Murder mystery scam leaves ticket holders furious after cancelling all future events
'This decision was made after exhaustive efforts to resolve unforeseen challenges that have arisen.'
A murder mystery company which failed to organise four events at luxury hotels has now postponed all future events due to ‘unforeseen challenges’.
Furious ticket-holders complained about the four ‘Wine Escape’ events which were supposed to be hosted at hotels in Cornwall, but in fact hadn’t been organised and never took place.
Customers were promised ‘glamour 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.
In its description, Wine Escape promises attendees will ‘step back into the roaring 1920s and enjoy the glamour and extravagance of Hawker Wine Estate.’
It adds: ‘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…’
But reminiscent of the failed Willy Wonka Experience held in Glasgow earlier this year, ticket-holders were left fearing they had been scammed out of their hard-earned cash.
Staff at the hotels said the Wine Escape organisers had never booked in with them, and the hotels asked for their names to be removed from its promotional material and website, MailOnline reports.
In a statement shared on social media, Wine Escapes announced a ‘temporary suspension’ of all upcoming events and called themselves a ‘genuine events business’.
The statement added: ‘We have proudly delivered over 120 dinner shows across the UK since 2022, striving to bring joy and entertainment to our audiences.
‘We are actively working to navigate these challenges and hope to resume our operations as soon as circumstances permit.
‘We are currently communicating with all affected customers and will keep updates coming as soon as we have more information.’
And in an email sent directly to customers, they added: ‘This decision was made after exhaustive efforts to resolve unforeseen 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 ticket(s).
‘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 apologise 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, who 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 Harbour Hotel, for my birthday.
‘Unfortunately after somebody 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 enquired 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.’
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, while Padstow Harbour Hotel and Atlantic Hotel in Newquay said they did not have a confirmed booking with Wine Escape.
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