‘Worst NYE party ever’ organisers apologise for ‘disastrous’ facilities and service
Organisers of a New Year's Eve event on Sydney Harbour which cost up to $500 a ticket have apologised after receiving a barrage of complaints about "disastrous" facilities and service.
Attendees demanded refunds and threatened legal action after complaining of awful food, enormous lines for toilets and ordinary music at NYE Above the Harbour.
"The organisers and caterers, in good faith, are currently processing any complaints and a formal process is in place to address and resolve these issues," event organisers said in a statement on Sunday.
Revellers swamped social media to slam the "complete joke" of an event.
Many attendees, including Chris Lee, were highly critical of its culinary offerings.
"I cannot believe you charged us over $400 for an `all inclusive' event with only three food stalls for thousands of people," he posted on Facebook.
"We had to wait 2.5 hours to get fed some disgusting dried up pork buns that tasted like cardboard."
Angela Micallef, from the United Kingdom, said ticketholders were robbed.
"I spent most of my night queuing up for one thing or another and didn't get to spend time with my family," she said on the event's Facebook page.
"The beer tent ran out of cider early on, the music/sound quality was awful and the kids' corner comprised an air hockey table."
Organisers said on Sunday that they felt for aggrieved attendees and would deal with complaints on a case-by-case basis.
"The organisers and caterers empathise with patrons and are themselves disappointed with the issues that have arisen," they said.
"They have poured significant time, resources and personal effort into the event's planning, and are personally affected by the unfavourable outcome of their efforts."
EARLIER: Furious New Years Eve revellers who paid around $400 for a ticket want to take legal action against organisers who put on a “shameful excuse for an event”.
The NYE Above The Harbour event, celebrated at The Domain’s Tarepian Precinct, claimed to give ticket holders “an exclusive front row seat to Sydney’s fireworks spectacular with panoramic views of the city”.
The event was a sell-out at 300 people and the package included ‘5-star food’, alcoholic beverages and Sydney’s finest DJ.
Instead of the deluxe food and killer views party-goers said they waited up to three hours for food and could not get drinks, missing out on seeing night’s main attraction.
Some attendee's lashed out on the event's Facebook page.
“You are a disgrace, a b****y disgrace. You will receive a phone call every day until you start refunding money. Tonight wasn't worth $39.32,” one man said.
”At midnight I shall be on my own, in a queue, stone cold sober, starving and about to wet my pants and missed the fireworks!” one woman joked.
“Excellent value for money for $400! Absolute joke!”
“At least I’ve made some new fiends(sic) I the food queue, but it would have been nice to spend NYE with my mum who flew 10,000 miles to be here with me!”
Tickets cost $395 for general admission and for an extra $100 people could purchase reserved seating.
“Yup (sic) hiding everyone posts...face the music.. oo (sic) wait you didn’t even do that last night as event managers decided to hide.
“The way you organised the crowd before we got in was a giveaway you had no clue what you were doing,” one man commented.
One man was furious that his parents had spent over $10,000 to fly to Australia to see the “panoramic views of the fireworks”.
“They stood in queues all evening had four drinks in six hours what they wanted had run out of your all inclusive food and beverage package.
“By the time they got to the front of the 3 hour long que(sic), they had been taken for a ride by your disgusting organization and management of a once in a lifetime event.
“YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED”, an angry user commented.
But since the uproar the event’s Facebook page has been deleting negative comments and people have been noticing.
“Removing visitors feedback won’t change the fact that your event was one of the most poorly planned events ever attended,” user Jules Stone commented on the page.
“You should offer everyone refunds and use your professional indemnity insurance to cover your costs.
“Oh and sack your head chef! He signed off on of four tents knowing that over 3,000 multiple covers would be required!!!!!”
Attendees were promised desserts made by luxury Shangri-La Hotel's famous pastry chef Anna Polyviou and instead one man was handed flavoured ice blocks when they ran out of desert.
"Lined up at the dessert stall only to be informed that the only food left was fruit skewers and popcorn. Staff started giving out these," he wrote.
One woman on the other hand wrote to the event on Facebook thanking them for the stunning view and great night.
"Phenomenal! Most incredible view imaginable, great tunes, fun vibe - & the dessert bar is off the hook YUM! Happiest New Years ever," she said.
Yahoo7 has contacted Above the Harbour for comment.
