Pub landlord claims £300,000 from Van Morrison for no-show at concert

The landlord of a rural inn who staged rock concerts in his beer garden to boost profits claimed yesterday he had been ruined after the singer Van Morrison suddenly pulled out of a commitment.

Gary Marlow spent two years trying to persuade the Belfast-born superstar to swap his more usual venues such as London and Munich for the backyard of the Crown Pub in Everleigh, Wiltshire.

The High Court in London was told Van Morrison abruptly pulled out of the concert scheduled for last August after complaining publicity surrounding it had breached his contract with Mr Marlow.

The publican yesterday made an application to the court to increase the amount he is claiming from the musician and the production company, Exile, from £20,000 to £300,000.

Stuart Cakebread, for Mr Marlow, said: "It's Mr Marlow's case this ruined his business. It destroyed his business and his personal life. This is really a make-or-break claim."

The court was told the initial claim, to cover the return of an advance payment given to Van Morrison and lost profits from tickets and drinks, had been increased because of the long-term effects on Mr Marlow's finances.

The pub, a 17th-century coaching inn that once housed a courtroom, had started staging pop concerts to try to recover trade lost because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Previous performers have included Peter Green, the former guitarist with Fleetwood Mac, whose appearance cost Mr Marlow £18,000. He did not make a profit from it.

The Van Morrison concert was intended to pull in 1,600 fans. Mr Marlow said the singer's list of personal requirements ran to several pages, and that the refusal of Van Morrison to honour his contract had destroyed the reputation of the venue. Outside court, Mr Marlow said: "It's quite simple. We either win with costs or we go bust."

Thomas Croxford, for Van Morrison, said Mr Marlow's new claim based on damage to his business's reputation was "inherently improbable".

The hearing continues.