ONE of Hampshire’s premier cultural festivals is poised to leave the county.

Grange Park Opera is considering abandoning Northington Grange in Alresford, its home for 17 years, and moving to Surrey.

The threat of GPO vacating the Grange will be greeted with dismay by local businesses who benefit from the trade its summer festival brings.

GPO has been based at the listed mansion since 1998 and has developed an opera season to rival that of the internationally-renowned Glyndebourne. This summer saw Bryn Terfel perform in Fiddler on the Roof.

The opera is negotiating a new lease as the current one is expires in 2016. But it is unhappy about the rolling ten-year lease on offer and is tempted by a 40-year lease at the home of Bamber Gascoigne, the 80-year-old former presenter of TV quiz University Challenge.

The opera is also attracted by the prospect of a longer season than eight weeks at the Grange.

But the landowner of the Grange, the Baring family, is keen to keep the opera at the unique venue set in parkland by Northington Lake.

Daily Echo:

Northington Grange, home of Grange Park Opera. Photo by Robert Workman

Mark Baring, the son of Lord Ashburton, told the Chronicle it was untrue that GPO had been asked to pay £1 million to stay.

Mr Baring declined to discuss details of the negotiations, but said: “We are very committed to continuing the opera festival, we think it has been a great thing.

“Wasfi Kani [GPO founder] made a great contribution to set it up.

“If she wants to go to Surrey, putting something in place with Bamber Gascoigne, that is up to her, but we think this is a great festival that should continue.”

Mr Baring said he had never been asked to extend the season but it is something he would consider.

Should GPO leave then the Barings would look to attract another opera company. “It has been a great success story and it would be a great pity if it went, but we are determined to ensure opera continues there come what may,” he said.

The 550-seat auditorium was built with publicly-raised funds including from many local people.

Simon Evans, managing director of The Naked Grape and chairman of the Alresford Chamber of Commerce, said: “It would be a great shame to lose this summer event as it is a unique cultural event.

“I’m sure many local business would be interested in talking to the organisers to see if increased business involvement could help to support them.”

In a statement GPO said: “The 2016 festival will take place at The Grange, but we are now in a position when our lease is coming to an end. The GPO charity trustees are obviously considering the long-term future. To this end, we are exploring the possibility of a new lease at The Grange, as well as looking at other sites in and around the Home Counties.

“We do understand that our members and sponsors feel great affection for Grange Park Opera and we will keep you informed of developments.”