Families have been left devastated after turning up to a Harry Potter themed music show that never existed.
The Music of Harry Potter extravaganza was advertised to punters as taking place at Bolton’s Victoria Hall on Sunday – only for ticketholders to turn up to a closed theatre and a sign informing them no event had ever been scheduled.
The venue issued several warnings on social media before last weekend to try and let customers of Jenmat Productions, the firm behind the venture, know that it would not be going ahead.
But disappointed fans of the franchise still arrived on the weekend to find they had spent money on a bogus experience.
Affected fans are trying to pursue refunds for their tickets, but Jenmat Productions says it has now gone into liquidation. Documents on Companies House seem to show the company is still active.
It is just the latest in a long line of complaints over Jenmat events, including previous cancellations with just days notice, promised refunds not being delivered and musicians not being paid.
In a notice posted by The Victoria Hall prior to the scheduled event, venue bosses said that tickets had been sold using their name ‘without our knowledge or permission’. It is thought around 500 tickets were purchased for Sunday’s concert.
‘The event titled “Music of Harry Potter”, promoted by JENMAT Productions and advertised as featuring the International Film Orchestra, was listed and tickets were sold to the public using our venue’s name without our consent or authorisation,’ a statement issued on behalf of the hall said.
The Music of Harry Potter extravaganza was advertised to punters as taking place at Bolton’s Victoria Hall (pictured) on Sunday – only for ticketholders to turn up to a closed theatre and a sign informing them no event had ever been scheduled
Fans of the franchise arrived at the venue on Sunday only to find it closed, with a sign informing them the event did not exist
‘JENMAT Productions did not have a signed contract, booking agreement, or any permission to promote or sell tickets for an event at this venue.’
The statement added that Jenmat ‘has a history of cancelling performances shortly before the scheduled date’, and that tickets, sold on platform Ticket Tailor, had stated conditions meaning no refund would be issued to customers in the result of cancellation.
‘We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration caused. However, we must make it absolutely clear that this event was advertised and ticketed without the venue’s knowledge, agreement, or authorisation, and we had no involvement in its promotion or ticketing,’ the venue said.
But not everyone who had bought tickets saw the venue’s attempts to draw attention to the issue, with many only finding out the event did not exist after turning up outside.
Jo Whitehead purchased two tickets for herself and a friend for £74 in November and arrived at The Victoria Hall before the scheduled 3pm start time.
She uploaded a photo of a sign at the venue to social media and accused Jenmat of operating a ‘scam’.
‘We arrived no sign on the door at that point, waited outside until someone else told us it had been cancelled, we received no email in regards to cancellation. What a wasted journey,’ a second customer said.
A third added: ‘I’m absolutely disgusted by this as I’d bought tickets for this event today as a Xmas present.
Harry Potter fan Jo Whitehead (dressed as character Professor Trelawney during a visit to Warner Bros) had been excited to attend the event with a friend, but turned up to realise it was not going ahead
The Victoria Hall in Bolton issued several notices on its social media pages and website trying to warn Jenmat Productions customers the event would not be going ahead
‘I was only alerted to this yesterday and my daughter had already travelled back from university especially.’
According to the venue, the terms on tickets sold stated that customers are not entitled to a refund if the event was cancelled, and advised those affected to contact their bank.
Sunday’s event is not the only Jenmat production to not go ahead.
Another Harry Potter concert in Coventry last month was also cancelled with four days notice, customers have said, as was a John Williams themed event in Chester.
Other concerts were cancelled and rescheduled several months later.
Responding to the debacle, several musicians claimed online they have not been paid for events that did take place.
Although Jenmat Productions claims on its site to have gone into liquidation, Companies House records show the firm is still trading as of today.
Jenna Hopkins, whose husband is head of the International Film Orchestra which has been scheduled to perform at most Jenmat events, is listed as the firm’s director.
The company’s latest accounts show she had borrowed tens of thousands of pounds from the company, and still owed £63,812 as of April 2024.
Social media pages for the firm have ceased to exist.
Announcing the firm’s liquidation, a statement on Jenmat Productions’ website said: ‘Jenmat Productions Ltd has appointed an Insolvency Practitioner as Liquidator and the formal liquidation process is now underway following a period of severe trading disruption.
‘As a result, all scheduled and forthcoming events will no longer proceed. We recognise the disappointment this will cause and regret that the company has been unable to continue trading.
‘For clarity, all events promoted by Jenmat Productions Ltd were genuine productions arranged in good faith with venues and suppliers at the time of promotion. At no point were events advertised without the genuine intention of delivering them.
‘In a number of instances, agreed performance dates were subsequently cancelled by venues following external communications and adverse publicity. Those decisions were made independently by the respective venues.’
Ms Hopkins has been contacted for comment.
