Willy Wonka 'event cancelled' sign fetches £840 at auction in aid of Glasgow Children's Hospital

A hastily painted sign which signalled the botched Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow had been cancelled has raised hundreds for a children’s hospital charity.

Frustrated visitors to Willy’s Chocolate Experience, held at the Box Hub Warehouse in Whiteinch last month branded the House of Illuminati event “a farce” and said their children were left upset by the quality of the attraction.

Organisers cancelled the experience only hours into it opening after they were met with a furious reaction by customers, and police confirmed officers had been called to the venue.

Following the botched event, Box Hub announced that the hand-painted ‘Event Cancelled’ sign would be auctioned off on Ebay in aid of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

The 'event cancelled' sign from the Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow has raised over £1000. Photo: Box Hub/Ebay — The ‘event cancelled’ sign from the Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow has raised over £1000. Photo: Box Hub/Ebay Box Hub/Ebay

Box Hub posted on Facebook: “We’re sure many of you have seen this excellent piece of signage, either in person or from the numerous sources covering the resulting global comedy of the chocolate experience event hosted within our Warehouse Venue last week.

“All comedy aside, we understand that many children and families were left disappointed after travelling from across the country for this event.

“We’d like to see some good come from this.

“You can find this sign for sale on eBay, we’ll be donating all the profits from this to ‘Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity’.”

On Monday, bidding closed with the winning amount totalling £840.

Glasgow & West

Mum with terminal cancer still fighting for viral Wonka experience refund

Tracey Hanley had booked the event in Glasgow as a surprise for her nine-year-old daughter.

Kirsten Watson, CEO at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’re so grateful to Box Hub for choosing to support Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, and to the winning bidder for their generosity.

“It’s heartwarming to be reminded how kind our city can be, particularly when the eyes of the world are upon us.”

Following the failed event, organiser House of Illuminati offered its “sincerest apologies” to customers and said they were “truly sorry” for disappointing families who had paid £35 a ticket for the event.

The organiser added that “all 850 transactions will be continue to be refunded” following the event, however STV News has been contacted by disappointed families who remain out of pocket weeks on from the doomed event.

Box Hub have been contacted for comment.