Hot on the heels of the thread about the relaunch of the Magical Journey Christmas Attraction, it seems the pressure proved too much and it has closed again, this time for good 
As of 16th December, the operator Magical Journeys Ltd, based at the Belfry has ceased trading.
Even sadder, anyone who bought tickets and was looking forwarding to treating the kids is now faced with having to claim ticket costs back from card providers using the Chargeback Scheme.
From the Magical Journey press release:
As money spent on tickets by the public is held by a third party service provider, we are currently unable to access this and make refunds. This is why we have asked that customers claim through the Chargeback scheme.
They have also publicly tried to remove any blame from Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s as well as the Belfry Hotel whose land the site is situated.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s input into The Magical Journey was entirely design. He had no involvement with the production, management or running of the event, his contribution was providing design concepts for the event and he had no responsibility for it’s closure.
So what went wrong?
Officially a backer pulled out, leaving them financially crippled.
...today a key financial backer has dropped out leaving us in the lurch. We have tried desperately over the last few hours to find a replacement but to no avail.
We are very sorry to have to break the news like this but we have explored all our options, and the situation leaves us with no alternative other than close The Magical Journey.
But it appears the project was doomed after a disastrous start. The launch event was overshadowed by controversy about unfinished exhibits, Elves were allegedly seen smoking, unwrapped presents and early visitor feedback appeared to be very negative.
Due to the volume of issues complaints and torrent of negative press, it was decided to close the park the next day and re-evaluate.
From then it was a PR battle which it looks like the park lost. A facebook campaign tried to do some Magical Journey mythbusting but with the full weight of the media against them, it was a forlorn fight, which seems to have led to a major backer pulling the plug.
On paper it looked like a winner, a celebrity designer, a Christmas attraction hosted in the grounds of the Belfry Hotel and Golf Course, what could go wrong?
Outside looking in it would appear to a management failure at all levels, from executives down to project management.
No doubt more details will appear in time as inside stories start appearing and people look to distance themselves. Not really one for the Linked In profile or CV 
But there is always something we can take away and learn from. In this case it seems to be planning and execution. Also being financially reliant on outside money that can force you to fold if things go the wrong way.
Lastly it shows how fickle the media are and what a double edged sword publicity and PR can be.
There's no such thing as bad publicity? Not any more...
Did anyone go? Anyone caught out by the closure or got there own thoughts?
