- Do YOU have a story? Email Sam.Lawley@dailymail.co.uk
A mother was left stunned after forking out £16 for strawberries and chocolate at a Christmas market.
Molly Smith, 29, headed to London‘s Leicester Square with her sister on Saturday in a bid to soak in some early festive cheer – but good tidings were in short supply in the West End.
She popped out into the capital’s bustling streets during a break in a performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at a nearby theatre and spotted a seasonal stall selling fruit, marshmallows and other treats dipped in chocolate.
Opting for the strawberries with a ‘drizzle’ of chocolate, the unsuspecting mother tapped her Apple Pay and only noticed the price when it was too late.
She was charged an eye-watering £16 for the sweet treat and was left with a damaged wallet just weeks before Christmas.
Ms Smith said: ‘I was in shock when I saw the price, and I thought it must have been a mistake.
‘It was so busy, I just tapped it and didn’t really process how much it was until I’d walked off.
‘I double checked the price when the notification came up on my phone.’
A mother was left stunned after forking out £16 for strawberries and chocolate, pictured, at a Christmas market
Molly Smith headed to London’s Leicester Square with her sister on Saturday in a bid to soak in some early festive cheer – but good tidings were put on hold by the over-priced sweet treat
A baffled Ms Smith recalled seeing a price list saying the snack cost £10 per cup so headed back to the stall to demand answers.
The woman on the stand told her the cheaper price referred to a regular cup, whereas ‘large’ portions were £6 more expensive
‘In hindsight, I should have asked for a refund, but it was so busy and we needed to get back to the theatre, so I just left,’ she added.
‘I assume it would’ve been listed that it was £16 somewhere, but I don’t remember seeing it; these markets are so busy and overwhelming.
‘I’d have been happy to pay up to £10 because I know these markets are expensive, especially in London.
‘But £16 seemed way too much for strawberries and a drizzle of chocolate.’
She added that the portion cannot have been worth more than £5 although she was aware of the dangers of buying food in one of London’s priciest areas.
‘I understand their pitch fees are extortionate, hence their prices,’ Ms Smith said.
‘And you do go to these markets knowing they are going to be more expensive, but I’ve never seen anywhere charge that much for some strawberries and chocolate.’
The Daily Mail has approached Christmas in Leicester Square for comment.
