26 NOVEMBER 2005, Page 59

Q. Further to your suggestion that scrap suppers be served

on site to ‘die-hards’ following private views in art galleries, is this not the solution to reversing the declining numbers of classical concertgoers? Would it not be wonderful to offer the punters a scrap supper on stage or in the auditorium along with the musicians following the concert for an extra £10 or so? In my view this would drive huge numbers of unpushy but top-of-the-range people into concert halls knowing that they would afterwards be able to chat to the musicians and mingle in like-minded company.

J.L., London NW1 A. Your idea is a corker which would definitely drive more trade into our concert halls.

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