The Lower Section National Finals are to move from their home of the last six years in Harrogate to Cheltenham Racecourse’s Centaur venue.

Price hike

4BR has been informed that the move by Kapitol Promotions Ltd., which presents the National Championships, follows a significant price increase by Harrogate International Centre, as well as a lack of suitable dates offered for the event.

The Lower Section Finals will now take place on 24th and 25th September at The Centaur.

Date move

Philip Morris of Kapitol told 4BR: "Not only did the price increase unexpectedly and substantially without warning, but the management team at Harrogate International Centre informed us that we would have to move the event to October, which would have left just one weekend between the Lower Section Finals and the Championship Section Final at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Kapitol believed that this would have placed too much pressure on bands and supporters with busy lives, who may wish to attend both events."

Considered before

He added: "Therefore, after an extensive search, we revisited Cheltenham Racecourse’s Centaur venue, which we had considered some six years ago for another event.

It’s in the centre of Britain and has all the facilities that the Lower Section Finals needs including plenty of coach parking immediately opposite the main entrance, disabled access, changing and warm-up rooms, space for exhibitors, bars, restaurants and, most importantly, a great auditorium with a versatile staging system and suitable acoustics."

Cheltenham is a fabulous venue in a famous setting, and the management team there is very friendly and experienced at hosting major music eventsPhilip Morris

Flexible facilities

The Centaur is Cheltenham Racecourse’s flagship venue with a 2,250 capacity and 2,600 sq. metres of flexible space.

It also houses a state-of-the-art mother grid to provide advanced lighting and is linked to the Grandstand Rooms by the Hall of Fame, which has been earmarked by Kaptiol to host the trade exhibition at the forthcoming Finals.

Immediately adjacent to the Hall of Fame are suitable changing and warm-up rooms for bands.

Good change

Philip Morris concluded: "Sometimes, even though we might not want change, it’s good because it makes us re-examine the way in which we do things. We’re therefore, looking forward to relocating the Lower Section Finals.

Cheltenham is a fabulous venue in a famous setting, and the management team there is very friendly and experienced at hosting major music events like Jools Holland, Kiri Te Kanawa and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra."