Revellers have demanded refunds on tickets they purchased for a lantern pageant marketed on-line – amid claims the occasion is a ‘social media rip-off’.
Lantern Competition UK is promoting tickets for gatherings in Birmingham and London over the subsequent three months at which individuals shall be allowed to launch hearth lanterns.
The organisers are promoting tickets for as much as £50 per individual and declare that two occasions have already bought out, whereas promising to create ‘magical moments that depart you breathless and stuffed with surprise’.
The occasion has been closely marketed on TikTok, displaying movies of individuals releasing the picturesque objects into the night time sky.
Nevertheless, there was a backlash on-line with individuals demanding refunds on their tickets amid allegations the complete occasion is a ‘rip-off’, with some evaluating it to the notorious Fyre Competition and Glasgow Willy Wonka Expertise.
Some social media customers declare they’re but to obtain tickets, whereas others have raised issues in regards to the lack of knowledge surrounding the occasions – together with precise areas.
On X, previously referred to as Twitter, one individual wrote: ‘The lantern pageant that I maintain seeing on TikTok is giving FYRE FESTIVAL lol. Enormous rip-off! You assume the UK authorities would really enable 2,000 lanterns within the sky when ULEZ is a factor??? In the event you purchased a ticket you higher begin making a declare together with your financial institution now lmfao.’
And MailOnline can reveal that Birmingham council’s buying and selling requirements physique is investigating the adverts after discovering out organisers had been selling an occasion within the space.
There was no signal of the agency on the workplace listed as its enterprise handle in London as we speak – with workers from Brewdog, which has an workplace in the identical constructing – telling MailOnline they’d ‘by no means heard’ of the corporate behind the pageant.
Lantern Competition UK claims its tickets are ‘100 per cent refundable inside 14 days of buy’.
Nevertheless, its refund coverage then goes on to state that ‘all ticket gross sales are deemed as closing transactions’ and there ‘there shall be no ticket returns/exchanges/cancellations’. It provides that if the occasion is cancelled in its entirety resulting from unexpected circumstances, it reserves the ‘sole and absolute proper’ to not situation refunds.
Lantern Competition UK has marketed extensively on TikTok, wowing viewers with movies of individuals releasing hearth lanterns into the night time sky – utilizing movies from the pages of influencers who had attended comparable occasions, run by different firms, around the globe
The vast majority of movies posted on Lantern Competition UK’s TikTok web page present promo footage from comparable occasions in america and Thailand
Some movies posted by the organisers of the occasion have been seen tens of millions of instances, lots of of individuals shopping for tickets for occasions in Birmingham and London
Organisers of the occasion have used promo pictures from different lantern gatherings, such because the Yi Peng Competition in Thailand (pictured, inventory picture)
Because it was first publicised on TikTok in early March, movies showcasing the supposed delights of what Lantern Competition UK might seem like have been seen tens of millions of instances on the social media website.
A pre-sale registration kind which Lantern Competition UK has hyperlinks to in its social media purports to have been crammed out by greater than 45,000 individuals.
Claiming to be the ‘UK’s first ever lantern pageant’, the individuals behind the occasion shared movies of lots of of individuals releasing hearth lanterns, promoting it as a fairy story expertise for {couples} and households alike.
One such video confirmed a lady releasing a hearth lantern solely to look down and discover her boyfriend on one knee proposing to her, whereas one other portrayed dramatic fireworks being set off within the background.
However these movies had been taken exterior Britain, with one displaying the Yi Peng Lantern Competition in Thailand and one other utilizing footage from The Lights Fest which is a collection of occasions in america.
Organisers say they’ve 4 occasions organised within the UK to date – two in Birmingham on June 1 and July 13, and two in London on Could 26 and June 8.
On its web site, Lantern Competition UK says the primary Birmingham and London occasions have bought out, regardless of nonetheless permitting individuals to purchase particular person tickets for these dates.
No particular areas have been given for any of the 4 occasions, with the web site simply claiming they may happen in London and Birmingham. The net web page claims additional particulars shall be introduced on April 20.
