SantaBooker vs Eventbrite for Grotto Bookings: Which Is Best for Your Christmas Experience?

If you’re planning a Santa’s grotto this Christmas, choosing the right booking platform can make all the difference. From managing time slots and payments to offering a magical experience for families, your system needs to be reliable, flexible, and tailored to festive events. In this article, we compare SantaBooker and Eventbrite, focusing on booking fees, features, and suitability for UK grotto organisers.

Booking Fees: Transparent Pricing That Works for You

Let’s start with the numbers. Eventbrite charges the following per ticket:

• 6.95% of the ticket price

• Plus £0.59 per ticket

• Plus 2.9% payment processing

That means for a £10 ticket, nearly £1.89 goes to Eventbrite – and those fees are non-refundable, even if the customer cancels.

SantaBooker keeps things simple: just a £1 booking fee per ticket. That’s it. You can choose to pass this on to your customers or absorb it into your price. You get paid directly via Stripe or PayPal, with funds typically arriving within two working days. Invoices for your booking fees are sent weekly, helping you manage cash flow more effectively.

Features Designed for Santa Grottos

SantaBooker was built specifically for managing Christmas grotto events — not concerts or conferences. This focus means it offers tools that make festive experiences more personal, streamlined, and magical.

From capturing each child’s name and Christmas wish to offering Santa letters as a bolt-on, SantaBooker helps create memorable and meaningful visits.

Built for Families, Not Just Ticket Sales

While Eventbrite offers a powerful generic platform, it lacks the personalisation needed for family-based events. SantaBooker allows parents to:

• Add details for each child when booking

• Receive automated personalised emails from Santa

• Easily manage or reschedule their booking

• Book confidently from mobile or desktop

The experience is smooth for organisers too, with intuitive admin tools, real-time slot availability, and customisable forms.

Local Expertise, Global Reach

SantaBooker is based in Cornwall but supports grottos across the UK and internationally. Whether you’re a local charity, a shopping centre, or a commercial Christmas attraction, the platform scales with you. It’s fast to set up, easy to use, and backed by a team that understands seasonal events.

Final Thoughts

Eventbrite might work for general ticketing, but if you want to offer a tailored, professional grotto experience – and keep more of your ticket revenue – SantaBooker is the better choice.

With lower fees, festive-specific features, and a platform designed around family experiences, it’s the perfect tool for delivering magical moments this Christmas.