TICKET sales at a council-owned entertainment venue have soared by 67 per cent in the last year – but it is being used less, figures show.

Vale of White Horse District Council runs The Beacon in Wantage and holds its full council meetings there once a month.

The community centre is also used for shows, including a forthcoming sold-out show by impressionists Rory Bremner and Jan Ravens in November.

The council’s spend on it has increased every year since 2013/14 and it spent £445,574 on it last year, bringing in £226,035.

It is underused by industry standards – which would mean it is used 550 hours a month – but its use has grown over the last five years. It has said it hopes to reach the industry standard by 2020 with extra marketing and involving the community more.

The council said the reason for the centre being used less was because King Alfred’s Academy in Wantage has now built its own hall and no longer needs The Ridgeway, the centre’s main auditorium, as frequently.

Comedians Phill Jupitus and Rich Hall performed shows at The Beacon, along with former Arsenal and England footballer Ray Parlour last year.

The council said it hoped to ‘continue to secure a broad spectrum of acts to attract new audiences’.

Other future shows will see Strictly Come Dancing contestant Seann Walsh, comedian Sean Lock and MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace all visit Wantage.

Live performances of National Theatre shows, such as King Lear with Sir Ian McKellen, have been ‘popular’.

In total, ticket sales totalled 4,815 in 2016/17 but in 2017/18 they increased to 8,042.

In a council report, it is stated: “More performances were introduced and the cinema and panto performances continued to attract larger audience.

“As this area of the business grows, ticket sales will be a key performance measure in the future.”

As part of regular activities at The Beacon, a musician performs in its coffee shop every Wednesday morning. They have ‘developed a loyal following of residents’ – between six or 10 people from a nearby retirement home – who attend regularly.

The Women’s Institute also meets in the coffee shop, which has seen its menu ‘reviewed and improved’.

Over 2017/18, 154,666 people visited The Beacon, so every visit cost £1.42.

The council said feedback cards in its reception had resulted in 93 comments, with 94 per cent of these being complementary.

In its report, the council includes two suggestions and other positive comments – but does not share any of the four negative comments it received. It said its social media and mailing list has grown over the last year.