Counting the cost of the world's biggest party

MENTION the millennium and most people roll their eyes and grimace. But if you have a buck to make you'll probably rub your hands with glee.

Whether you want to live it up, boogy on down, pig out or just stay in, it's not only the booze that will give you a headache.

Bosses at Blackburn nightclub Utopia have promised a party to remember, but are warning it won't be cheap.

A spokesman said owners First Leisure had surveyed clubbers across the country to see what they wanted.

"At the moment we are processing the response to see what we can come up with. We will definitely be doing something, but the cost is going to be incredible. That will definitely be reflected in the door price," he said.

Bosses at the Genesis and Mean Cat Daddy's nightclubs in Burnley are softening the blow with a free bottle of premium champagne for every customer on Millennium Eve. On top of that they are throwing a party on Millennium Day for anyone who can't make it out the night before.

Manager Peck McCanon said admission on New Year's Eve would range from £50 to £90, depending how soon customers bought their tickets.

"The ticket price includes drinks all night and a free bottle of Moet and Chandon champagne on arrival," he said.

"Admission on New Year's Day will be free, with cut-price drinks. We think we are making our customers a brilliant offer."

Dinner at the award-winning Northcote Manor, Langho, will cost you a cool £500 and the restaurant is only taking minimum bookings for four.

A spokesman said the price would include drinks and regular customers were being given top priority.

Dinner at Callums Bistro, Accrington, is a relative snip at £199.99, which also includes drinks and champagne on arrival.

Proprietor Ray Peake said: "It is going to cost me over £1,000 to employ staff that night. Half of the tables are booked already," he said.

But Henk Van Heumen, of the Auctioneer restaurant, Clitheroe, described the prices as absurd.

"We will be charging a reasonable price for a four-course meal. I don't know what it will be yet," he said.

"Like everyone else we will be struggling to get staff. We hope to charge a price that reflects our costs and our regular customers will be given priority.

"We don't want to rip people off. It's absurd what some places are charging."

Many hotels and restaurants are refusing to open due to the spiralling cost of employing staff.

Lilian Hargreaves, proprietor of the Mytton Fold Farm Hotel, Langho, said she would not be opening in order to give her hard-working staff a well-earned break. "The cost of employing relief staff would have been huge," she said.

The Oaks Hotel in Reedley, which employs about 70 full and part-time staff has taken the decision to close after a survey of customers.

Marketing director Jane Waterworth said: "Cost was not the prime consideration in the decision. We have spent a lot of time looking at everything because this is a special occasion and it will be unique.

"We felt that with the uncertainty about what is going to happen with suppliers and everything else we could not with any strength of conviction to open. The last thing we wanted to do was have customers feel we were taking advantage of them.

"We had to think about the people that work for us and we wanted to give as many as possible time to spend with their family and friends."

But even if you decide to stay in, the cost of popping a cork looks set to soar as the millennium approaches.

Roger Yates, of Edward's Wines, which has three branches in Blackburn, said the firm was bracing itself for a booze bonanza.

But he was expecting a hike in the price of champagne from suppliers. "The millennium is going to be very beneficial for off-licences. A lot of village halls and marquees are booked up for private parties. We always get extra supplies for Christmas and New Year, but expect bumper sales this year."

Andrew Byrne, of Byrne's Wine Merchants, Clitheroe, said the firm had already received several large drinks orders for private parties.

"We certainly expect to be busy and some suppliers have already increased their champagne prices," he said.

And turn of the century trips abroad could cost the earth, with one holiday firm quoting nearly £600 for a room-only weekend in Paris and over £3,000 for a week in New York.

Some local taxi drivers have turned their back on the "millennium madness".

Tariq Mahmood, of Intack Taxis, Blackburn, said: "It's not right to con people out of their money.

"I don't think drivers will get away with charging excessive fares. People just won't pay them."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.