Squelching in a Winter Wonderland…
Ho ho ho turned into ‘no no no’ at two UK ‘winter wonderland’ attractions over the weekend, which failed to live up to expectations.
The Bakewell Winter Wonderland, in Derbyshire (pictured below), was criticised for mud, lack of parking, long queues, poor health and safety and an overall lack of seasonal atmosphere, with one visitor describing it as ‘an absolutely disgusting mud bath’.
The show, at Bakewell showground in Derbyshire, runs for three days in November and again from 9-11 December offering crafts, grotto and reindeer.
But comments on social media said the site was in the middle of ‘a muddy field’.
One Facebook comment said: "Never in my life I have been to such a disaster. Health and safety is a joke too…. cables everywhere. Absolute joke!"
A spokesman from ALDmedia, which represents the event’s organiser, told the Guardian: "We can only apologise for any inconvenience caused. However, we cannot avoid the awful weather we have experienced.
"Planned measures were put in place to combat the mud, including removing surface water overnight and laying straw.
"Organisers are sorry to hear some people have not enjoyed the event, but the majority of feedback has been positive."
Meanwhile, in Cumbria, families queued for over 90 minutes to see a ‘scary’ Father Christmas in an inflatable grotto with no festive lights or decorations, according to the Sun newspaper.
The newspaper reports the Santa was sacked for smoking and a promised ice rink was flooded.
The Hawcoat Park Sports and Social Club, which organised the event, promised a German market, funfair rides, an ice rink, festive food and a visit from Father Christmas, but said rain caused some of the problems.
It also admitted some of the attractions were not ready.
Organisers blamed the rain for some of the problems, admitting the conditions meant not all the attractions were ready.
One of the club directors, Jack Charnley, admitted Father Christmas had been caught smoking.
He said: "We got a new Santa straight away. As soon as we knew about it, it was nipped in the bud. It was completely unacceptable."
Picture credit: Caters News Agency
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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