Leyland bar Indigo introduces 50p per drink 'entertainment charge' on Friday and Saturday nights

A 50p per drink ‘entertainment charge’ at a Leyland bar on its two busiest nights of the week has received a mixed response from locals.

Indigo in Chapel Brow introduced the charges a year ago on all drinks orders over £9, after 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

But a recent post on a local Facebook group has caused a stir, with some supporting the move and others saying the extra fees could put some people off.

The surcharge is added at the bar and helps cover the cost of live music and DJs. Unlike some nightspots, the bar doesn’t charge an entrance fee for live entertainment.

Mixed response

One regular said: “This has been the case in this bar for at least a year now, and most people haven’t noticed.

“They consistently have entertainment on Friday / Saturday / Sunday all year round which doesn’t pay for itself, especially in the current hostile economic climate for hospitality.

“It’s a trade off isn’t it, entertainment or cheaper drinks (they’re not overpriced there even with the charge, and there are a few local pubs who charge more constantly). Can’t have everything, I support it.”

Another added: “Unfortunately, most pubs can’t afford to have low drinks prices and have entertainment. You simply can’t have it all.

“Most of the people criticising won’t have a clue what overheads pubs actually have and how little profit there is in a pint. This is simply someone trying to make a living, covering his costs and getting slated for it.”

But others oppose the charge, with one saying: “We live in a world of endless inflation. The more you continue to justify it as 'JUST' 50p, the more it continues and continues.

“And instead of one person going for a four pint round, you’ll have four people crowding the bar to request four separate drinks, meaning four separate transactions and busier bar staff.”

Indigo were approached for comment.