An internet site claims that greater than 45,000 have signed up for pre-sale registration for tickets for the occasions
On its web site Lantern Competition UK claims to be internet hosting 4 occasions, with two of those already being bought out
On the web site it claims that ‘each lantern shall be rigorously collected’ after use, however consists of no particulars as to the place the precise occasion will happen
One advert claims that these attending can look forward to finding a ‘enjoyable honest and leisure’ in addition to meals vans, though the precise particulars of what this entails are in brief provide.
On its web site the organisers even declare that ‘each lantern used shall be rigorously collected and recycled, leaving no hint behind’.
Campaigners have warned that the fireplace lanterns are uncontrollable whereas within the air and might drift onto individuals’s property and into fields, doubtlessly setting hearth to areas the place they land.
Many councils in England have banned individuals from releasing hearth lanterns on their land, over these environmental and well being and security issues.
Amongst these is Birmingham Metropolis Council, the place two of the occasions are presupposed to be going down, whereas various London councils have additionally completed this, together with native authorities in Ealing, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Redbridge and Wandsworth.
The dearth of concrete data has some individuals who have purchased tickets worrying that they’ve been scammed, with others questioning how the organisers would get permission to host the occasion.
One individual wrote on TikTok that ‘it is giving Fyre Competition, it seems so sus’, whereas one other added it reminded them of the Glasgow Willy Wonka Expertise.
One other added: ‘they did not even put like the placement.’
Another person wrote: ‘Over 200 councils have banned lanterns so no concept the place they will be setting them off.’
On X, previously referred to as Twitter, one individual wrote: ‘The lantern pageant that I maintain seeing on TikTok is giving FYRE FESTIVAL lol. Enormous rip-off! You assume the UK authorities would really enable 2,000 lanterns within the sky when ULEZ is a factor??? In the event you purchased a ticket you higher begin making a declare together with your financial institution now lmfao.’
One X person wrote: ‘I bought two tickets for the lantern pageant and everybody’s saying it is a rip-off, are you joking me? I have been so excited for this.’
One other individual added: ‘I’ve simply [bought] a ticket for a Lantern pageant in June I need it reimbursing!! £40 So fast slave fast.’
Responding to an individual who mentioned they’d purchased tickets, one X person wrote: ‘Get a refund asap they might by no means enable a lantern pageant in LONDON.’
Individuals have taken to social media to specific their scepticism on the pageant, with some who purchased tickets left demanding refunds
On its web site Lantern Competition claims all tickets are returnable inside ’15 days’ however then says it reserves the suitable to ‘not situation any refunds’ if the occasion is cancelled resulting from unexpected circumstances
On its web site Lantern Competition UK is promoting particular person tickets for £35, down from the conventional £50. It says individuals who purchase tickets get ‘1 Premium Lantern + Lighter + Marker’.
Tickets for {couples} are being bought for £50, down from £65, whereas entry tickets for teams of 4 are going for £75, down from £100.
Birmingham Metropolis Council has mentioned its buying and selling requirements staff is trying into the adverts by Lantern Competition UK.
A spokesperson instructed MailOnline: ‘We’re conscious of various on-line adverts selling a lantern pageant, reportedly together with two dates in Birmingham, which have prompted concern this might be a rip-off – and our Buying and selling Requirements staff are trying into this.
‘Birmingham Metropolis Council doesn’t allow the intentional launch into the sky of lanterns from any land or property which it owns and/or controls – this consists of our streets, public areas, cemeteries and native authority colleges.
‘They could journey and land wherever, doubtlessly inflicting hurt to wildlife and the surroundings, and within the case of sky lanterns, have been the reason for a number of main fires. Full particulars of the council’s coverage on the discharge of sky lanterns and balloons could be discovered on the council’s web site.
‘Anybody who suspects a suggestion will not be what it purports to be can ship particulars and proof to our Buying and selling Requirements staff by emailing tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk or by calling Residents Recommendation Client Service on 0808 223 1133.’
When MailOnline tried to contact Lantern Competition UK for remark by cellphone it was redirected to an automatic message telling callers to electronic mail or ship a textual content message, with no choice to depart a voicemail.
MailOnline has contacted Lantern Competition UK and the Higher London Authority for remark.
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