FAQs – 2021
Questions & Answers (updated for 2021)
Q: Will our Christmas event be staged at Calverley Park in Tunbridge Wells in Nov/Dec 2021?
A: YES, all going ahead for 2021 on a selected dates with limited time-slots.
If you prefer not to visit we can offer the option of a ZOOM appointment with Father Christmas at an agreeable date and time subject to availability.
Q: Whats happens if you are forced to close due to NEW Government Tier 3 restrictions being enforced at Tunbridge Wells ice rink for your Christmas event?
A: We will offer all booking dates affected the following options:
- An option of a Home Visit if in Tunbridge Wells
- A ZOOM appointment at an agreed date subject to availability (no refund applies)
- A Full Refund of your fees minus your event deposit of £10.00/booking**
- Transfer your booking to 2021 at no extra cost to you
** See Terms &Conditions listed here **
Q: Why will I have to pay a £10.00 fee towards costs of your event?
A: The cost to set-up our event is quite expensive ranging from booking in self-employed contracted actors who we have to honour their fees regardless, 1,000’s of presents pre paid for, booking fees which are non-refundable to the agent and decoration/support fees to build the event to its grandeur.
We have not taken this decision lightly but due to our business structure and being without a business since March 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic it is our only option.
Q: Where will you go if you are not at Calverley Park in Tunbridge Wells in Dec 2020?
A: At present we are looking at bringing Father Christmas to your home, in your town, on selected dates subject to geographical logistics. This has not been finalised yet but please do see our message from Father Christmas on the top bar heading off the frontpage. If you feel this is something you would like for your family this year then please do follow the message instructions.
Q: If you decide to go mobile accross Kent , Sussex and Surrey will places be limited?
A: At present YES, only 175 bookings will be available and we have a database of 13,500 families, 98 registered bookings already as of 29 August 2020. They will not be available for very long.
Q: Will Father Christmas have to wear a Face Mask or Shield on our booking as he may frighten our children?
A: The good news is NO. Father Christmas (as a professional actor/artist) is on the exempt list from wearing a face mask or shield whilst conducting his meeting/appointment but will keep to the strict 1m rule from all children.
His exemption is in-line with professional workers such as the police, teachers, and actors while he is undertaking his role/activity and it would negatively impact on his ability to do so. To put on or remove any face covering without displacing the costume and ruining the illusion of the activity which relies on clear sound and facial expression especially for families with special needs.
If you prefer Father Christmas to wear a clear visor for your visit he has the option to control this request.
All other staff will wear FULL PPE at all times.
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Q: Where is Calverley Park in Tunbridge Wells?
A: Tunbridge Wells Ice-rink: Calverley Park, Mount Pleasant Avenue, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 1QQ
Q: Where can I park my car in Tunbridge Wells?
A: Here is the nearest carpark list: Great Hall Carpark – TN1 1QQ, Beech Street – TN1 2RU, Crescent Road – TN1 2LU, Little Mount Sion – TN1 1YS, Tunbridge Wells Station, – TN1 1RZ, Vale Ave – TN1 1DJ
Q: What do you get for your £18.50 fee per child?
A: For your £18.50 your children are received by one of our elves, spend quality time with Father Christmas and receive a nice present to take home. Due to Covid-19 we are not offering any waiting room to write letters and are not taking photographs due to social distancing issues for 2020.
Q: Can we take pictures or video in your Log Cabin with Father Christmas?
A: YES photography is allowed for Christmas 2020.
Q: Will my children have to queue for long as we have to do at so many Christmas Grotto’s?
A: There are no queues at our Christmas Experience, you have your own time-slot and the maximum wait is around 2/3 minutes.
Q: Will Father Christmas make our visit special, is he the real deal?
A: Father Christmas will know your children’s names and everything about your child, only the ‘real’ Father Christmas knows this and this is why our visit is very special and is always sold out before we open.
Q: Are adults free to enter?
