A DISGRUNTLED tribute band has penned a letter to the Ritz in London after it threatened a Brighouse music venue sharing the same name with legal action, forcing it to close.

Owen James, 34, a member of Police tribute band The Rozzers, said he was in “disbelief” over The Ritz hotel’s decision to seek legal action against a ballroom of the same name.

He was so perplexed that he wrote to the London hotel to ask if it would cover the band’s loss of earnings - or even let them stay the night for free.

His letter joked that the London hotel was a “small fledgling operation”.

The Ritz in Brighouse hit the headlines last week after owner Glenn Smith revealed the business - which has been open for 80 years - had been threatened with legal action by the London hotel unless it changed its name.

Mr Smith said the incident was “domain hijacking”, adding: “What they want is our domain name, liveattheritz.com and they’re using bully-boy tactics to get it.”

He said the venue’s website was “everything” and said the venue was forced to close as a result of the hotel’s threats.

The Rozzers were supposed to be playing at The Ritz in Brighouse on March 11.

Band frontman and bass player Owen posted a picture on Facebook of the letter he had written to the famous hotel.

It read: “My band ‘The Rozzers’ (Sting and Police Tribute Act) were due to play a show at The Ritz (Venue in Brighouse, not your hotel in London, so confusing!) on Saturday, March 11, 2017.

“But as you have threatened the venue with legal action forcing them to close, the gig has been cancelled with no hope of re-booking. I have therefore included an invoice with this letter to cover our loss or earnings.”

It continued: ‘”I understand you are a small fledgling operation so you need to protect your good name. Similarly, I need to protect my income and the income of the people in my band so I would appreciate prompt payment please.

"Alternatively, we have several London shows later this year and need somewhere to stay.

“The cost of two rooms at your place is roughly equal to the loss of earnings from the cancelled Ritz show (the venue in Brighouse, not your hotel in London)."(sic.)

Owen also poked fun at his tribute acts name and explained the Rozzers hoped to initiate legal action of their own again The Police (Law enforcers) and The Police (80s punk/reggae band).

Owen said: “The Ritz hotel’s pursuit over legal action and it closing the ballroom in Brighouse is just part of a bigger picture. As we know music venues are suffering and genuinely with live music these days we find it hard to find a suitable venue.

“When we heard the gig was cancelled and the Ritz would have to shut, I felt mainly disbelief.

“I understand The Ritz have a business to protect, but like, who would ever confused a ballroom in Brighouse with The Ritz hotel in Piccadilly.

“I can’t quite believe also that The Ritz hotel, being as busy as they are, even have time to pursue this sort of thing.”

He added: “The letter is a little joke and we do not for one moment that The Ritz hotel will reply.

“At the end of the day we’ve lost one gig - but for a venue it is a much more serious matter and for a well known institution from Brighouse - it’s just terrible news.

“It is definitely a principle thing over getting any damages back from The Ritz - but we’ll see if they reply and hopefully it’ll give the Yorkshire Ritz a bit of publicity.”

Owen said he hoped the venue would re-open later in the year.

A spokesman for The Ritz in Brighouse said: “The legal position is clear in that there are other Third Party commercial entities that have the right to prevent us from using the name ‘Ritz’ in any shape or form. Sadly this situation has only recently been brought to our attention.”

“You will appreciate that this is a most regrettable and unfortunate situation after 80 years of trading the business under this name.”

The Ritz in London did not comment.