Late Concertgoers Warned They Could Face £30 Charge From UK Promoter

Concertgoers arriving late could be hit with a £30 charge under a new rule being enforced by UK event promoter Labyrinth Events.

The company, which organises concerts and other live events in Britain, requires ticket holders to check their tickets for an allocated arrival time. Customers who miss their designated time slot can then be charged an additional fee.

The policy has already attracted attention after two fans attending Moby’s concert in Greenwich reportedly faced £30 late-entry charges after arriving outside their allocated times.

There is a question of transparency when it comes to charges like this. If organisers are going to impose a fee for arriving late, customers would reasonably expect the charge and the specific arrival requirements to be made clear when purchasing their tickets.

There is also an argument that controlled arrival times could help concerts run more smoothly, particularly at large events. Staggering arrivals could potentially reduce queues and ease pressure on public transport and traffic around busy venues. However, with concert ticket prices already becoming increasingly difficult for many people to afford, an additional charge could leave some questioning whether the cost is fair.

Delays caused by traffic, public transport problems, work commitments or other circumstances can often be outside a customer’s control. That raises the question of whether the consumer should have to pay extra when managing arrivals and the smooth running of an event is ultimately the responsibility of the organiser.

Moby is scheduled to perform at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin later this week, but that event is not being organised or promoted by Labyrinth Events. Concertgoers attending that performance therefore should not expect to face the same £30 late-arrival charge simply because of the UK promoter’s policy.