I have IM'd you both with the info I have to date. Hope it helps. The best thing to do is to go and take pics to show they are in breach of contract, but I guess that only applies to those who paid by credit card. What a bunch of complete tossers!!

Hi all, I'm new on here and just had to let you know what we thought of our visit to lapland newforest.

After looking at the very impressive website my mum booked our tickets as a special treat for the kids.

We went on saturday (29th nov) really excited and full of high expectations.

Our two boys are 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 yrs and hopefully this trip hasn't ruined their dreams of Lapland. They both seemed to really enjoy it I guess being quite young still they were easier to please.

Yes the que for FC was massive, we were lucky enough to be in a party of 4 adults and 2 children so my sister didn't mind waiting in the que for us whilst we took the kids round the v expensive funfair!

The major problem seemed to be that everyone turned up at 12noon, which ment that the whole place was just swapped with people.

My advice to anybody going is to wait and not get there until 3.30/4pm when hopefully its less busy and you also get to really appreciate the lights. We left the park at 5pm ish and really wished we'd turned up at that time it looked soooooooooooo much more magical lit up.

I just feel really sad for the kids epecially our oldest that this is how he's gonna remember lapland.

We usually visit longleat (wilts) for the santa train which is brilliant and so magical, which we are still doing just before xmas. I now feel that I ought to take the kids to the real lapland just to make up for this rubbish memory.

I'm almost scared to try lapland uk even though it does look really good just incase it doesn't live upto my expectations.

XX

Also just wonder whether the real lapland is worth the money?

Would love to hear from anyone whos been to either.

HI, could you please email me his no.

Hi can u plz email me his number.

If anyone wants to post contact details on the forum I have no objects (saves having to email or PM).

These are the details that have been posted so far:
Name & Registered Office:
LAPLAND NEW FOREST LIMITED
UNIT 1, WILD PARK HOUSE,
HOME FARM ROAD
BRIGHTON
EAST SUSSEX
UNITED KINGDOM
BN1 9HT

This is their registered address and the only way to contact them now. Trading Standards are advising people to send recorded delivery letters as its the only hope to get a refund if you paid by debit card, cheque or paid amount was under £100.

We have booked tickets for the 23rd Dec and I am now really worried about this? I have tried emailing and phoning them to see if I can get a refund but no luck so far. If you have any othe numbers or any other advise it would be very welcome. I wanted a special treat for my three children but it sounds like a major disappointment!! I don't want to have to drive for 3 and half hours for them to be left feeling disappointed!!

Just a note to assure all of you at Baby and Bump that Woods Travel Ltd. Has no association with the New Forest - Lapland experience. We are in the same position as all of you that have either gone & been very disappointed or who have bought tickets and now want a refund. We have cancelled the future day excursions we were offering to this destination & are in the process of refunding our clients. Good luck to all that have purchased their tickets independantly.

Great work everyone - the article in the Echo is just the start. Anyone who has followed this thread will know just how angered I am by this scam, and I have made it my mission over the last 24 hours to get it closed!!

So, here's an update:

Spoke to Trading Standards. They advise writing a letter direct to the oranisers (by recorded delivery) and requesting a refund under the supply of goods and services act 1982 (mis-selling). Personally I don't hold out much hope (although that said, read on as I've actually heard something positive about the company!). More importantly though, I'm advised that representatives from TS will be visiting the site today.

Spoke to East Dorset Council. Planning Department - nothing they can do regarding license (save not issue one next year), but also spoke with Environmental Health, and they are visiting to investigate numerous claims received over the weekend.

Spoke to Bournemouth Tourist Office. They will ensure any links to this event and their site cease immediately. They have also given me the email addresses of all the individual local tourist offices, and I will email them to warn them too in an effort to stem any promotion or marketing of this event.

Spoke to Bournemouth News Office - gave an interview which is being featured in the Nationals tomorrow. Have given them details of this forum and babyandbump.com - so they well be looking for other views and comments.

Spoke to 2CR - asked them to cover the story and also pull the advertising campaign they are currently running for the event. They will be making a decision today on whether they carry on airing the advert - but if they do, then I will take it to whoever regulates Radio Advertising as there are Codes of Conduct for such Adverts (which should be legal, decent, honest and truthful - and these clearly aren't!).

Have just spoken with Woods Travel Agent - they are NOTHING do to with the operation and were keen to stress this (another post questioned whether they were anything to do with the Directors as they're both located in Bognor Regis). They have cancelled any future excursions and are seeking to gain full refunds for all those people who travelled with them and complained. They are waiting for Mr Mears to come back to them this afternoon he has attended a crisis meeting! They will write to all their customers once they have heard. But if you travelled with Woods, do give them a call - they really want to help. They will be giving me an update on the outcome of Mr Mears crisis meeting later today, which I'll post as soon as.

Apart from the Echo, I understand Radio Solent covered the story this morning, and I believe that Meridian are preparing something. Should be something in The Sun tomorrow - but someone from the News Agency is calling me tomorrow to kindly let me know what is running and where.

Just off to call another local radio station - radio 5 to ensure they're aware and pull any advertising too.

Oh, and spoke to Snow Business. Feel terribly sorry for them as they've been inundated with calls and are really just a small business with no connection to the event, save for the fact that they were hired to do the snow on certain areas. They were very helpful, and explained that they have been hired to go back weekly to refresh the snow - which is much more than some events do. They found the organisers to be very reasonable and don't believe this was intended to be a scam, but has simply ended up being poorly organised. They even felt that the organisers would offer refunds if people were unhappy - not a view I share, but a hopeful view none the less.

Right, off to spread the word further. Please carry on with all your efforts to publicise and complain, and please feel free to PM me if there's any info I can give you to help.

Hi All,

I went to Lapland yesterday and was very dissapointed, having paid £30.00 to get in to look at some chewed up toilet tissue chucked on trees and fairy lights, 2 reindeer and some howling dogs, it wasnt what it was made out to be........
Where were the hollywood special fx i couldn't see them, the ice rink was broken so know one could use it!!!
All in all for a seven year old little boy to turn round and say i wish we had stayed at home today says it all!!!

It is a rip off and i wouldn't suggest going at all.

Sorry to those of you who have tickets just wanted to let you all know.

Steph