Music fans have been left feeling short changed after a licensing curfew means gigs are finishing early.

The Parlure Spiegeltent, which is based on the green next to St Peter's Church, is subject to an 11pm curfew order made by Brighton and Hove City Council.

It means live music cannot be played after this time, when it is replaced by quieter recorded music so residents are not disturbed.

The Spiegeltent's organisers were not aware of the curfew when they arranged the venue's programme, so some acts have been advertised as finishing at 12.30pm. This means some festival goers are turning up to gigs at 10.30pm to find there is only half an hour of live music left.

Tom Wood, 40, who lives in the Port Hall area of Brighton, was disappointed after seeing Alice Russell and Dub Pistols Soundsystem.

He said: "Alice Russell was due to start at 10pm and finish at 12.30pm, but they had to finish at 11pm. You pay £12 to see a live band but she couldn't even chat between songs because she had to rattle through the set.

"We went back for Dub Pistols but even the live music wasn't loud enough, there was basically no bass at all and the equipment didn't work.

"I just feel it is totally dishonest and we have been misled because of a communication breakdown."

Mr Wood has been offered a refund for the Dub Pistols event but has been told he has to go to the Spiegeltent in person to receive it.

Jessica Joy Magill, the Spiegeltent's project manager, said: "With some of the music shows some people are getting here at 10.30pm and are then a bit upset because they have missed most of the live music.

"We just want to remind people this is more like going to a gig at somewhere like the Royal Albert Hall, where you turn up at the set time to see it and then stay afterwards to have a drink and a dance."

Holly Payton, communications manager for Brighton Festival Fringe, said: "Because the issue of the licence came about after the Spiegeltent printed its brochure it is not really its fault and we have been trying to spread the word. It has to turn down the music because of the residents but it is still a good show, so long as you get there on time."