The organiser of OktoberFest London cancelled its 2015 drinking event, 20 minutes before the first session was due to begin at 12.00pm on Friday (9 October).

Due to be held at Tobacco Dock London in Canary Wharf until Sunday 11 October, London’s version of Munich’s traditional beer festival suffered “operational issues” at Thursday’s opening event.

The event’s website was taken down on Friday afternoon, only showing the following statement: “Due to unforeseen circumstances the OktoberFest London event has been cancelled. The ticket holders are requested to keep hold of their tickets for the event, and the company will inform all ticket holders of the procedure for claiming a refund as soon as possible.”

More than 24,000 people were expected to attend, with tickets for the event costing £10 each, £600 for a table for 10 or a VIP table for £1,000 with all inclusive drinks and food.

In a statement on the venue’s website, Tobacco Dock said: “We regret that the Oktoberfest London Events planned to take place at Tobacco Dock in Wapping have been cancelled. We identified certain operational issues at last night’s opening event that were considered sufficiently serious that it has been decided not to proceed with the planned sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All guests are advised to await updates via the organiser’s website www.oktoberfest.london, regarding the status of their tickets.”

Jonathan Read, commercial director at Tobacco Dock said: “After Thursday’s opening event, we were not satisfied that necessary changes to the event would be able to be implemented by the weekend. We take our responsibilities under the 2003 Licensing Act and to our neighbours and guests very seriously and absolutely endorse the decision to cancel the events planned this weekend.”

Access will update this story as more information comes to light.