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Llewelyn-Bowen winter attraction reopens – this time with smiling faces Llewelyn-Bowen winter attraction reopens – this time with smiling faces
(about 5 hours later)
Happily, no elves were spotted smoking and the reindeer were not attacking visitors. Santa Claus was merry but definitely not drunk. And despite a chilly rain, young and old seemed – by and large – to be enjoying themselves at the Magical Journey Christmas experience. Happily, no elves were spotted smoking and the reindeer were not attacking visitors. Santa Claus was merry but definitely not drunk. And despite a chilly rain, young and old seemed – by and large – to be enjoying themselves at the Magical Journey Christmas experience, which boasts creative input from the celebrity designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
It was a huge relief to event director Paul Dolan, who admitted that he had not had a great deal of sleep since a flurry of un-festive complaints on social networks about the behaviour of Santa and his helpers led to national headlines claiming the attraction in the West Midlands was a disastrous ripoff.It was a huge relief to event director Paul Dolan, who admitted that he had not had a great deal of sleep since a flurry of un-festive complaints on social networks about the behaviour of Santa and his helpers led to national headlines claiming the attraction in the West Midlands was a disastrous ripoff.
“It was heartbreaking to see those headlines,” said Dolan. “We’ve put everything into this and wanted to make it special. It’s been hard to take some of the stories, especially those that are completely untrue.”“It was heartbreaking to see those headlines,” said Dolan. “We’ve put everything into this and wanted to make it special. It’s been hard to take some of the stories, especially those that are completely untrue.”
Dolan conceded he should not have opened the experience, which boasts creative input from the celebrity designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and charges up to £22.50 per child, at the weekend. “We had four and a half weeks of horrendous weather and we weren’t ready. We made a mistake.” Dolan conceded he should not have opened the experience, which charges up to £22.50 per child, at the weekend. “We had four and a half weeks of horrendous weather and we weren’t ready. We made a mistake.”
Rather than ploughing on, Dolan – who is hoping to roll out similar festive attractions across the country in the next few years – shut down temporarily.Rather than ploughing on, Dolan – who is hoping to roll out similar festive attractions across the country in the next few years – shut down temporarily.
Over the past three days, gangs of “technical elves” have been trying to get the attraction into shape while “public relations elves” (a social media elf going by the name Figgy Tinselbottom is on the team) have tried to put to bed some of the more outlandish claims about the event. Over the past three days, gangs of “technical elves” have been trying to get the attraction into shape while “public relations elves” (a social media elf going by the name Figgy Tinselbottom is on the team) have tried to put to bed some of the more outlandish claims about the event.
A myth-busting section of its Facebook page is a bit of a festive treat. It admits, for instance, that Santa had not been “briefed properly” about how to hand out presents. Who knew Father Christmas needed such a briefing? A myth-busting section of its Facebook page is a bit of a festive treat. It admits, for instance, that Santa had not been “briefed properly” about how to hand out presents. It accepts that the train, designed to whisk visitors around the winter wonderland, broke down but said there was only a brief delay. “Some elves came to the rescue and pushed it while singing songs.”
It accepts that the train, designed to whisk visitors around the winter wonderland, broke down but said there was only a brief delay. “Some elves came to the rescue and pushed it while singing songs.” But were elves really seen smoking? Maybe. The park admits it is possible that from the road someone may have seen through the trees to the staff rest area. More screening has been erected and extra instructions given to staff.
But were elves really seen smoking? Maybe. “It’s possible that from the road someone may have seen through the trees to the staff rest area, which is hidden well away from the Magical Journey experience,” according to whichever elf was in charge of the myth-busting. Extra screening has been erected and additional instructions given to staff. Did a reindeer bite a child? “Our reindeer enclosure is safe with our elves supervising it. Reindeer are herbivores and lack bottom teeth – they won’t try to bite you because they can’t.” (While reindeer have back teeth on their bottom jaw, they lack them at the front.)
So did a reindeer bite a child? No. “Our reindeer enclosure is safe with our elves supervising it. Reindeer are herbivores and lack bottom teeth – they won’t try to bite you because they can’t.”
And Santa was not seen boozing or swearing. “Honestly?” says the myth-buster. “We can’t believe the papers picked this up. It came from a joke Facebook post.”And Santa was not seen boozing or swearing. “Honestly?” says the myth-buster. “We can’t believe the papers picked this up. It came from a joke Facebook post.”
The re-opening on Wednesday morning was delayed slightly. “We’re waiting for a few things to be signed off,” said Dolan as his elves dished out cups of hot chocolate.The re-opening on Wednesday morning was delayed slightly. “We’re waiting for a few things to be signed off,” said Dolan as his elves dished out cups of hot chocolate.
But then the first group (accompanied by the Guardian) were invited to follow Snowflake the elf into a kingdom of fake snow and young people dressed as Christmas characters doing their very best to make sure everyone was having a good time. But then the first group were invited to follow Snowflake the elf into a kingdom of fake snow and young people dressed as Christmas characters doing their very best to make sure everyone was having a good time.
To the adult eye there were still a few flaws. The paths were a bit muddy rather than crisp and even. The fake snow in the enchanted forest ran out a few trees in. The train did not so much chug as jerk through the woodland.To the adult eye there were still a few flaws. The paths were a bit muddy rather than crisp and even. The fake snow in the enchanted forest ran out a few trees in. The train did not so much chug as jerk through the woodland.
But the children did not appear to see the joins. Rebecca Spilane, from Leicester, who was there with her two-year-old daughter, Bella, sought out Dolan afterwards to tell him they had enjoyed themselves. “I was a bit worried when I saw the news but we had a really good time. We did find it magical,” she said. But the children did not appear to see the joins. Rebecca Spilane, from Leicester, who was there with her two-year-old daughter Bella, sought out Dolan afterwards to tell him they had enjoyed themselves. “I was a bit worried when I saw the news but we had a really good time. We did find it magical,” she said.
Good news not just for Dolan and the Belfry hotel and golf resort, which is hosting the attraction, but for the 160 people who work here, such as elves Snowflake and Angel (aka Samantha Jones and Julia Lawrence). “It’s been phenomenal to see the faces of the people as they enjoy the experience,” said Angel, who was doing a day’s work at the attraction before beginning a nightshift at a secure unit for young people.Good news not just for Dolan and the Belfry hotel and golf resort, which is hosting the attraction, but for the 160 people who work here, such as elves Snowflake and Angel (aka Samantha Jones and Julia Lawrence). “It’s been phenomenal to see the faces of the people as they enjoy the experience,” said Angel, who was doing a day’s work at the attraction before beginning a nightshift at a secure unit for young people.
Snowflake, a streetwise sort of elf, said the media had created a story. Snowflake, a streetwise sort of elf, said the media had created the furore.
“We know what the media is, it’s all twisted. It’s not a realistic story. We know the truth. We’ve had some great feedback, the kids are enjoying it, they are singing along, the Father Christmas experience is fantastic.”“We know what the media is, it’s all twisted. It’s not a realistic story. We know the truth. We’ve had some great feedback, the kids are enjoying it, they are singing along, the Father Christmas experience is fantastic.”
And Santa has never been drunk? “He may have a tipple on Christmas Eve,” said Snowflake, “But never in working hours.”And Santa has never been drunk? “He may have a tipple on Christmas Eve,” said Snowflake, “But never in working hours.”