Theatregoers warned over website branded the 'Ryanair of ticketing agencies'

Theatregoers today warned users of a ticket website which advertises huge discounts to West End shows to read the small print or risk being caught out.

The online shop Best Of Theatre claims to offer cut-price tickets to big-name events with “no hidden costs”.

But some customers accused the site of being the “Ryanair of ticketing agencies” in not being clear about the costs after paying more than if they had gone straight to the venue themselves. Research by the Standard revealed that while some midweek tickets sell at 60 per cent below official prices, weekend tickets typically cost more than at the box office.

Two stalls tickets for the Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre on a Saturday night cost £230 through Best of Theatre compared with £190 for the neighbouring two seats direct from the venue. The same two grand circle seats for the Lion King at the Lyceum for a Thursday in August cost £24.60 more than the official £124.40.

Some buyers complained the box office price is only shown at the final step of the purchase, in a small font at the top of a form that must be filled in within a 15-minute limit. Frances Pardell, 54, bought two tickets online for Shakespeare in Love for £73, but later learned this included a 25 per cent booking fee. She said she did not notice the face value of £57.50 on the payment page.