A murder mystery event that left customers fearing they had been scammed out of hundreds of pounds has announced it is postponing all future events and blamed ‘unforeseen challenges’.
Furious fans took to social media after discovering four ‘Wine Escape’ events due to take place in luxury hotels around Cornwall that hadn’t been organised.
Disappointed customers were promised ‘glamor and extravagance’ and an ‘exclusive party’ held on four consecutive nights at luxury hotels across Cornwall for the price of £65 per person or a table of 10 for £635.
But hotel staff at all four hotels confirmed organizers had never booked with them with some even asking for their names to be removed from the Wine Escapes website.
In a post on Facebook this week organizers announced a ‘temporary suspension of all upcoming Wine Escape events’.
In an email to customers, organizers added: ‘This decision was made after exhaustive efforts to resolve unknown challenges that have arisen.
‘Unfortunately, we are unable to disclose further details regarding the cancellation at this time. Please be assured that you will receive a full refund for your tickets). We are currently processing refunds, and you can expect the refund to be credited back to your original payment method within 30 days.
‘We sincerely apologize for any disappointment and inconvenience this cancellation has caused, as we acknowledge it is at very short notice. Please know that we explored all possible options to avoid this outcome but ultimately had no alternative.’
Among the disappointed customers was Dannii Moss and five friends booked tickets for an event on Thursday to celebrate her birthday costing £390.
She posted on Facebook: ‘So tonight myself, Craig, Amy, Tracey, Paul and Tom were meant to be doing a 1920s wine escape (murder mystery) at St Ives Harbor Hotel, for my birthday. ‘Unfortunately after someone saying it was a scam we rang up the hotel who said the company WINE ESCAPE didn’t actually book this event with them, I looked up the next event as there meant to be doing others in other areas, and it seems they inquired with the venues but never actually booked with them.
‘So it seems me and my friends as well as many others possibly have been scammed out of £390.. there is no phone number on the website/Facebook or insta but they don’t answer emails or messages.
‘I want to share so nobody else gets scammed.. I’m devastated as I was looking forward to doing something different, we’ve all paid out for nice outfits and everything so not just the £390 for the tickets.’
Sophie Bee said she spent £400 on a similar event tomorrow night at the Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth, Cornwall, but was also told the event was cancelled.
She said: ‘This is a scam do not buy tickets unfortunately me and a group of my friends did and have now lost over £400. ‘Do not buy these tickets.’
Staff at the Penventon Hotel were unaware of the booking when contacted by MailOnline.
Events are also booked in Newquay and Padstow on Saturday and Sunday. Padstow Harbor Hotel posted on Facebook: ‘We can see that this company is advertising that they are holding an event at our hotel. Please be advised that we don’t have a confirmed booking from this company.’
In its description, Wine Escape promises attendees will: ‘Step back into the roaring 1920’s and enjoy the glamor and extravagance of Hawker Wine Estate. You have been invited to an exclusive party hosted by the very wealthy owners, the Von James family. But the celebrations turn sour when a storm of vengeance, lies and deceit ruins the evening. You must stick together, hold your nerve and beat the clock in order to escape Hawker alive…’
MailOnline has contacted Wine Escape for comment.
