Hastings hotels owner blasts executive after pulling Van concerts

Hastings hotels owner blasts executive after pulling Van concerts

The owner of the Hastings Hotel Group has hit out at Stormont ministers after a series of planned performances by Van Morrison at Belfast’s Europa Hotel were pulled at the last minute.

Howard Hastings said Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey told the Assembly on June 1 that concerts could go ahead “as long as they keep within the regulations”.

However, just hours before the legendary bluesman was due to take the stage at the first of four supper concerts Mr Hastings was forced to pull the plug.

The announcement came just hours after the executive said live music performances would again be permitted at venues in Northern Ireland from June 21, subject to certain conditions and the relevant health advice.

Mr Hastings said: “We submitted a lengthy and comprehensive risk assessment to demonstrate how this could be done safely.

“For four weeks they neither confirmed nor denied that we could proceed. Then, as part of their preparations they entrusted the Minister for Department of Culture Arts and Leisure with the task of preparing recommendations for the way forward for live music.

“The date for our concerts was approaching, with no clear direction received.”

Howard Hastings insisted he had been told the concerts could go ahead

On June 1 Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey  had told UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt the concerts could go ahead – if they kept within the regulations.

She said: “As long as they keep within the regulations that there’s an assessment of the venue’s size, and that a risk assessment is conducted for them.

“There is an issue obviously at the moment of how loud music can be within a venue and they would need to adhere to that but I am hopeful as part of the Taskforce work this issue will start to be taken forward with more easements in the coming weeks.”

‘Couldn’t run a bath’

However, on Thursday night Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill confirmed the concerts had been discussed at the Executive meeting with a decision taken that they could not proceed.

She added: “Unfortunately we’re not there yet. We’ve announced the indicative date of the 21st for live music, and that’s the date we’re asking people to adhere to.”

Speaking outside the Europa after the cancellation was confirmed, North Antrim MP Ian Paisley, who had tickets for the event, told the BBC: “That crowd at Stormont, who told Howard Hastings this was a ‘yes’, couldn’t run a bath”.