Sue Cohen: Disappointed Pavarotti will not be there

The tenor was due to appear at the festival on 5 July, for the first in a series of farewell concerts before his retirement in 2005.

"I'm gutted and disappointed," said Menna Jones from Betws-yn-Rhos, Conwy, who had spent a total of �392 on 14 tickets.

Pavarotti's special Llangollen dinner Salmon mousse wrapped in smoked salmon Roast sirloin of Welsh black beef White chocolate and strawberry tartlets Coffee, fresh cream and petit fours

"I only received my first lot of tickets yesterday and the other two arrived today.

"I want my money back but was told by the distributors they were only going to offer alternative tickets if there was a cancellation."

Agents acting on behalf of Pavarotti claim he will still perform at Llangollen, but concert goers will have to wait until 2005.

"We were told by Pavarotti's agents that he had decided that instead of starting his farewell tour in Llangollen, he wants to finish it in Llangollen and give his very last concert here in 2005," said eisteddfod chief executive Gwyn Williams.

Pavarotti, who first appeared at the international festival in 1955 when he was 19, was due to stay at the Bryn Howel Hotel in Llangollen.

Hotelier Sue Cohen said they had arranged a gala dinner for 100 people which would have brought in �30,000.

Chief executive Gwyn Williams hopes Pavarotti will come back in 2005

The event, nearly a sell-out, included dinner with the Italian tenor and seats at his concert.

"All the staff and everyone is disappointed especially people who had booked the gala dinner," she said.

"We've had people booking tables of ten and people had booked the tickets as a surprise for their partners."

"We had even prepared to give him the same menu he had last time when he stayed in 1995 as he really enjoyed the Welsh black beef and strawberry tarts. "

"The hotel had also arranged to bring back the same waiter who had served the opera star during his stay eight years ago."

Mrs Cohen said the star's decision would have a knock-on effect for the town.

"It's a blow to the hotels in the area too because ours was full, so we were passing people on to others in the area."

The Llangollen Eisteddfod is a major event in the music calendar, attracting 80,000 visitors each year.

Cardiff's Dame Shirley Bassey is due to perform at the eisteddfod's gala night on 13 July.