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| Brothers' Lapland 'festive treat' was hardly winter wonderland, court told | Brothers' Lapland 'festive treat' was hardly winter wonderland, court told |
| (30 days later) | |
| Steven Morris | |
| Wed 8 Dec 2010 18.42 GMT | |
| First published on Wed 8 Dec 2010 18.42 GMT | |
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| It was billed as a "winter wonderland" – a delightful, snowy Christmas land featuring picturesque log cabins, a bustling market, husky dogs, reindeer and even polar bears. | It was billed as a "winter wonderland" – a delightful, snowy Christmas land featuring picturesque log cabins, a bustling market, husky dogs, reindeer and even polar bears. |
| But instead of a magical festive treat, visitors who came from far and wide to Lapland New Forest found mud, wooden buildings with the "lightest possible dusting of snow", fairylights hung from trees rather than creating a "magical tunnel of light" and a broken ice rink. | But instead of a magical festive treat, visitors who came from far and wide to Lapland New Forest found mud, wooden buildings with the "lightest possible dusting of snow", fairylights hung from trees rather than creating a "magical tunnel of light" and a broken ice rink. |
| That was the description relayed to a jury at Bristol crown court today. At the trial, brought for the alleged misleading of customers, the jury heard that brothers Victor and Henry Mears stood to make more than £1m from their attraction, on the border of Dorset and Hampshire. | That was the description relayed to a jury at Bristol crown court today. At the trial, brought for the alleged misleading of customers, the jury heard that brothers Victor and Henry Mears stood to make more than £1m from their attraction, on the border of Dorset and Hampshire. |
| Yet within days of the Lapland theme park opening two years ago, hundreds of disgruntled visitors complained to local authority trading standards. | Yet within days of the Lapland theme park opening two years ago, hundreds of disgruntled visitors complained to local authority trading standards. |
| The attraction closed after a week, the owners blaming criticism from the media and sabotage from what they described as "New Forest villains". | The attraction closed after a week, the owners blaming criticism from the media and sabotage from what they described as "New Forest villains". |
| At the start of the trial, Malcolm Gibney, prosecuting, told jurors people had travelled from as far as west Wales and the Midlands to visit Lapland New Forest, near Ringwood. | At the start of the trial, Malcolm Gibney, prosecuting, told jurors people had travelled from as far as west Wales and the Midlands to visit Lapland New Forest, near Ringwood. |
| "Some of them travelled many, many, miles and they told of their utter disappointment at what they saw, and their anger. | "Some of them travelled many, many, miles and they told of their utter disappointment at what they saw, and their anger. |
| "The only feeling of 'wow' that many of the consumers felt was 'wow, what a con'. There were a lot of families with young children that spent a lot of money on what they hoped would be a wonderful Christmas treat." | "The only feeling of 'wow' that many of the consumers felt was 'wow, what a con'. There were a lot of families with young children that spent a lot of money on what they hoped would be a wonderful Christmas treat." |
| Gibney told the jury that an eye-catching website offered a "snow-covered village near Bournemouth" with a "magical tunnel of light", "beautiful snow-covered log cabins", a "bustling Christmas market", "wonderful ice rink" and "delicious hot and cold seasonal food". | Gibney told the jury that an eye-catching website offered a "snow-covered village near Bournemouth" with a "magical tunnel of light", "beautiful snow-covered log cabins", a "bustling Christmas market", "wonderful ice rink" and "delicious hot and cold seasonal food". |
| Gibney said the website stated in bold that "the attention to detail of our theme park will truly wow you" and boasted "as our show is being staged for the first time, our website can only begin to hint at our wonderland". | Gibney said the website stated in bold that "the attention to detail of our theme park will truly wow you" and boasted "as our show is being staged for the first time, our website can only begin to hint at our wonderland". |
| Tickets, which were purchased in advance online, were £30 each, reduced to £25 if four were bought. Children under two were charged £10. There was a charge of £5 for postage for online tickets, and it cost extra to hire skates for the rink. | Tickets, which were purchased in advance online, were £30 each, reduced to £25 if four were bought. Children under two were charged £10. There was a charge of £5 for postage for online tickets, and it cost extra to hire skates for the rink. |
| Fliers claimed the attraction was a place "where dreams really do come true", adding: "Lapland has come to Dorset." The fliers said there would be "real huskies, donkeys, polar bears and reindeer". | Fliers claimed the attraction was a place "where dreams really do come true", adding: "Lapland has come to Dorset." The fliers said there would be "real huskies, donkeys, polar bears and reindeer". |
| Trading standards officers saw a very different scene. Instead of a winter wonderland, they found muddy fields and the "lightest possible dusting of snow" on the cabins, the jury heard. | Trading standards officers saw a very different scene. Instead of a winter wonderland, they found muddy fields and the "lightest possible dusting of snow" on the cabins, the jury heard. |
| Instead of a "bustling Christmas market", there were two food stalls selling German sausages and a choice of turkey or pork and stuffing baguettes. | Instead of a "bustling Christmas market", there were two food stalls selling German sausages and a choice of turkey or pork and stuffing baguettes. |
| "It should have been abundantly clear to both defendants that the way the theme park was being advertised misrepresented to people what they were going to get," Gibney said. | "It should have been abundantly clear to both defendants that the way the theme park was being advertised misrepresented to people what they were going to get," Gibney said. |
| The court heard that Victor Mears, 67, was the company's sole director but was being assisted by his 60-year-old brother, Henry, who was managing Lapland and was responsible for its promotion. | The court heard that Victor Mears, 67, was the company's sole director but was being assisted by his 60-year-old brother, Henry, who was managing Lapland and was responsible for its promotion. |
| The brothers, of Brighton, East Sussex, face five charges of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading action, and three charges of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading omission. They deny all charges. The trial continues. | The brothers, of Brighton, East Sussex, face five charges of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading action, and three charges of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading omission. They deny all charges. The trial continues. |
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