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An unofficial Lego event filled with 'empty space and piles of loose Lego' has been compared to the infamous Willy Wonka experience

May 31, 2024, 18:06 IST
Business Insider
An official Lego play area. Brick Fest Live was not affiliated with Lego.Gerardo Mora
  • Brick Fest Live was promoted as the "UK's biggest Lego festival." It was not affiliated with the Lego company.
  • Instead, the "bleak" convention hall left fans feeling like they'd been conned.
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British Lego fans were left feeling less than impressed last weekend after a convention dubbed the "UK's biggest Lego festival" turned out to be a "bleak" half-empty room.

Brick Fest Live UK was held from May 25 to 27 in the British city of Birmingham. It promised to bring fans a "jaw-dropping collection of brick creations from across the globe under one roof."

It was not sponsored by or affiliated with Lego.

The poster promised a Lego brick pit, life-sized models, floor mosaics, derby races, and a "glow zone."

Instead, footage from the event appeared to show a large convention hall with a few large models scattered about the room, a shop, and a small children's playpit.

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The event's disappointing offering has been compared to the Willy Wonka experience fiasco held in Scotland last February, which went viral because it was such a letdown.

'It's as bad as that Willy Wonka experience in Scotland, hardly anything there, both of my kids were so disappointed," one mother told .

Another attendee shared a video of his experience at Brick Fest Live on his Youtube channel, saying he paid $50 for a VIP ticket and was "filled with regret."

"Most of the event is empty space and piles of loose Lego," the Lego enthusiast, whose channel is called Block Party UK, said.

"It is one of the biggest cons I've ever experienced, and I've been coming to conventions for 15 years."

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Fellow angry fans commented on the video, agreeing that the festival had been a disappointment and was "utter rubbish." Several said that they were demanding a refund.

"They shouldn't be allowed to get away with this blatant false advertising," commented a father who had brought his 10-year-old son to the event.

Brick Fest Live UK's website and social media sites were all inactive when Business Insider tried to contact the organizers.

A Brick Fest Live event in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 2023.JOSEPH PREZIOSO/Getty

"We are aware that Brick Fest Live is potentially not delivering for adult-level enthusiasts, and there are elements of the show that are not of satisfaction for this sector of customers," Brick Fest Live UK said in a statement shared with The Sun.

It confirmed that it was considering customer feedback.

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The convention originated in the US nearly a decade ago and is supposed to be a showcase and fan celebration of all Lego creations.

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