A Christmas market in Taunton, in England’s Somerset county, is being called out online after one mother shared a video of what she says was a disappointing family outing. The TikTok creator, Emily, accused the Somerset Winter Wonderland event of overcharging visitors and delivering a messy, rushed experience. Her clip spread quickly, and with it came a familiar holiday debate about what families should expect when festive fun comes with a hefty price tag.
Emily’s biggest frustration focused on the Santa visit. She said she paid £18, around €21, for her daughter to meet Santa, only for the whole thing to feel over in minutes. In her telling, the encounter lasted about four minutes, they were not allowed to take photos, and she was left irritated by the small details, including the fact that Santa did not even greet them with a classic “ho ho ho.”
Event organisers pushed back strongly on that version of events. They said time with Santa is not limited, that families are never asked to leave the grotto, and that visitors are actively encouraged to take their own photos. They added that professional photos are available, but only as an optional extra, and claimed the overall feedback they have received has been very positive, according to comments given to The Sun.
The complaints did not stop there. Emily also pointed to ride prices, saying a single go on the Helter Skelter cost £3, which she compared unfavourably with a nearby fair in Bridgwater where she said you get three slides for the same price. She also questioned the fairness of a Hook a Duck style game, claiming she and two others played and none of them could draw a number higher than four, which made her suspect the game was set up to block bigger wins.
@e.m.i.l.ytok Warning to anyone thinking about visiting the winter wonderland at Taunton cricket ground Unless you want to remortgage I would steer clear #emilycutter #viral #fyp #christmas #winterwonderland ♬ original sound – e.m.i.l.ytok
Organisers denied that too, insisting the games operate fairly and are not rigged. They said prices are clearly advertised in advance and argued that there are significant costs involved in running what they describe as a high quality family experience.
Emily also criticised the ice rink, calling it tiny, overcrowded, expensive, and understaffed. She said families were losing around ten minutes of their skating slot while waiting in line just to collect skates. In response, organisers claimed she did not actually skate because she booked the wrong date, and they said a full refund was issued as a goodwill gesture, meaning her comments about the rink were not based on first hand experience.
The situation escalated further when Emily said she spent £75 on skating and had to return the next day due to the booking issue, then felt staff were aggressive and unprofessional when she asked about refunds. Organisers described a very different scene, saying staff endured repeated verbal abuse, including swearing in front of children, and that she was asked to leave to protect workers and other guests.
Have you ever felt let down by a festive event that looked magical online, and what do you think organisers owe families when prices are high, tell me in the comments.
