It was billed as an ‘unforgettable’ seasonal day out, with a funfair, Nativity-themed petting zoo, drive-in cinema showing classic festive film Elf, live music and 40 Christmas market stalls.
However, many of those who attended a pay-to-visit Christmas market in Castle Combe in the heart of the Cotswolds this weekend have said their day was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons – and are now calling for organisers to give them their money back.
Castle Combe Race Circuit in Chippenham announced it was hosting the family-friendly day out earlier this month, advertising it using a series of Christmas images apparently sourced online, including photos showing bedecked wooden market stalls and an ornate carousel.
However, when paying guests arrived at the venue at the Wiltshire race track, which has hosted automobile events since 1950, many said it felt more like a car boot sale in ‘a windy paddock’ than a magical day out.
There was, it seems, no sign of the carousel or the Alpine-style chalets used to promote the event, which left many accusing the company behind it of ‘false advertising’.
One visitor even compared the Christmas market they encountered, the first the Circuit has ever held, to the infamous Willy Wonka experience that took place in Glasgow in 2024, which was branded ‘shambolic’ and made headlines around the world.
In the Cotswolds, getting into the site proved the first hurdle, with many recounting on social media that they endured bumper-to-bumper queues for nearly an hour to reach the market, with both cars and walkers negotiating sodden, muddy fields.
Castle Combe Circuit advertised its festive market, drive-in cinema and funfair with this image ahead of the event on Sunday 23rd November at the Wiltshire attraction – many who attended have said there was no such carousel
Festive fiasco: One visitor suggested ‘even the donkey looked depressed’ in the attraction’s Nativity petting zoo
The market, held from 9am until the early evening, cost £5 per person to enter, with tickets to the drive-in cinema showing Elf costing £25 per car.
Once inside, those who made the journey painted a dismal picture, saying stalls were sparse, there was just one ride and a set of trampolines and the Nativity petting zoo had an alligator included in it.
When one person asked on Facebook ‘Was it as bad as the Charlie and the Chocolate factory?’ referencing the doomed Glasgow Willy Wonka experience, someone who’d visited the attraction answered in the affirmative.
They replied: ‘I think it was lol. Even the few animals looked p****d off, especially the donkey that kept being kicked by the Shetland pony’.
One visitor posted: ‘It was truly awful. I have never been to such a dire Christmas market. The guy singing gave it his all, bless him. But even the snow machine was shocking!’
Another added: ‘This really was rubbish. No Christmas theme or vibe at all! No decorations, no music, no mulled wine – 20 stalls and five cars doing a car boot. The fun fair was one ride. It took and hour to get in due to no planning or organisation and we’d seen it all in 15 minutes.’
A local wrote immediately after a brief visit: ‘Four car boot sellers, three rows of market vendors, one fairground ride and trampolines. It’ll honestly take you longer to walk from your car than it will to look round the market.’
Others called the photos that were used to promote the attraction as ‘misleading’.
Reality: What the funfair actually looked like at the pay-to-visit market; many frustrated visitors said they were in and out within less than an hour and spent more time parking than browsing
Scottish Oompa Loompa Kirsty Paterson went viral after the disastrous Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow last year
One disappointed visitor wrote: ‘It really was a shocker. Full refunds would be appropriate as this was nothing like advertisement.’
One image showed a wooden chalet bedecked in festive firs and selling sweets and lollies – but with what appeared to Russian writing on the walls.
There were some fans of the day out defending the market though.
‘We enjoyed it! The man singing on stage fully interacted with our two boys who are autistic. He was great, really understanding. Not a bad voice either!
‘We bought cakes and our boys went on the coaster. Hot dog was nice and wasn’t too busy,’ wrote one happy customer.
The Daily Mail has contacted Castle Combe Circuit for comment. The race track issued a statement on its Facebook page.
It read: ‘We understand that some people were disappointed with our first Christmas Market event, and we truly appreciate all the feedback and comments we’ve received.
‘We’re taking time to review everything carefully, and we’ll share a further update with a full statement soon.’
Some, who had contacted Castle Combe Circuit directly, said they had now been issued a refund.
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