A: No, all adults are £3.00 each and babies under one free with a full paying child
Q: Can adults go in and see Father Christmas without children
A: Yes, all adults have the option to see Father Christmas as a full paying child fee
Q: What is the present and is it age related?
A: The child/children choose their own present from the many sacks as guided by our elf in their time with Father Christmas. They can choose from: a Soft cuddly toy, an assortment of boys toys or a selection box, All supplied with a Christmas themed bag to take them home in.
Q: How can we book or pay?
A: 99.7% of families last year booked on-line via PayPal (no account needed) via the booking page listed below. You can pay via credit card or cash at the reception area in person on the day if tickets are available. (sold-out last four years 6 weeks before opening)
Q: Do we have to pay to go into Calverley Grounds?
A: No, its free entry but ice-skating you have to pay on the day or best to book in advance.
To book go to: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/darrylcurcherevents/event/view/126410
Your Father Christmas Visit Includes
- A meet & greet from our welcoming elves
- Your family receive a memorable private meeting with Father Christmas of up-to 10/12 minutes
- Chooses their own quality present, 12 choices, for all children aged 1-16
- All adults are only £3.00 and babies under one free with a full paying child
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VERY IMPORTANT CUSTOMER NOTICE/S:
Professional Photography
Our policy on Professional Photographs in our Log Cabin is that we cannot take professional photographs without breaking and violating safety and social distancing protocols set by Government Guidelines and it is advisable, and safer, to refrain from breaking the 1m Covid-19 restrictions so we will not risk our customer/s safety.
We also feel children and families cannot get close enough at this time (sub 1m) to warrant classic family and portrait style images of their meeting with Father Christmas so we are taking the Government advice and are not taking any risks so keeping our Father Christmas visit very safe and Covid-19 secure. (many Grottos are risking the safety of the family and children)
We have been alerted that other ‘Christmas Grottos’ are classing the ‘Grotto’ as a ‘Photographic Studio’ and this is blatantly breaking and bending/twisting the law and the safety of all children and families especially anyone shielding.
To be allowed to take off your mask/visor and be allowed in close proximity to Father Christmas is a danger to everyone in such a limited space and we will not risking breaking Health & Safety guidelines by subjecting our visitors to such risks.
We take all Covid-19 protocols with great care and will not risk the health of any of our customers in this very strange and testing Christmas season.
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Father Christmas Home & Street Visits, ZOOM appointments
Home Visits can go ahead even if full lockdown or Circuit breaker rule is brought in as it does not apply to professional workers/actors/artists.
As professional workers, our Father Christmas & Elf helper are not part of any bubble numbers or the ‘Rule of Six’, Government rules for professional workers.
Changes in law from 22 Sept 2020 – Rule 5.3
Can professional work gatherings exceed 6 persons?
Work gatherings are exempt from the gatherings limit of 6. Where a group includes someone who is working, they are not counted as part of the gatherings limit. This means a professional tradesperson can go into a household of six without breaching the limit, if they are there for work reasons including performance acting and business work related reasons.
So, the good news is a full lockdown does not affect us at all in-line with the last lockdown in April 2020 and this is the wording used:
Previous lockdown measures, you could only leave your home if shopping for food, a medical reason, or, if you could not work from home you go to work as normal.
If the government brings in a circuit breaker enforcement rule or a full lockdown workers/professional workers will still be allowed to go to work if they cannot work from home.
This is us absolutely covers us for Home & Street Visits plus ZOOM from our Log Cabin regardless of any measures enforced.
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Face Masks
Father Christmas (as a professional actor/artist) is on the exempt list from wearing a face mask or shield whilst conducting his meeting/appointment but will keep to the strict 1m rule from all children.
His exemption is in-line with professional workers such as the police, teachers, and actors while he is undertaking his role/activity and it would negatively impact on his ability to do so. To put on or remove any face covering without displacing the costume and ruining the illusion of the activity which relies on clear sound and facial expression especially for families with special needs.
If you prefer Father Christmas to wear a clear visor for your visit he has the option to control this request.
All other staff will wear FULL PPE at all times.
