Premier Inn has been accused of 'ripping off' guests during headline London music events, as room prices at key locations jump drastically to nearly £350 a night. The budget hotel chain is usually known for competitive prices, with advanced bookings starting at just £45. However, the company is facing severe backlash after fans travelling to Wembley and London Stadium for June events discovered astronomical room rates, with some prices skyrocketing by nearly 678 per cent.
Concert Weekend Price Surge
On the weekend of 26th-27th June, Harry Styles will be performing his highly-anticipated 'Together, Together' tour at Wembley Stadium, while Take That bring their iconic 'The Circus Live' tour to the London Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Harry Styles fan Suzanne, who hoped to snag an affordable room at Premier Inn's Wembley Park site for two nights over that weekend, was left stunned after being presented with 'insane' rates.
Taking to X to complain, the woman, who goes by @suzl84, posted a screenshot of her search results, where a two-night stay in a standard, non-refundable double room was priced at £702. Semi-flex rooms, fully refundable up to 3 days before arrival, were priced at £716, while Flex rooms, which can be refunded up until 1pm on the day of arrival, were going for as much as £738.
Meanwhile, a quick search for a standard room at Premier Inn's London Stratford Hotel, the nearest to London Stadium where Take That is set to perform, shows rates of nearly £320 per night on the weekend of 26 June.
Fan Outrage on Social Media
In her post, Suzanne fumed: 'Hey Premier Inn, I'm all for supply and demand, but charging this for two nights in a hotel I've previously paid £45 a night for is actual insanity and absolutely disgusting!' Dozens more criticised the hotel chain, noting they too had been forced to pay inflated rates during major music concerts and football matches.
One person wrote: 'Good grief, only a lunatic would pay that to stay in a Premier Inn,' while another warned: 'EVERY hotel is very, very expensive that weekend!!!' One Harry Styles fan said: 'It really is disgusting. We are going down to see Harry for my birthday and couldn't get anywhere close for a reasonable price. Found a lovely place with a kitchenette etc in Canary Wharf for £164 for both of us. At £82 a night considering its location, I'd rather travel further!'
A third recalled: 'Had the same with a Travelodge hotel close to Wembley Stadium. £650 for 2 nights for an event weekend. £290 for a non-event weekend. It's nothing more than a rip off.' Another added: 'And this is why people choose to holiday abroad. Holidaying in the UK is extortionate. I'm all for supporting local businesses but when I'm only having one holiday a year I want value for money.'
Defenders Cite Supply and Demand
However, some X users were less sympathetic, noting that the price surge is simply down to 'supply and demand'. One person teased: 'Wait until you hear how airlines and travel companies operate...' The Daily Mail has contacted Premier Inn for comment.
London's High 'Gig Tax'
It comes as London has been ranked the second most expensive city in the world for so-called 'gig taxes', which sees fans fork out for much more beyond the concert ticket itself. From the cost of a hotel to taxis, dinner, refreshments, and merchandise at the venue, costs can quickly skyrocket for fans hoping to see their favourite artist on stage.
LateRooms.com revealed New York City is the most expensive city for concert-related price surges, with nightly hotel room rates jumping from $178 to $452, and taxi rides to venues typically costing $20.30. London came in second place, with hotel rates rising from £183 per night to £465 per night during major shows, while average taxi rides cost £16.41. Amsterdam rounds off the top three (€157 to €399 per night), followed by Paris (€153 to €389), Dublin (€145 to €368), Sydney (AUD $207 to AUD $526), and Barcelona (€150 to €381).
CEO at LateRooms.com, Matthew Fox, said: 'Cities with accommodation demand relative to venue capacity, like Manchester and London, consistently show the sharpest spikes. For fans planning a gig trip this summer, our advice is to treat the hotel the same way you treated the ticket…book early, and don't wait.'
