Robbie gig 'chaotic' say premium ticket holders

Robbie Williams performing on stage. He is holding a microphone in one hand and has the other hand up in the air. He is wearing a denim jacket that is covered in colourful gems. Image source, PA Media
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Concert promoters Senbla said they had received messages from "many audience members thanking us for bringing Robbie to the city of Bath"

  • Published

Premium 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".

A large crowd of people standing near the front of the stage at the Royal Crescent in Bath. It is a cloudy day and everyone is stood around chatting as the music has not started yet.
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The singer is performing in Bath before continuing his Brit Pop European tour in Copenhagen

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.

Peter Hayes wearing a blue and white t-shirt and carrying a black rucksack on his right shoulder. He has dark hair and is looking slightly off to the right. Behind him you can see a long queue for the bar and a white marquee.
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Peter Hayes said getting a drink from one of the venue's two bars took several hours

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 wearing a black and grey patterned top and large square clear framed glasses. She has ginger curly hair and is looking just off to the right of the camera. In the background there is a large crowd of people and some trees. The sky is overcast and grey.
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Daisy said she wants a full refund for the "really disappointing" experience

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."

Rina standing on the right wearing a denim shirt, a disco ball cowboy hat, and white framed sunglasses shaped like a heart. Beside her is her aunt Stella, wearing a pink jumpsuit and pink cowboy hat decorated with lips and a fluffy rim. Behind them you can see the main stage and a large crowd of people.
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Rina Pengilly (R) had driven down from London with her family for the concert

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."

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