Leavers’ Party: An Utter Flop?

Angry students have called for refunds after attending the Leavers’ Week Party.

It was the finale of Leavers’ Week and for many a last visit to the LCR. But students were left disappointed by the party that promised “utter madness”.

Clubbers were told to expect CO2 and confetti cannons, T-shirt giveaways, special drink deals, free disposable cameras, sweets, hot tubs and twister competitions.

Student Andreas Cosmas publicly complained on Facebook, saying: “Hot tubs, disposable cameras, beer pong and rides all became two twister mats last night… Good one LCR organising people, definitely worth that tenner we all had to pay… Surely this warrants a refund?”

He told The Tab: “The reason so many people agreed with me and either left early or liked my post on the LCR group is probably that for the last three years we’ve been attending these big end of year LCRs and justifying the ludicrous ticket prices by saying they were more than just a club night as the addition of other elements made the night more memorable…”

Third year student Tommy Philbrooks disagrees. He said: “People don’t appreciate that acts like Mistajam and Dot Rotten cost money and £10 for a ticket is a great price. People always find something to complain about.”

But Andreas is unconvinced by this defence. He said: “Saying that it would cost the same to see Mistajam and Dot Rotten play normal gigs is a moot point as well in my opinion, as at a gig they wouldn’t play a very short set like Dot Rotten did and more importantly, it’s meant to be a Leavers’ Party – not an event surrounding those two.”

Official UEA Leavers’ Week promoters claim that disposable cameras were dispatched on a first-come-first-served basis.

However, Emma Hobbs – one of the first students to arrive at the venue – said there were no cameras available: “Although sweets and candy floss were there, there were no cameras or T-shirt giveaways.”

Dot Rotten – as advertised.

Promoters of the event were quick to defend themselves: “Firstly, we sincerely apologise for the lack of hot tub. We were let down at the last minute by the company supplying it and were unable to find a replacement in time for the event.

“We contacted several companies but many were fully booked in advance or had reservations about supplying hot tubs to a student venue.

“The money we recouped from the cancelled hot tub went directly back into the event in the form of extra production for the main stage – which with Mistajam and Dot Rotten performing on it was always intended as the focal point of the event, and was always promoted as such.

“As for the disposable cameras, sweets and candy floss, all were provided on a first-come-first-served basis at the start of the night and whilst we apologise to anyone who missed out we can’t be held accountable for people choosing to arrive later than others.

“All we can do at this stage is extend our sincere apologies to anyone who felt disappointed by the unfortunate and unavoidable lack of a hot tub at the event and thank everyone else who came down and had a great time – judging by the photos and the view from the main stage it seems the latter were very much in the majority.”