Jools Holland fans have spoken of their outrage after security staff at the city’s top music venue confiscated hundreds of umbrellas as torrential rain swept across the north-east.
Hundreds of attendees were left queuing in the teeming rain outside Aberdeen’s Exhibition and Conference Centre on Thursday night.
Many sheltered beneath umbrellas, only to fall foul of security who seized a number of brollies prior to entry to the venue before chucking them into a large wheelie bins.
An AECC spokeswoman said many fans had been offered the chance to store their umbrellas, while others were allowed to leave them at the entrance to collect after the gig.
Robin Shaw, 63, from Aberdeenshire, however, was attending the gig alongside his wife Sandra and daughter Claire when their telescopic brollie – worth £50 – was taken off them.
Mr Shaw said he saw hundreds of umbrellas dumped into bins and said the heavy-handed security had dampened spirits on what was otherwise an excellent evening and made them rethink visiting the venue again.
Mr Shaw said: “There must have been thousands of people waiting in the pouring rain to make their way into Jools Holland.
“They were all huddling beneath umbrellas but to our shock we were told by security staff that we were not allowed to bring our brollies into the venue.
“They were being confiscated and just dumped in bins.
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“We were told it was a new policy and that the details were on the AECC’s website but I’ve since looked at that and the policy only mentions golf umbrellas.
“There is no mention of small telescopic umbrellas, like my wife’s, which would have fitted into a bag.
“The security staff all had wands but they were so focused on taking umbrellas that they were barely even looking in people’s bags. It was a shambles. We’ll certainly think again about attending the AECC.”
Within the venue’s admission policy, it outlines that all large umbrellas, including golf umbrellas would be banned from the concert, though venue organisers confirmed compact brollies were not covered by the same restrictions.
An AECC spokeswoman said: “Having spoken with our security manager with regards to last night’s show, the policy was enforced however guests were offered to return to their vehicles to store their umbrellas.
“Many guests also left their umbrellas at the main entrance and collected on exit.
“Umbrellas were allowed in to the venue if they were compact and could be placed inside a bag.”
In July, the AECC came under fire after fans at a Little Mix concert were pushed against security fencing as rain fell, while there was near panic as some struggled to leave the venue.
Michele Eaves, who also attended the Jools Holland gig, said she saw numerous umbrellas in bins – though she was able to hold on to hers, after a fashion.
“We arrived and were about to put our small brollies into a carrier bag and then into a handbag only to be stopped,” she said.
“We were categorically told we must leave them behind, on the floor, and that staff would be there, so they wouldn’t go missing.
“I have been to many concerts before and have never seen this happen. It was daft.”