A Lego event hailed as the ‘world’s largest hands-on LEGO event’ has been slammed by disappointed families who were met with a ‘bleak’ half-empty room after paying up to £35 a ticket.
Brick Fest Live was held at the NEC in Birmingham from May 25 to 27, offering families a UK first experience, with ‘mind-blowing creations from all over the world’.
The event, which originated in the US, promised children and adults they would be ‘amazed by life-sized LEGO models and hands-on building activities’.
But furious Lego fans took to social media to express their disappointment at being met by a sparse room.
One Midlands mother who took her two children to the LEGO event compared it to ‘Willy’s Chocolate Experience’ – the viral Glasgow event that went viral after families were met with sad-looking props and a bouncy castle.
One mother, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘It’s as bad as that Willy Wonka experience in Scotland, hardly anything there, both of my kids were so disappointed.
Were YOU at the LEGO event? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
The LEGO event (pictured) was met with disappointment from families who said they were met with a sparse room
The LEGO event is pictured, showing a few stalls and some LEGO props
The LEGO event included a bouncy castle in the ‘sparse’ room
The event, which originated in the US, promised children and adults they would be ‘amazed by life-sized LEGO models and hands-on building activities’
‘I heard some people making official complaints. We thought it would be a nice treat for the half term, we all left so disappointed. It was terrible.’
She added that the event was ‘as bleak as the pictures look’.
Lego enthusiast and Youtuber BlockPartyUK also shared a video of his experience at the event, which got more than 14,000 views in one day and hundreds of comments from fans who felt let down.
Brick Fest Live organisers said they are aware there are ‘elements of the show that are not of satisfaction for this sector of customers’ and confirmed they are working quickly to get back to customers.
One disappointed father wrote under BlockPartyUK’s Youtube video: ‘Drove from Sheffield with my 10-year-old who was so excited to see rare lego, custom minifigs etc. Could’ve cried for him when we had walked around the whole thing and he asked but where the lego stalls were.’
Another added: ‘We drove over 2hrs from Leeds and as soon as we stood at the entrance I was amazed how bad it looked, having walked round it was even worse.
‘We spoke to the organisers and complained and was given an email to send a message to about getting a refund as it wasn’t as advertised as you say.’
The NEC website states tickets were priced at £18 for general admission, £25 for flex admission and £35 for VIP. An event description for Brick Fest Live read: ‘For the first time ever, the world’s largest hands-on LEGO event of its kind catapults from the US to make its UK debut at the NEC Birmingham this Spring.
‘Brick Fest Live will be in Birmingham on 25-27 May, with over a million LEGO bricks on display and ready for play.
‘Brick Fest Live allows families to enjoy mind-blowing creations from all over the world made entirely of this timeless toy. Children and adults will be amazed by life-sized LEGO® models and hands-on building activities assembled to set the imagination free. Brick Fest Live will also feature a marketplace where avid builders will be able find rare collectibles not available anywhere else.’
The LEGO event has been compared to the viral Willy Wonka Chocolate Experience (pictured), which saw families met with sad-looking props and a half-empty room
Actor and yoga teacher Kirsty Paterson (pictured), 29, who became a viral hit after pictures emerged of her as a sad Oompa Loompa
Families were left stunned when they arrived and were greeted with a near-empty factory with a few Wonka-themed props and a small bouncy castle
The organisers of a disastrous comic con event this month also apologised to fans who complained it was a ‘s***show’
Fans had to queue up outside the Hampshire Court Hotel for Basingstoke Comic Con in 25C heat, leading to accusations that organisers oversold the event
A cosplayer smiles as poses for a photograph at the event – but behind the scenes things were going wrong with a lack of staff and long queues
An automated reply from BrickFest’s UK group read: ‘Thank you for reaching out to Brick Fest Live and for your patience as we address your concerns. We sincerely appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention and apologize for any disappointment you experienced at our UK event.
‘Your feedback is important to us, and we want to ensure that you receive the assistance you need.’
Brick Fest Live organisers said in a statement: ‘Brick Fest Live originated in the US, where it’s been highly successful for nearly a decade. In the last month, there have been tens of thousands of guests that have been through this event in Edinburgh and Milton Keynes, with children and families taking part in this interactive, hands on festival.
‘Where many have given us positive feedback, we are aware that Brick Fest Live is potentially not delivering for adult level enthusiasts, and there are elements of the show that are not of satisfaction for this sector of customers.
‘We’re reading all customer feedback and dealing with comments. We’re working quickly to pass customer feedback onto the creators of Brick Fest Live, so that they can take those observations on board, to deliver future events that live up to all customer expectations.’
It comes weeks after the organisers of a disastrous comic con event starring Hollywood star Jason Momoa apologised to fans who complained it was a ‘s***show’ – drawing comparisons with the disastrous Willy Wonka Experience.
Hype for Basingstoke Comic Con was at fever pitch following news of the star’s attendance alongside Hobbit actor Richard Armitage, Stargate’s Richard Dean Anderson and actor and comedian Rhys Darby.
But the event, which ran from Friday May 11 to Sunday May 13, came apart at the seams amid claims it had been oversold – with queues spilling out of the Hampshire Court Hotel in 25C heat and a lack of air-con to placate sweaty cosplayers.
MailOnline has contacted BrickFest Live and NEC for comment.