Lego fans demand refunds from Birmingham NEC event compared to Glasgow's viral Willy Wonka event

A Lego event hailed the 'world’s largest brick festival' has been compared to Glasgow's Willy Wonka fiasco after visitors were greeted with a "bleak" and "empty" room.

Angry Lego fans are now demanding refunds after being left disappointed by the "rip-off" Brick Fest Live experience at Birmingham's NEC over the bank holiday.

The event promised “a jaw-dropping collection of brick creations from across the globe”, which would be “mind-blowing” and amaze “adults and children”.

But attendees said the reality was a sparse offering of attractions inside an aircraft hanger-like room with one saying they'd seen "better displays in village halls”.

Others said the scenes reminded them of the now infamously disastrous 'Willy’s Chocolate Experience’ in Glasgow earlier this year and branded it "a scam".

Lego superfans are now demanding their money back after travelling far and wide to for the £35 a ticket event which left them "disgusted" and "underwhelmed".

The spectacle, which Lego does not sponsor, authorise or endorse, originates in the USA and describes itself as “the world’s largest hands-on brick event”. Steven Halsey, 70, from Corby, Northamptonshire, who visited on Sunday (May 26), said the massive room dwarfed the sparse attractions it had on offer.

He added: “There was nothing there, it was a total empty space really. I have more Lego in my house than they have there.”

Mr Halsey, who is disabled and relies on the care of his wife, Maureen, 67, said he had undertaken a 110 mile round trip to see the displays but was left with a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘I’ve seen better displays in village halls’

He added: “I have seen better displays in village halls. I am sure Lego would not be too happy.”

Mr Halsey received two tickets worth nearly £40 from his daughter as a birthday present.

His daughter, Emma Harris, 41, from Great Doddington, said: “He is disabled and my mum is his carer so it takes a lot for them to get out and about.

“Since I bought the tickets as a birthday gift, I’m very disappointed for them.” Mr Halsey said his son, Mark, 45, from the Isle of Wight, had warned him about going to the Brick Fest Live event.

Mark had attended the same event in Southampton and told his father than it was “crap” - but he says the Birmingham event looked even worse. Mr Halsey said he had written to the organisers and is seeking a refund.

Footage from the event shows a vast expanse with small Lego installations dotted across a gunmetal grey flooring of scratch marks and sticky tape. There were some life-size models, a ‘Brick Pit’ to play in, brick mosaics to add to and piles of loose bricks for visitors to build their own creation.

At the event, held between May 25-27, there was also a bouncy castle and trestle tables to sit.

Other dissatisfied customers took to social media to label the event an “absolute rip off”, and a “massive scam”, with many saying they would be pushing for a refund.

A Lego influencer called Kevin, who goes by blockpartyuk on TikTok, is among those who has been vocal in his criticism of the event online. After spending £70 for two VIP tickets, Kevin became upset that Brick Fest Live had promised an event “for Lego fans of all ages”.

In a video posted to TikTok, he said: “It’s just so much space and piles of bricks.

“I think the event is aimed at kids to come along and play with Lego for a few hours rather than collectors coming along and enjoying a normal brick convention.”

He added: “If this event was advertised as just being an opportunity for kids to come along and play with Lego, I would get it but it’s not.

“There’s a massive sign out front that describes it as the UK’s biggest brick festival.” Kevin urged his followers not to attend, describing the event as a “con” and “overpriced” before confirming he has been seeking a refund.

In response to his post, a user commented: “Reminds me of the Willy Wonka fiasco.”

Previous Brick Fest Live UK events were held at the Edinburgh Highland Centre on May 4-6 and Milton Keynes Marshall Arena on May 11-12.

The event's organisers, Lego, and NEC Birmingham have been approached for comment.