Firm behind Belfry’s Magical Journey left with just £585
MAGICAL Journeys, the company behind the flop Christmas attraction at The Belfry, has just £585 in the bank to pay off its £875,000 debts.
The firm, which aimed to attract families to its Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen-designed festive park, went into administration last month with insolvency specialists from accountancy firm Chantrey Vellacott being appointed as liquidators of the firm.
Documents published after it went into administration show the £585 balance as its only current asset.
The attraction, based at The Belfry Golf Club, near Sutton Coldfield, was forced to close early in December.
Its owners blamed its failure on poor weather, higher-than-expected costs and negative publicity from a spate of early negative reviews.
Visitors complained that the attraction wasn’t finished, was an inadequate offering for the admission price, and of unprofessional practice including elves smoking.
Liquidators said the firm had submitted an insurance claim “for various issues that arose on site”.
Craig Povey, from Chantrey Vellacott, said: “We are currently in the process of reviewing the recoverability of those assets listed in the directors report, along with a small number of assets that have come to light since this document was produced.”
The attraction’s owner’s debts include owing The Belfry almost £59,000.
Chantrey Vellacott said the firm’s liabilities for VAT and other payments to HMRC have yet to be established and “may yet increase the level of claim”.
