By Paul Reoch

A SELL-OUT Hogmanay event at Perth’s £20 million concert hall has been criticised.

Numerous patrons who saw in the new year at the event, which was the venue’s first such celebration, have contacted The Courier to list a host of complaints—from lengthy delays waiting for a drink to inadequate toilet provision.

And several people were outraged at the venue allowing people later in the evening to sit at tables that had been used by 300 people who had paid £60 for the four-course dinner gala occasion. This group were part of 1100 party-goers who had paid £25 for tickets purely for the late-night dancing.

Perth Concert Hall defended the event and said it had been “a fantastic night,” while admitting to having been defeated by queues and demand for drinks despite extensive preparations.

However, Harry Robertson, the former chief executive of Perth and Kinross Council, who was at a table of eight at the event, said last night, “There were one or two problems and I know a lot of people who had to wait around 40 minutes for a drink.”

Mr Robertson added, “They were under a lot of pressure, with this being their first Hogmanay night, and the main problem was that they perhaps sold 200 too many tickets.”

While Mr Robertson felt the service and entertainment, including a ceilidh and disco, was excellent, he feels there was room for improvement, “The service and food was first-class, but there were people who had taken people’s seats later on. But I did feel for the people who had paid £25 as there weren’t enough seats for them. They must have felt aggrieved.”

And a late-night reveller said he “walked away in disgust” at the proceedings.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “It was a complete shambles—you had to wait up to 40 minutes for a drink. I also felt that there was poor toilet provision.

“There was seemingly an announcement that people’s tables weren’t reserved.

“And I know people who couldn’t get out of the hall to see the fireworks. We were so disappointed that we walked away in disgust.”

The Courier also received calls from several people annoyed at what they saw as a lack of stewarding.

But a Concert Hall spokeswoman said, “It’s unfortunate that a handful of complaints might blight what was otherwise a fantastic night.

“We, too, were unhappy with the length of queues on Hogmanay and apologise… Perth partied hard and we were taken by surprise.”

Cleaning staff worked throughout the evening to ensure the building, and the toilets, remained in a good condition, though one suite of gents’ toilets was closed for a short time, she said.

She added, “It was widely publicised as an evening where people could wander around the building and enjoy all the areas…People who paid £25 admission had as much right to a bit of ceilidh dancing as the £60 ticket holder who after dinner might wander to the cocktail bar or dance in the foyer.”