RUGBY Bikefest and Rugby Festival of Culture have been postponed, and Rugby Theatre will be closed until further notice, due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Town centre management company Rugby First said it was postponing the Bikefest (scheduled for May 17) and the Festival of Culture (June 20) to protect local residents and visitors.
Rugby Market will be open as usual on Friday and Saturday, before closing on Monday (March 23) for the foreseeable future while the situation is reviewed.
Rugby First operations director Rich Warren said: “Rugby First is working closely with town centre businesses, venues, traders and entertainers to inform them of the changes and mitigate disruption as much as we can.
“We will be working closely with other business improvement districts across the country to lobby government to protect our businesses from the economic damage that is going to be caused to our town centre businesses.”
On Tuesday (March 17), a number of pubs and eatieries in the town centre announced on social media they were staying open with upgraded sanitation procedures, despite the government’s advice not to attend such venues.
They include Kuni’s Coffee & Comics, The Prince Of Wales, The Raglan Arms, The Squirrel, The Seven Stars, and La Casa Loco.
Rugby Theatre will be closed until further notice, postponing forthcoming shows Six Dead Queens and an Inflatable Henry, Goodnight Mr Tom, Mindgame, A Slice of Saturday Night, The Patrick Pearse Motel, The Wind in the Willows, A Bunch of Amateurs and West Side Story.
Film screenings of The Personal History of David Copperfield, Emma and Richard Jewell have been cancelled.
Tickets will be refunded or exchanged for vouchers. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Chair of Trustees Debbie Hibberd said: “We’re sorry that we’ve had to make this decision, however we feel sure we’re acting in the best interests of our patrons, actors and volunteers.”
Cineworld Cinemas has closed all of its UK venues, including its Rugby branch.
The Crick Boat Show, which was due to take place over the late May Bank Holiday weekend (May 23-25), has also been postponed.
