YORK'S Festival of Remembrance has hit a new obstacle.

Organiser Ted Griffiths, who is trying to prepare for this year's event, claimed today he had recently been told by Absolute Leisure that the city's Barbican Centre would be available for the event this autumn.

He had then ordered posters, leaflets, letters and tickets, stating it would take place there on November 6.

Mr Griffiths had planned to display the posters and hand out leaflets this Sunday, when hundreds of veterans are due to take part in a service, march and reception in York to mark VE/VJ Day.

But he was shocked when he read in the Evening Press earlier this week that Absolute Leisure would pull out of plans to refurbish and reopen the Barbican if it failed in an application for a late licence next week.

It indicated it would open up the centre this autumn - allowing the festival, a carol service and the UK Snooker Tournament to take place - but only if a city council licensing committee next week agrees to let it serve alcohol until 2am.

Mr Griffiths said he had spent hundreds of pounds on printing material stating the event would happen at the centre on November 6, but would now have to delay posting out letters and abandon plans to publicise the event on Sunday. "What a carry on," he said.

But Absolute Leisure said today it had only told him it would be happy to support the festival IF it was in charge of the Barbican.

A spokeswoman added: "As it seems that it will all be settled on Monday anyway, perhaps the best suggestion to him is to wait until then before he makes any moves to send any information out.

"If Absolute does take over, then obviously there will be no problem."

However, campaigners against the late licence - who say they fear it will lead to late-night noise and disturbance - have vowed to lodge an appeal if the committee decides to approve the application, which would could cause further delay.

Ernie Dickinson, spokesman for the Save Our Barbican campaign, said an appeal would be made to magistrates on the basis that the licensing committee had been biased, because of the council's interest in the redevelopment going ahead. The council has insisted that the committee will be independent and unbiased.

Updated: 10:36 Friday, July 08, 2005