Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Dismaland website 'unable' to sell online tickets as rumours of Banksy ploy grow

Investigation into claims problems created intentionally

Wednesday 26 August 2015 08:35 BST

Tickets to the bleak theme park-cum art show are proving very difficult to buy (Reuters) (Toby Melville/Reuters)

The website for Banksy’s Dismaland ‘bemusement park’ has announced it is "unable" to sell tickets online - fuelling rumours the artist is deliberately adding to depressing nature of the attraction.

Banksy's spokeswoman said the site had received over six million hits by Friday and a message posted on the site now says "we would like to apologise to anyone attempting to buy tickets online today".

"Due to unprecedented demand 'the UK’s most disappointing new visitor attraction' is currently unable to process online ticket sales," it adds.

The post on the Dismaland website

“This Saturday and Sunday August 22nd and 23rd tickets will only be available on the door.”

Dismaland, a dark theme park in the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare, has been attracting attention from all over the world, with people queuing overnight in an attempt to get entry.

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

Show all 13

1/13Inside Banksy's Dismaland

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

"Seagull Attack" by Banksy sits near the entrance, proved to be a bit of a photo opportunity, a taxidermied seagull perches on the other side of the bench

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

The Bill Barminski - Cardboard security entrance, visitors must first get through security to enter the park. This can include being searched, emptying bags and even being instructed to touch your toes.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

Dismaland opened to the general public this weekend and everyone seems to be talking about it. Many have speculated whether long queues and website crashing issues are purposeful in order to make Dismaland that little bit more dismal.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

Dismaland19.jpg

The Bill Barminski - Cardboard security entrance, visitors must first get through security to enter the park. This can include being searched, emptying bags and even being instructed to touch your toes.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

Visitors are handed their very own guide to the park inside, featuring the names of the installations and show-times. On the front it brands Dismaland "the UK's most disappointing visitor attraction".

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

An overview of the park, set on the former site of Tropicana. Tropicana was closed in the 1990's and since then has had rumours of regeneration. The exhibition will be the first major event on site since its heyday as a seaside attraction.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

"Topple the anvil and win the anvil" - just one of the many disappointing games visitors can try their hand at.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

"What its really like to be a princess" the scene of Cinderella hanging lifeless outside her pumpkin carriage as paparazzi surround it inside the castle in the center of the park. A dark reference to the death of Princess Diana.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

Mushroom Cloud made of Cotton by Artist Dietrich Wegner

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

A twist on theme park boating games the white cliffs of dover provide a backdrop to boats of migrants and faceless bodies float in the black water.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

"Killer Whale jumping from a toilet" a piece by Banksy as a reference to the treatment of orca's in seaworld parks.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

In classic Banksy style he applies his stencilling technique to a mural named "woman showering" when talking about the exhibition Banksy declared that he was aiming for something very different to street art.

Reuters

Inside Banksy's Dismaland

A Look Inside Dismaland Bemusement Park

Another piece by banksy looms above a lake referencing Jeffrey Archer

Reuters

A spokesman for North Somerset Council said they were trying to establish if the difficulty in getting tickets online was a genuine problem or a deliberate ploy by Banksy.

Large numbers social media users speculated that it offered further evidence Banksy had intentionally built in the frustrating element to the ticket sales in an effort to deepen the dismal experience.

The website does state that online bookings would be taken again from Tuesday 25 August.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies