Suffolk Pumpkin Patch draws criticism, organisers cite damage

Visitors have criticized Suffolk Pumpkin Patch in Barton Mills, after Alex Dodman said his family’s visit left them disappointed and compared the attraction to Glasgow’s 2024 Willy Wonka event. Organisers have defended the event and said deliberate damage to pumpkins and displays has added to their costs. Dodman said his family of five paid £19.52 to enter the pumpkin patch, not including the cost of buying a pumpkin. In a video shared online, he described pumpkins sparsely scattered across a field, questionable Halloween decorations and a metal fence around the area. He said the comparison to the Glasgow event came to mind as he toured the site. The pumpkin patch is part of a wider Halloween attraction that includes fairground rides and food and drink vendors. The patch requires a separate entry ticket, while reports say other areas of the site can be accessed without that fee. Dodman said he later bought a pumpkin and took his family to the rides and food stalls. He also said he did not blame the organisers or vendors for the experience. Other visitors have also criticized aspects of the attraction, including the number and condition of pumpkins and the mini-golf area. Some...