Agenda item

The Director of Tourism Culture and Economy submits a report updating on the operational and financial progress at De Montfort Hall and the Haymarket Theatre, which are being managed as an integrated service.

The Director of Tourism Culture and Economy submitted a report updating on the operational and financial progress at De Montfort Hall and the Haymarket Theatre, which are being managed as an integrated service.

The Venue Director of De Montfort Hall attended the meeting to present the report and assist with the discussion.

Key Points included:

• Both venues were doing well, and a significant milestone has now been achieved, as it now costs the Council less to operate De Montfort Hall and the Haymarket Theatre as a joint service than it would be to maintain them as empty buildings. This means they are budget neutral and also enabled the delivery of a high quality cultural and teaching/ learning offer for the city.
• Over the last ten years, the position of DMH has improved, with the real terms cost of operation falling by over £1m through a more commercial approach being adopted with more popular programming, increased secondary spend, and full refurbishment carried out.
• The 2024/25 outturn saw turnover increase by £1.2m and the cost of operations falling to £247k (down from £1.3m in 2014/15).  Also noted that a reserve fund had been created through a small levy on tickets to fund a basic renewals programme.
• Approximately 25% of visitors are local and come from within the existing city council boundary, this goes up to just over 50% if you include the wider Leicester urban area – meaning the city council area plus the districts immediately on the city’s boundary. Haymarket Theatre had come back into Council control in 2020 and had now found its purpose around teaching and learning, particularly for Young People.
• The Addict Dance Academy operate from the Haymarket Theatre Monday to Friday teaching musical theatre and dance at higher education level.  UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) had facilitated studios and rehearsal rooms for them, as well as equipment to bring the stage back into use for student performances.
• Leicestershire Music use Haymarket on Saturdays and Monday nights to teach, and plan to also use the auditorium for student shows.
• Haymarket was a work in progress, but progress was being made and the agreements in place did not mean that further users could not be accommodated.
• Overall, combining the buildings as one service gave an economy of scale and expertise that was delivering well.
• Key headlines were displayed on a slide (as attached with the agenda).

Questions and comments were invited from the Commission; it was noted that:

• It was recognised as positive that the services had recovered well from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• It was noted that DMH had been a serious concern, but had improved hugely over the last ten years.  It was suggested that this was largely down to the leadership.
• In response to questions regarding parking at the Haymarket Theatre, it was clarified that hirers and users did not have parking spaces at the theatre and that car parking for staff and users was difficult in the pay and display as no spaces or reduced rates are allocated to the theatre for use.
• With regard to parking on Victoria Park, DMH received a cut of evening rates.  DMH also had a pre-bookable car-park of its own on site. Both are well used.
• In response to a suggestion for bringing in an Asian franchise or concession to serve food at Asian shows to increase profit margins, it was noted that when Asian shows are booked in, they often bring their own caterers and deals are done to hire the catering facilities at the hall.
• Outdoor shows had been put on every year, but outdoor theatre had been downscaled in recent years to lower risk and generate income.
• In response to a suggestion on keeping bars open following shows, it was noted that this had been trialled a number of times, but few people made use of them and the cost of the staff was not covered.
• In response to a suggestion that a lack of mobile signal prevented customers using online taxis companies, it was noted that this was not an issue that was known, but would be investigated.
• It was clarified that in terms of subsidy, £250k went to DMH and the rest to Haymarket, so Haymarket received most of the subsidy.
• Philharmonia would continue, but the deal had been restructured so they were not subsidised and were self-sustaining.
• In response to points made about steep steps at DMH, this had been looked into, and no workable solution found – although noted that there were few issues and staff in these areas were aware of the potential risk. It was also noted that the upper steps at DMH in question were less steep than many sports stadiums.
• Haymarket did not currently have a brochure, as the shows it will present are student presentations aimed at students’ friends and family rather than touring or commercial shows aimed at the public. However, a new website had recently been launched which will carry details of these shows.
• 650 Young People per week attended Haymarket Theatre, and this had a knock-on benefit to the local economy.
• A membership deal was in place with restaurants near DMH.
• With regard to Local Government Reorganisation, data had been mapped to show where people were coming in from, with a significant proportion of visitors coming from neighbouring council districts.
• In terms of accessibility, DMH had lifts and wheelchair facilities and adult changing spaces.  Accessible seating was also available upstairs through lifts.  Haymarket had more significant challenges in terms of access, which will expensive to fix but would need to be addressed at some point.
• There were around 250 shows per year at DMH, largely because more tribute acts had been booked due to a change in the UK touring industry post covid.  The venues were also hired out to groups such as the Bardi Symphony Orchestra and the Leicester Philharmonic.
• Issues raised about single ticketholders not being able to choose where to sit could be looked into.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into account.