Finding the right candidate to play the role of Santa (when the real Santa is too busy preparing for the Christmas season) can be a difficult task.
But the popular festive event, held in one of Britain's finest medieval halls, has been forced to issue refunds after the new Father Christmas was deemed not the best.
Here's what some visitors had to say about this year's model: The Great Hall in Winchester, HampshireHe wore a “blatantly fake beard” and a “cheap red suit” and described the experience as “a shambles”.
Matthew Fernandes, 38, who visited with his children River, 9, Lennox, 6, and Winter, 4, said the new Father Christmas was “completely different from the last Christmas”.
he said: “This guy was just a guy in a cheap red suit with an obvious fake beard, not at all talkative and not very cheerful. It ruined the experience.”
Fernandez said previous Santas were more authentic. “My kids were polite, but as soon as we left they burst into tears about the situation and said they knew he was faking,” he said.
The event promises to provide a “magical experience” for children, and it doesn't come cheap. Tickets cost £18.50 for children and £6 for adults.
Lisa Catherine, who was visiting with her newborn granddaughter, complained online: “Honestly, I wanted to laugh. I've seen much better Santas walking around town on their way to Christmas parties.” She said organizers should “put an end to this mess”.
Another said: “Unfortunately, a fake Santa came!!'' To be honest, it was very awkward. No, no hohoho, no Merry Christmas, nothing. ”
The Hampshire Cultural Trust seemed perplexed that Santa was in such bad shape. it said its website: “Some of our guests have expressed disappointment that Santa's Grotto in the Great Hall is a different experience than what was offered last year, and in particular that Father Christmas is not the same as the one that welcomed children previously. I am aware that there are.
“This year's Santa experience is all-new, with some great new features added that expand the offer. We suggest this year's experience will be the same as the one offered by the previous operator. I have never done so, and I absolutely refute any suggestion that it was mis-marketed.
“As a gesture of goodwill to customers who have not yet visited and booked tickets assuming they would have the same experience as previous years, we will be offering a full refund.”
