Panto bosses are stepping in after learning that children were missing out on pre-booked “Santa flights” on the i360 after the seafront attraction closed last week.
The organisers of the Brighton Family Panto said that they were “reaching out to families” affected by the sudden closure of the seafront tower.
They said: “The historic landmark has suddenly closed down with the loss of more than 100 jobs.
“Part of its Christmas offering had been its popular Santa in the Sky, with the chance to meet Santa and his elves in the Brighton i360 pod.
“Now Brighton Family Panto producer David Hill is reaching out to families whose Christmas Santa experience has been scrapped.”
Mr Hill said: “With the i360 closing, sadly many families have had their Santa flights cancelled.
“We would like to help make Christmas extra special for these families so if your tickets were cancelled, please come to our panto box office and kids will go free for our upcoming shows, with paid adults.
“The box office is in the hotel lobby at the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole on the seafront, ironically very close to the i360, and is open for one hour before every show.
“You can also email hello@brightonfamilypanto.com”
On paper it seems a really nice touch but after a 40% limited offer, a 50% offer, free schools offer, repeated promotion on social media and lots of available seats it seems more opportunistic then philanthropic to me.
I have seen the panto and paid full price!, its not bad but I think the reality is that there are better pantos locally for less money and for kids the Hilton is not a good venue as line of sight is so important, if your child is small then its hard to see.
That being said if it is philanthropic then I apologise for my beginning comments, I am a cynical old man…ho ho ho and all that
You are right, it’s just a publicity stunt. Kids go free with paying adults, no doubt they currently have plenty of spare seats and are desperate for a few more bums on them!
I think you messed up the title of the article, it should be “Panto chiefs in cheap publicity stunt”
Desperate to get people in for their cheap little offering.
After seeing the Facebook story post yesterday with ‘another sold out show’ alongside a picture of the theatre with rows and rows of empty seats I am convinced it is as others have said a publicity stunt
False marketing as well putting out a post like that surely!