• Attendees at Willy Wonka-inspired pop-up in Glasgow were disappointed as it did not meet expectations
• Event fell short on decor, atmosphere, and treats, leading to cancellation and demands for refunds
• Company behind event, House of Illuminati, issued an apology and promised full refunds to ticket holders
Here is what happened:
The Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Glasgow, Scotland, promised guests an immersive Willy Wonka-inspired pop-up with extraordinary props, oversized lollipops, and a paradise of sweet treats. However, attendees were disappointed when they found an abandoned warehouse with minimal decorations and treats that fell short of expectations. Visitor Eva Stewart described the experience as “basically advertised as this big massive Willy Wonka experience with optical illusions and big chocolate fountains and sweets, but when we got there, it was practically an abandoned, empty warehouse, with hardly anything in it.”
As the event unfolded, attendees like Stuart Sinclair expressed their dissatisfaction with the meager offerings. Sinclair mentioned that his kids only received two jelly beans each and half a cup of lemonade, leading to frustrations among visitors. The event was canceled on the afternoon of February 24, prompting the Police Service of Scotland to be called to manage the situation as guests demanded refunds.
Michael Archibald, an actor hired to work at the event, expressed concerns about the event’s execution, including the decor and the use of an AI-generated script. Despite the lackluster experience, House of Illuminati, the company behind the event, issued an apology for the disappointments faced by attendees and promised full refunds to ticket holders. The venue, Box Hub, echoed the sentiment of disappointment and emphasized that they were only responsible for facilitating the venue hire, urging House of Illuminati to fulfill their promise of refunds to the disgruntled customers.
