Council accuses theatre of purposefully operating at a loss

Hillingdon Council has accused the operators of west London’s Beck Theatre of purposefully running the venue at a loss.

At a meeting held last week (28 November), deputy leader Jonathan Bianco claimed Trafalgar Entertainment were operating at a loss to receive funding from the council.

“Our consultants are of the view that Trafalgar have taken careful steps over many years to ensure that the Beck has made a loss in order to ensure that the subsidy has continued to be paid,” he said. 

“Trafalgar are a profit making organisation and clearly there is nothing wrong with that, but they are doing so now at our expense…they ultimately only wanted to stay… if they could enjoy the cushy ride they have been on for a number of years.”

The council and Trafalgar Entertainment are in a long running dispute over the threate’s lease and liability for site renovation costs.

In the absence of an agreement, the venue will close on 13 January, at the end of Trafalgar’s contract. Campaigners have vowed to fight any closure.

The council has said it does not want to see the venue closed and has brought in external consultants to find a new operator.

During the same meeting, the council confirmed it is in possession of drawings for residential developments on the Beck Theatre site, but added it currently has no intentions of any redevelopment works.