RECENTLY I saw Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit at York’s Theatre Royal. It was an excellent production and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

However, I bought my ticket at the theatre box office just five minutes prior to the play commencing and paid in cash.

In the past I’ve occasionally paid booking fees for shows or events at various venues when paying with my debit card. But being charged a booking fee when paying in cash at a venue box office is a new one on me.

I can understand the reasons behind it. Obviously, I assume that the theatre’s expenditure isn’t covered by their income and they need to increase their revenue.

But what next? Railway stations charging a booking fee to buy a ticket in cash? Or supermarkets charging a transaction fee to pay for groceries?

Dale Edwards, Newborough Street, Bootham, York.