Event in London failed to serve up the unlimited food it promised, leaving ticket-holders cheesed off

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

An event promising unlimited cheese reportedly ran out of cheese but organisers refused to refund aggrieved attendees.

The Giant Cheese Board, advertised as an unlimited cheese fest, promised to take revellers to “cheesey heaven” at Studio 338, south-east London, this weekend.

However, the cheese connoisseurs in attendance claimed they were left short-changed as the event reportedly experienced myriad failures.



As well as unlimited cheese, the promoters had promised free mulled wine, giant mice to help guests navigate the Cheese Board and a fireplace to snuggle by.

But many people who paid more than £30 took to Twitter and Instagram to claim the wine was cold, the rodent chaperones fell short of expectations and that the fireplace was projected on a screen in the car park marquee.

One post read: “The marketing: ‘The Giant Cheese Board’, “a massive, oversized cheese board. One you can walk around on as if you’re in a giants kitchen” – the best artisan cheeses from across Europe, including a huge baked Camembert, unlimited mulled wine, cheesecake and double-size fireplaces. The reality: plates of chopped up British cheeses, mostly hard, some caterers packs of chutney, no Camembert (baked or not), queues for cold and very sweet ‘low alcohol’ mulled wine, no cheesecake, and a screen projecting the image of a fire. Hmm.”

Others were similarly unimpressed by the fare.

petestravelogue (@petestravelogue) #GiantCheeseboard this is one of the most depressing things I've seen pic.twitter.com/Ufs8rz3sHK

Kevin Chun (@peanutter571) The only thing giant about this cheese board was that it was a total giant waste of time. 5 different types of cheese are you fucking kidding me, no giant camembert, ran out of bread, chorizo, crackers, grapes, cold mulled wine, 90 minute wait to get in #giantcheeseboard

Michelle Louise (@Michelle586) Shit. Absolute crap. If you want a refund from @studio338 email info@thegiantcheeseboard.com that’s what we were told... #badservice #nomulledwine #fuckallcheese #oversold #london #thegiantcheeseboard #giantcheeseboard #dontbother

The event was even compared to the notorious Fyre Festival in the Bahamas, at which ticket-holders were promised “a cultural moment created from a blend of music, art and food” co-organised by Ja Rule and attended by Instagram influencers, but which turned out to be a shambolic mess in a “tent city”.

Ashitha Nagesh (@ashnagesh) US: 'Where are our yachts?? Our champagne?! Our luxury cabanas??? Where is Ja Rule!!?'

UK: 'THERE WAS NO WHEEL OF CAMEMBERT THIS IS A DISASTER' #giantcheeseboard

The organisers responded on Facebook. “Guys, if we felt that we had not provided any of the things included in your entry price then we’d be the first to hold our hands up and apologise but this is simply NOT the case,” they posted.

They said the cheese was not store bought and did not run out, the cheesy music was exactly as promised, the wine was “mostly hot” and that the comedy and karaoke events, which some festival-goers had claimed did not occur, were in the Speakcheesy room, as stated on a map supplied to attendees.

They acknowledged that the halloumi burger and camembert chef had fallen ill the night before, but these meals were not part of the ticket price, and said that “there categorically is unlimited cheese” at future events.