Bridgerton event featuring pole dancer likened to disastrous Willy Wonka experience

Fans of the hit drama Bridgerton were not amused after a themed event in Michigan turned out to be something of a royal disaster.

The historical Netflix series is set in London during the early 1800s and follows eight close-knit siblings of the powerful aristocratic Bridgerton family as they attempt to find love.

Dozens of fans showed up to the Harmonie Club in Detroit on Sunday night dressed in Bridgerton-style ballgowns as they hoped to be transported back to the alternative Regency Era depicted in the show.

However, despite spending hundreds of dollars on tickets and costumes for the unofficial event, they claim they were served undercooked food - with one Facebook user saying their chicken was as "pink as a crayon".

Others complained about basic decor they say failed to live up to the opulence of the grand country homes that feature in their favourite series.

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Meanwhile, a pole dancer provided the entertainment - something which has never featured in Bridgerton or its spinoff "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story".

The event, which was not organised by the production company behind Bridgerton or Netflix, had offered tickets ranging from $120 (£90) to $1,000 (£745) and promised fans an enjoyable night of live music and entertainment and a prize for the best-dressed, Sky News' US partner network NBC News reports.

However, it has reminded many of a Willy Wonka-inspired pop-up in Scotland, which went viral on social media after it was described as "an absolute shambles of an event" that left children in tears.

Pedro Soto and his newlywed bride attended the Bridgerton experience as a celebration, having only the tied the knot the day before.

However, he said afterwards: "We had to re-use cups, not enough plates, the backdrops were just paper."

Circus performer Tink says she was hired just three hours before the event and asked to pole dance.

She said afterwards: "This is truly a horror story, and I'm just completely like awestruck seeing everything that actually happened.

"I just feel very bad for all the patrons who showed up to the event just because my goal as a performer, you know, is to bring happiness and cheer to everyone."

Tink said Uncle & Me LLC, the company which organised the event, selected and approved her costume for the occasion - a red bra and matching knickers.

Uncle & Me LLC appears to have taken down its own website and the site for the Bridgerton experience following the backlash from those who attended on Sunday.

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The event, which was organised to host 3,000 guests, was originally set to take place on 25 August but was cancelled just a few days before because of a venue issue.

It was rescheduled for Sunday night.

Unable to get a refund, many still attended the rescheduled event even if they were reluctant to do so, CBS reported.

TikTok user Nita Morton said her requests for a refund had gone unanswered by the event organisers.

Sky News has approached Uncle & Me LLC for a comment.

In a statement to WXYZ-TV, the company said: "We understand that not everyone had the experience they hoped for at our most recent event Sunday night at The Harmonie Club, and for that, we sincerely apologise.

"Our intention was to provide a magical evening, but we recognise that organizational challenges affected the enjoyment of some guests. We take full responsibility and accountability for these shortcomings."