The owner of Carlisle’s Old Fire Station have vowed to freeze their prices until the end of the year, despite the cost of living crisis.
Will Morgan, who runs the Peter Street venue, said it would absorb rises from its brewery so people can still enjoy a night out.
He also pledged that ticket prices would stay as low as possible.
Will said: “We’ve decided to freeze all of our bar prices until the end of the year. We want everyone to know when they are buying tickets to an event there’s not going to be any surprise price increases.
“So whatever we charge today for a drink, we’re going to charge at the end of the year as well.
“We’ve put a complete bar freeze in so that people can budget accordingly and they know that if they come today and it’s £4.50 for a pint it’s not going to be £10 in three months’ time.
“I looked at what our average ticket price is and it’s £17.50 for a ticket which I think is super competitive.
“We toyed with the idea of having to put prices up but we’ve fought against that and decided to keep all of our ticket prices really competitive.”
Since taking over The Old Fire Station last September and being able to reopen after lockdown, Will said he was struck by how much live entertainment meant to people and was determined to keep it affordable even during times of financial hardship.
He says: “I saw what people were like when they were coming to music gigs and comedy shows, they were leaving in tears.
“It was an overflowing of emotion, people saying, this is my life and I didn’t realise how much I’d missed it until I was back at it.
“I realised how good it is for people – it builds mental health, socialising, being with other people and experiencing things together.
“To see a live band you’re really into with hundreds of other people, it’s a different experience. It transcends everything.”
