BOSSES at a controversial �18.6 million public venue in Suffolk say it has ‘exceeded expectations’.

Tony Doherty, venue director at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds, said ticket sales and visitor feedback has exceeded expectation since the hall opened in October last year.

“I am absolutely delighted the Apex has been so busy and attracted so many diverse groups during the opening months,” he said. “I very much look forward to this trend continuing in the future.”

More than 22,000 tickets have been sold to date for various entertainment and music events at the venue, owned by St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

The auditorium has hosted 120 public shows ranging from rock to folk to jazz and classical music as well as comedy and dance events.

Country singer Elkie Brooks sold the venue out twice and visitors have flocked from as far afield as Reading, Brighton, Derby and Swansea to enjoy the performances on offer.

But Derek Redhead, borough councillor for Wickhambrook, said although he welcomed news of ticket sales, he would rather the cost of the building went down.

Despite its promising ‘sound check season’, the Apex is still set to receive a share of �580,000 of subsidy from St Edmundsbury taxpayers in the next year.

“The Apex is a very nice place and it is a super venue,” Mr Redhead said. “But it is not big enough and I think it will be a burden for the people of Bury for as long as it’s owned by the council.”

Around 9,286 tickets worth a total of �96,824 were sold for events at the Apex in the ‘sound check season’ during its first three months, which is 22 per cent of the building’s annual target of 42,680 ticket sales.