WATCH NOW: GB News debate Halloween celebrations in the UK
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Visitors to Britain’s “most depressing” pumpkin patch have likened the attraction to Glasgow’s 2024 Willy Wonka event.
The Halloween-themed event in Barton Mills, Suffolk, is advertised as the “perfect family pumpkin patch”.
However, it has faced backlash from visitors after opening its doors earlier this month.
One visitor described it as “a load of Tesco pumpkins in a field” accompanied by “rip-off fairground rides”.
The pumpkin patch is part of a wider attraction featuring food vans and fairground rides and is available to visitors for an extra £5.
Alex Dodman, one visitor, shared his disappointment online after he spent £19.52 taking his family of five to the attraction.
Mr Dodman shared videos of the event that revealed sparsely scattered pumpkins, some of which were smashed alongside “questionable decor”.
The venue is surrounded by a metal fence and a busy motorway, with some visitors describing nails sticking out of the mini-golf area, which is designed for children.
Mr Dodman said: “To be honest, I don’t blame the organisers or the vendors. It goes deeper than that.”
“This is where we are at now with things in the UK,” he added.
The father paid £9 for his three children to go on one ride.
Suffolk Pumpkin Patch has since responded to criticism about the additional entry fee.
It cited the effacement of the attraction as the reason behind unforeseen costs.
Organisers posted: “We often get asked, ‘Why do you charge an entrance fee to the pumpkin patch?’
“Well, unfortunately, this is one of the reasons why…
“Every morning, after a busy day welcoming families to our patch, we are faced with the heartbreaking sight of more and more pumpkins deliberately smashed, damaged displays and unnecessary mess left behind.”
In the same post, the organisers urged people to respect the venue.
It also reminded visitors that they are a small, family-run enterprise.
When approached for comment, Suffolk Pumpkin Patch told LadBible: “Here at Suffolk Pumpkin Patch, we have had a lot of good feedback and only a small amount of bad over the last two weeks.
“We are the only pumpkin patch in the East Anglian area with a 44-metre observation wheel, the family favourite dodgems and the waltzers.
“Also small kiddies rides and attractions which we have capped the ride owners to charge between £3 to £6 for, which is good value for money compared to a lot of places.
“We have tried our very hardest to keep costs low, but with the rising cost of living and fuel we are finding things hard, but we are pleased with what we have achieved this year being our first year.’’
However, the attraction was compared to “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” in Glasgow, where admission costs reached £35.
Eager families who turned up at an industrial area at the time described it as “little more than an abandoned, empty warehouse”.
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