008.

Larger venues of more than 1,000 seats will pay £1,320 this year, compared to £295 last .

William Burdett-Coutts of the Assembly Rooms, told the BBC News website: 'It's shocking. Instead of giving support the council just seems to take the money."

Published: 8 Apr 2006