Organisers of Wonka event provide update on refunds
THE organisers of a botched Willy Wonka-inspired experience have provided an update on refunds.
The experience took place at Box Hub Warehouse in the Whiteinch area of Glasgow on Saturday, February 24.
We previously reported that fuming parents hit out at the botched Willy Wonka event.
The ‘immersive’ experience was branded a failure by angry families who had forked out around £35 for tickets.
They were met by a sparsely decorated room including a few plastic props, a little bouncy castle, and small backdrops pinned to walls.
Following it, the event organisers House of Illuminati came under fire with parents saying their ‘ideas are about the same as a chocolate teapot’.
Others claimed ‘you’ll get more of a Willy Wonka experience walking down the chocolate aisle in Asda’.
Previously, the company said that full refunds would be given to all attendees.
Now, the firm has provided an update on the refunds after ‘concern’ they haven’t been received yet.
In a statement on social media, House of Illuminati said: “I’ve heard from some of you that there’s confusion and concern about refunds not being received from the Willys Chocolate Experience event.
“I want to clear the air and honestly say that yes, while some are still waiting, many have indeed received their refunds.
“I can’t say sorry enough for the inconvenience this has caused.
“The fallout from this event has been heart-wrenching. Not just the disappointment, but the real fear and worry from threats made to people not associated with the company and against the director.
“It’s been tough seeing the hurt these actions have caused.
“If you haven’t seen your refund yet, please check with your bank. They might be able to help sort this out faster.
“From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry for the mess.”
Meanwhile, props from the event raised more than £2,000 at auction for a Palestinian aid charity.
The backdrops from the botched event were found in a bin.
Monorail record store in Glasgow auctioned them on eBay after they were passed on by the finder and online manager Michael Kasparis.
He said: “We are all watching it like you’d watch the end of a football game.
“It was a £900 and then jumped to £1,050, then one second before it closed it was a £2,050 and it came through at £2,250.
“We’d thought if it goes into four figures we’d be very happy so it was a pretty amazing result.”
He said the buyer of the backdrops is not from Glasgow but lives elsewhere in the UK.
“I was slightly worried that the joke had gone but it doesn’t look like it’s going away any time soon,” he added.
The money raised is being donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians to help provide medical services in Gaza.
Mr Kasparis said: “I personally was a little bit worried that the auction was a bit silly for the cause but we thought if it raises money that’s the most important thing.
“It’s a charity we’ve all donated to and that we all care deeply about and it was kind of a nobrainer when we thought to auction it for charity.”
The Wonka event gained viral notoriety after images of the sparsely decorated warehouse in Glasgow staffed by actors dressed as Oompa Loompas and other characters spread worldwide.