Westlife show goes on despite storm damage

STORMY winds destroyed the Butlins Arena concert venue in Minehead, just two days before pop stars Westlife were due to perform live.
Tens of thousands of pounds of damage was caused with the canvass canopy torn away in the high winds and the metal structure of the Arena twisted and wrecked.
But as a Health and Safety Executive investigation into the incident began, Butlins pledged ‘the show will go on’ for the 7,000 people who bought tickets to see the boy band.
Butlins centre director Darren Hollis praised Westlife for their support and dedication to their fans after the band agreed to perform their first-ever back-to-back gigs.
Mr Hollis said the shows would now take place in the Butlins Centre Stage venue, which could seat about 3,500 people, to ensure everybody was able to see them.
However, the concerts were being cut to just 45 minutes each and would take place at the earlier times of 1 pm and 2.30 pm.
Because of the timing changes and the reduced length of the concerts, Butlins has offered all guests a £25 retail voucher, per person, to spend within resort.
It has also offered a full refund in advance for anybody who felt so disappointed that they wanted to cancel their visit.
Anybody with any queries about the concert was being encouraged to telephone Butlins on a special hotline number, 0870 242 2002.
For Butlins, it was the second disruption in less than a week to the Westlife concert arrangements.
The band had earlier unexpectedly announced they would be singing live on ITV television’s X Factor programme on Saturday night, which clashed with when they were supposed to be performing in Minehead.
Butlins then had the task of trying to contact all 7,000 ticket holders to tell them the concert had been brought forward to the afternoon.

• Our photographs show Westlife (left) and the wreckage of the Butlins Arena (right) visible through trees which line the perimeter of the holiday centre. Westlife photo submitted. Wreckage photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M11160029. Order photo reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk.