Bolton Abbey cancels sold-out Christmas events due to poor visitor behaviour

Bolton Abbey has cancelled its planned Christmas events next month because of fears that visitors will not follow social distancing guidelines.
Bolton AbbeyBolton Abbey
Bolton Abbey

Estate managers cited 'some of the recent visitor behaviour experienced at Bolton Abbey' for the decision.

The Christmas events schedule this year included a scaled-down version of the normal festive village, with a socially distanced Santa's grotto in the Cavendish Pavilion and crowd management measures.

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Although lockdown is due to end next week, the reintroduction of tiered restrictions is likely to curtail the estate's activities and staff have opted to open only as an outdoor attraction for the remainder of the year in order to ensure public safety and discourage travel.

Visitors will still be able to walk in the parkland, but no events will take place.

Booking for the Christmas events opened on October 12 and all ticket holders will now be refunded.

A spokesperson for the Bolton Abbey estate, which is the Yorkshire seat of the Duke of Devonshire, said: "The decision has been made due to the rapidly changing circumstances of Covid 19, the Government’s response to it and some of the recent visitor behaviour experienced at Bolton Abbey.

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"Given the event sold out, it was a difficult decision and one that was not made lightly. The team are acutely aware of the disappointment this will bring to families and for this they are truly sorry.

"Bolton Abbey will remain open over the Christmas period for people to enjoy the various walking trails along the banks of the River Wharfe, through Strid Wood or across the heather moors."

All visitors must pre-book their visit online in order to manage the number of visitors on site at any given time.

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