Venue boss calls for council to let him put up a marquee so he can stage shows in Doncaster town centre

Rod Bloor runs The Harewood, a well known bar and diner on Waterdale opposite the council’s own civic offices.

He is keen to run outdoor events at the venue, which he says he would be happy to use to generate money for local charities.

But he says he cannot go ahead with plans for bands and other performances near on the pavement area which he uses for alfresco dining and drinking because the council will not allow him to put something up to stop events being rained off.

Under his plans, he would put up a marquee for occasional special events – but he says the council has refused to let him put up the marquee to cover the outside area that he needs.

"We desperately need a marquee for inclement weather.

“If I had the marquee there, and the right number of people, I could pledge money to charities.

"They have marquees near the market, but they are not letting me do it near the council offices.

“We jump through hoops so that people can sit outside The Harewood, but it could be raining the next moment. That's why I’m asking for a marquee for inclement weather.

"I have bands playing Take That and Gypsy Kings songs.

"We want to put the marquee over the outdoor space.”

“We would take it down on the same day. It would not be something for every day, just for special events. It would mean that I was not spending hundreds of pounds on something, only for it to be a washout. Any other time I will take my chances with the weather.

Doncaster Council says it has worked to support the venue.

Dan Swaine, director of economy and environment, said: “We have been working closely with the Harewood to help them through the pandemic. This has included agreeing to double their permitted outdoor space to support more trade and custom. Their proposed marquee is unfortunately not covered by the alfresco scheme.”

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