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A doomed Oktoberfest event at Tobacco Dock in Wapping received nearly £900,000 in advance ticket sales before it was cancelled.

OktoberFest London was set to be the capital’s biggest version of the famous German beer festival. Instead it was cancelled 20 minutes before the second session was due to open, with huge crowds outside.

At the time the venue said the event shut because of low staffing numbers, inexperienced bar staff and health and safety guidelines not being met.

OktoberFest London, which chose to go into administration, had blamed “unforeseen circumstances” in a post on its Facebook page. But many who turned up said the event was “massively oversubscribed”.

According to new documents lodged with Companies House, OktoberFest London was advanced nearly £900,000 in tickets sales through agency Billetto, of which “a significant portion” was spent on staff pay, security and food and drink suppliers.

It meant that “on 9 October 2015, when the sessions were cancelled, the company was not in a position to refund monies to the ticketholders,” according to the latest statement of administrator’s proposals. When the firm went into administration it had about £135,000 in the bank with “no other physical assets”.

There is currently no likelihood of customers being offered an automatic refund. Documents state Billetto will not hand over names and addresses to the administrators, citing the Data Protection Act. Instead, people must apply individually via the OktoberFest London website to join the list of creditors.

Tickets were £10 or £60 for a premium pass to guarantee a seat. VIP tables were £1,000.

Organiser Timo Schmidt did not return requests for comment.