BBC News, Somerset
PA MediaPremium ticket holders say they feel let down after paying double the price for a “chaotic” experience at a Robbie Williams concert.
The sold-out event on Friday was the first of two performances to be held at the Royal Crescent in Bath, Somerset. The singer performed to 15,000 people in what was described as “the most intimate show of his tour”.
But those who splashed out on a Golden Circle ticket said they did not receive the VIP experience they were promised and were instead “crammed” into the crowd.
Concert promoters Senbla said the issue has been “rectified” for Saturday’s concert “by putting into place stronger communications lines between our security teams and event staff”.
This weekend’s concerts is one of only a few shows ever hosted at the historic location in Bath.
A Golden Circle ticket cost about £266, double the price of general admission ticket at £125.
It claimed to offer a spacious standing experience, access to a VIP hospitality area, a dedicated entrance and food and drinks before the show.
But Peter Hayes, from Gloucester, said the reality was “really disappointing”.
“We’ve paid £266 for the Golden Circle and were promised lots of different things,” he said.
“We’ve come through pretty much the same entrance as everyone else, and the Golden Circle is currently inaccessible.
“There’s so many people crammed in, there’s no way I want to go into that.
“I’ve actually found myself in the ordinary ticket area, just happy to be in a bit of space.”
Mr Hayes said he had to queue for more than 90 minutes to be served at the bars, one of which had run out of everything except soft drinks by 19:45 BST.
Daisy, from Leicester, told the BBC on Friday: “It’s absolutely packed, there’s no staff anywhere and there’s no directions for anything.
“It was chaos, so I did not get searched or anything, which didn’t really reassure me.”
Rina Pengilly said she had bought the premium tickets four months prior as a surprise for her father.
“It was meant to be a very special occasion and we can’t even get in,” she said.
“My dad needs special assistance so I wanted to be in the Golden Circle for his own safety, so that’s why it’s disappointing.”
A spokesperson for Senbla denied claims that the tickets for the Golden Circle section were oversold.
“Last night Robbie Williams wowed the audience with a spectacular show, the first night of two he is performing in Bath,” they said.
“There was a very small issue with Golden Circle ticket holders yesterday evening, where later into the concert there were pinch points causing delays to the entry of the Golden Circle section. This section was not oversold.
“We have ensured that this has been rectified for this evening’s concert by putting into place stronger communications lines between our security teams and event staff.”
