THE UK Snooker Tournament and York's Festival of Remembrance today looked set to be staged once more at the Barbican Centre this autumn.

Prospective centre operators Absolute Leisure revealed it had offered to reopen the centre at a loss - as a goodwill gesture - so the events could take place, along with York's Community Carol Concert.

Company boss Tony Knox said it had held a meeting with City of York Council three weeks ago, and reached a provisional agreement enabling it to operate the two events, although some issues still needed to be resolved, including public liability.

"When these issues are resolved we expect the necessary paperwork to be signed and we hope that will happen this week," he said.

News of the agreement came as a ray of light for Festival of Remembrance organiser Ted Griffiths, whose hopes of staging the event again at its traditional home on November 6 had appeared to be fading.

Absolute Leisure had said previously it would open up the centre temporarily this autumn to stage the events, but only if it had obtained a late licence for the complex.

A City of York Council licensing sub-committee granted a late licence application last month, but almost 100 local residents have since appealed to magistrates against that decision.

York Magistrates Court has now revealed that an initial hearing will take place on September 8, at which a date for the full hearing will be set. A court spokeswoman could not say how long it would take to find a suitable date, but it seems likely to be well into the autumn - which would have been far too late for organisers to prepare for the snooker and festival.

Mr Griffiths said today: "I would be absolutely delighted if we can go to the Barbican. I was a bit down in the dumps yesterday, but now you've cheered me up!"

Carol concert organiser Graham Bradbury was equally delighted. He said he had already been told the event could take place at the Barbican on November 27, and he had ordered posters and tickets to be printed.

Campaigners against the late licence had previously called on the council to guarantee that the events could still go ahead - no matter what happened with the appeal.

But the council said it was committed to Absolute Leisure being the Barbican's new operators. "They will be overseeing the event programme from now on and managing any event that takes place at the centre," said a spokeswoman.

"However, we are very supportive of both the British Legion and Snooker Championship events, and will be meeting with Absolute Leisure to assist them wherever we can to try and ensure their continuity."

Updated: 08:24 Wednesday, August 17, 2005