Royal Albert Hall faces inquiry into ticket sales row
THE Royal Albert Hall is to be investigated by a judge-led inquiry into why its trustees can own seats privately and then sell tickets for them at marked-up prices.
Jeremy Wright, the Attorney General, last night formally agreed to refer the row over governance on the ruling board of the venue, home of the BBC’S Proms season, to a judge-led charity tribunal, after the issue was highlighted in a series of articles in The Daily Telegraph last year. Hearings, which can be held in public, are expected to begin later this year.
The tribunal will examine whether it is right that trustees can own seats, profit from ticket sales and at the same time control the charity’s board that runs the hall. The tribunal will determine whether this level of private benefit is acceptable in charity law. If the inquiry finds that it is not, the Charity Commission has powers to appoint its independent trustees to run the hall.
Richard Lyttelton, a former president of the hall, welcomed the formal inquiry, telling The Daily Telegraph: “This goes a long way towards vindicating a lengthy campaign to bring the issues of governance at this iconic national institution to light.
“Through an archaic constitution and more recent opportunities afforded by online ticket sites, certain commercially minded members have been able to profit by selling tickets to their seats, sometimes at many times face value.
“Apart from the questionable morality of this practice it is clearly not what the charity was designed for.”
Last year Harvey Goldsmith, the concert promoter, said it was “morally reprehensible” that debenture holders were able to profit from the resale of tickets. Part of the Charity Commission’s concern has been that 19 out of the hall’s 25 trustees are seat owners, meaning that they can influence which events are open to private ticket sales and also profit from those sales themselves.
The Royal Albert Hall said it was “disappointed” about the decision. A spokesman said: “Over many years, the hall has engaged in a meaningful way to resolve what is a complex set of issues, however the commission has chosen to refuse to meet us, whilst pursuing what will be a costly and drawnout route. Whilst we will, of course, cooperate with this process, our focus will remain on entertaining audiences and to enhance our considerable charitable activities.
“Our unique structure and self-funding operating model, which requires no regular government subsidy, enables us to evolve our Grade 1 Listed building and continue our charitable outreach work that benefits and touches many hundreds of thousands of people in our communities every year.”