Booking fees at Eden Court in Inverness spark anger
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NEW booking fees for tickets bought in person at Eden Court’s box office have caused anger.
Phyllis MacRae, a long-standing patron of the theatre, was shocked to discover there would be an additional charge.
However the chief executive of the venue said the move would bring a fairer system for customers across the Highlands.
There are already fees charged for phone and online bookings.
Mrs MacRae pays an annual membership of £35, which gives her and her husband Charles discounts on tickets and other offers.
She said: “It’s being introduced without it being publicised and not telling the public, and there’s been no consultation.
“I’m a friend of Eden Court, but I’ve not received a letter or email about it.
“I’ve been told it’s not for monetary gain but if it’s not for that, what’s it for?
“I love Eden Court, but people’s pockets are only so deep.”
Mrs MacRae is a regular theatre and cinema goer, recently attending four times in an eight-day period.
She added: “We’re for a paying membership and we use the restaurant so we’re putting money in, and on top of that there’s the booking fee.”
James Mackenzie-Blackman, chief executive at the Inverness arts venue, said there had been plans to inform patrons of changes ahead of their introduction.
He added: “Booking fees are an important way that Eden Court maintains itself as a sustainable business, as the majority of our ticket income is passed back to the individual production’s producer.
“For some time there has been a high level of complaint from patrons who live outside Inverness and cannot attend the venue to purchase tickets.
“We have decided it is more equitable for booking fees to be applied whatever your route to purchase may be.”
Fees are 50p on tickets under £10, £1 on tickets between £10 and £19.99 and £2 for tickets costing more than £20. Charges are not applied to cinema tickets purchased on the day of screening at the counter.
Throughout April, Eden Court is running a promotion removing all booking charges for tickets purchased on its website.
Eden Court has recently had budget cuts from Highland Council and elsewhere.
