A Halloween pumpkin patch in Suffolk has been compared to the disastrous Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow after families described the display as 'bleak' and 'depressing'. Attendee Alex Dodman called it 'The UK's most depressing pumpkin patch', saying organisers had decided to 'chuck a load of Tesco pumpkins in a field'.
Visitor's £19.52 complaint
Dodman paid an entry fee specifically for the pumpkin patch at the Barton Mills event near Bury St Edmunds, despite free access to food stalls, a bar and a funfair ride. He said: 'When I think about it, I've just paid £19.52 to walk into a field with sparsely scattered pumpkins, questionable halloween decor and all surrounded by a metal fence.'
He noted odd displays, broken pumpkins and games that did not seem to work, and described the event as having 'Glasgow Willy Wonka vibes' – a reference to the 2024 Glasgow event that went viral for the wrong reasons.
Mixed reviews and organiser response
The pumpkin patch has received mixed reviews, with complaints about broken pumpkins and mini-golf games. Dodman paid an extra £5 for a pumpkin but conceded that the entrance fee for a family of five, alongside rides and food stalls, was on the 'cheaper side' compared to similar events he had seen online.
The father added: 'To be honest I don't blame the organisers or the vendors. It goes deeper than that. We all know trying to organise something like this would cost a bomb. Food van rates are through the roof. Businesses are struggling.'
The company responded to online criticism, saying: 'We often get asked "Why do you charge an entrance fee to the pumpkin patch?" Well, unfortunately, this is one of the reasons why… Every morning, after a busy day welcoming families to our patch, we are faced with the heartbreaking sight of more and more pumpkins deliberately smashed, damaged displays and unnecessary mess left behind. We simply cannot understand how anyone thinks it is acceptable to deliberately smash pumpkins, especially at a family attraction designed for everyone to enjoy. Please remember, we are a small family-run business! We aren't a big company with endless amounts of money.'
Positive feedback
Other reviews have been positive, with one visitor calling it a 'great afternoon out' and saying they were 'pleasantly surprised' that it cost just over £30 for four adults and four children to attend.
