Portsmouth women scorned after turning up to no-show "Wine Escape" night

Now a warning has gone out to people who could still be planning to attend a “Wine Escape” night advertised at the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth on Saturday. The hotel has confirmed the event was never booked after an enquiry was made months ago. 

It comes after Sue Sibley and Julie Pope were among a group of six who paid £393 for the £69 per head themed night at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay in April. But when they turned up in fancy dress they were shocked to discover there was no event taking place. Three other hotels in Cornwall had also reportedly said organisers had never booked with them after no-show events left punters out of pocket.

Julie said: “We got caught in the Wine Escape scam. The hotel knew nothing about it but we still got dressed up and had a good time. 

“This event was also advertised for the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth but they know nothing about it. I’m not sure there is anything we can do other than just make people aware.”

Sue, who now lives in Cornwall and organised the booking, said: “It was meant to be a murder mystery evening set in the 1940s. We all wore fancy dress but when we got to the hotel they didn’t know anything about it.

“I’ve since got the money back from my bank and have had a letter saying the company has gone into insolvency.”

Wine Escape, which is owned by parent company Cherry Tree Productions Limited, has now gone into voluntary insolvency with firm Booth & Co managing the process.

A statement on Wine Escape’s website said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of our company's entry into voluntary insolvency proceedings on 9 May 2024. Since 2022, we have taken pride in delivering over 120 memorable dinner shows across the UK, fuelled by our passion for creating unforgettable experiences for all who attended.

“We want to express our deepest apologies to each and every one of you who have supported our shows and we are sincerely sorry that we could not avoid this outcome. Despite our relentless efforts, we find ourselves in a challenging position due to the unprecedented rise in costs across all aspects of our operations. Regrettably, these circumstances have rendered our shows financially unviable to continue operating.

“We understand the disappointment and inconvenience this may cause, and we genuinely wish we could have found a better solution. Please know that this decision was not made lightly, and we explored every possible avenue before arriving at this conclusion.

“We are committed to working through this process with integrity and accountability. For any further questions or information please contact Booth & Co who will be managing all company matters.”

Contact Booth and Co at www.boothinsolvency.co.uk