Hayes theatre set to close

Hayes’s Beck Theatre is set to close its doors in January following a dispute between Hillingdon Council and Trafalgar Theatres. The closure, which follows a local authority decision to charge rent to theatre operator Trafalgar Studios, will be temporary while new management is found for the theatre.

With Trafalgar's contract set to cease in January, the council has said it had offered to renew the theatre operator’s lease at a ‘peppercorn rent’ and to continue being responsible for building repairs but confirmed it would no longer offer a subsidy as Trafalgar is a privately-owned commercial business.

However, Trafalgar has disputed the council’s claims, stating that it offered to operate on a subsidy-free basis. Ian Edwards, Conservative leader of Hillingdon Council, denied this, telling BBC London: ‘That's not true. If they [Trafalgar] wish to make that offer to me, I will take that tomorrow. The council is prepared to lease this property at a peppercorn rent, with the council responsible for external repair and structural repair but without an operating subsidy.’