Broadwitch Hauntfest 2012
The Broadwitch Hauntfest has been scaring visitors for years and has a reputation for extremely detailed mazes with some ingenious hiding places. Their Spooky Castle remains one of the best decorated attractions in the country but last year the Field of Fear was slightly hampered by a low growing crop. What would 2012 bring?
One of the first things that stands out about Broadwitch Hauntfest is that the whole event is put on in the middle of a working farm. It doesn't claim to be a "scream park" or anything like that - it just claims to have 5 exciting attractions to try and scare us with. And scare they did! Each maze had a number of good quality jumps throughout.
Around the whole event arena, were a number of roaming characters who were interacting well with all the guests, providing a fun mix of scares and laughter from those waiting in line or moving between mazes.
Around the whole event arena, were a number of roaming characters who were interacting well with all the guests, providing a fun mix of scares and laughter from those waiting in line or moving between mazes.
Spooky Castle
Spooky Castle remains Broadwitch's premier attraction and continues to impress year after year. It remains fresh as unlike many large attractions, it is taken down and rebuilt each year from scratch. This means the creative team can make as many changes as they want and each year sees the scenes rearranged, swapped around or even replaced. This keeps the attraction fresh and exciting. Add in the incredible attention to detail throughout and we still think that this is one of the best looking mazes in the UK. Rooms actually feel like rooms instead of a collection of random props and once the evil characters are added - the whole attraction becomes a frighteningly fun tour through some very twisted elements.
New for this year were a couple of surprise animatronic effects that worked perfectly to throw the unexpected at us. Even when we knew these were coming, on subsequent run throughs they managed to surprise and startle us each time. This desire to add something new and different and really play with the scares raises Spooky Castle above other attractions of its ilk. Of course, Broadwitch are known for utilising some very clever hiding places and Spooky Castle was full of them again this year.
New for this year were a couple of surprise animatronic effects that worked perfectly to throw the unexpected at us. Even when we knew these were coming, on subsequent run throughs they managed to surprise and startle us each time. This desire to add something new and different and really play with the scares raises Spooky Castle above other attractions of its ilk. Of course, Broadwitch are known for utilising some very clever hiding places and Spooky Castle was full of them again this year.
Field of Fear
Like most farms. Broadwitch have been hit by the bad weather in their corn maize, but this hasn't stopped them producing a quality attraction. In fact in places the path went down while the corn stayed above meaning that in many of the scenes the corn was easily above our heads. In other places, temporary barriers stopped us seeing ahead, and with a simple bit of paint and design, matched the whole theme of the event as if they had always meant to be there. Talking of theme for this year, it was a brilliant surprise and was carried off really nicely throughout the whole maze as we passed into a twisted land "beyond the rainbow"
The whole field contained a number of good startle scares alongside some amusing characterisation throughout and although not super scary was a fun different approach to a corn field attraction.
The whole field contained a number of good startle scares alongside some amusing characterisation throughout and although not super scary was a fun different approach to a corn field attraction.
The Vault
Usually the Vault is a fast paced maze with some good scares and this year was no different! A few things have moved around inside but the attraction generally plays out the same as before but with a couple of new surprises. The split point was really well managed and had all of us screaming at different things while some of the actors were able to appear out of nowhere as they merged and blended in with the walls (yes the mask room got us every time!!)
The clowns from previous years have wisely been retired but a noisy special effect scare at the end had us all running for the exit in fear.
The clowns from previous years have wisely been retired but a noisy special effect scare at the end had us all running for the exit in fear.
Containment
Containment is the smallest of the Broadwitch mazes but manages to pack a mighty punch in its little area. The actors were lively and the sets were well decorated and interesting. The finale was a fun mix of live actors and effects which left most of us keen to escape!
Broadwitch Hauntfest officially opens on Friday October 19th.
Links:
2011 Broadwitch Hauntfest review
2010 Broadwitch Hauntfest review
Official website - www.spookycastle.co.uk
2011 Broadwitch Hauntfest review
2010 Broadwitch Hauntfest review
Official website - www.spookycastle.co.uk
You Review
Very good acting but had the same decor as last year, just moved around. That would not usually be a problem but when you have to wait an hour to get in you do wonder if it was worth it. The only option is the new 'fastpass' ticket that they have brought in. This means that you have to pay an extra tenner if you don't want to spend four hours of your evening in a queue. Sorry to be negative, but I really think this place will be a victim of its own success
You Review 2
Hi, I think our group has finally fallen out of love with broadditch. We go every year but I feel we are being ripped off and having to wait hours for the privilege. Please be aware that you will have to queue for at least 45 minutes to get in each attraction, with the spooky castle queue being longer! The sets seem to be pretty similar each year and although the actors are fantastic, we all felt let down.
You Review 3
What a great night, i went along with a few friends as a last mintue thing when they had a spare ticket. I thought it was going to be silly, but it was seriously such a great memorible night! we always talk about it even a year on now. We have tickets booked already, cant wait to go!
You Review 4
Pro - Superb acting, Creative sets and the overall atmosphere was outstanding. The thing I love here is that despite the fact that there are hundreds of people there, the atomsphere is friendly and everyone is in a good mood
Cons - Crowded, the queues were a bit long (but well worth the wait).
One thing I could not work out is when I bought my tickets a couple of weeks before the opening, I was charged a pound on top of each ticket as a booking fee, even though they were paid for in person not online?! I would be interested to know why that was.
Cons - Crowded, the queues were a bit long (but well worth the wait).
One thing I could not work out is when I bought my tickets a couple of weeks before the opening, I was charged a pound on top of each ticket as a booking fee, even though they were paid for in person not online?! I would be interested to know why that was.
You Review 5
First off, the acting is brilliant and the sets were excellent. These guys really enjoy their art. Even the food is good.
You might have to queue, but it is worth the wait.
You Review 6
Good night out, great acting and detailed sets.
The length of the queues have become a joke and that is a shame.
It was pouring down when we arrived, so the field of fear was like a WW1 battlefield. The other haunts are under cover so no problem there.
The haunted woods tour was also a wash out but I actually better as the rain added to the ambience and there was no stopping and stating. Straight through while being terrorised by various creatures!.
The only downside was the queues. You expect some waiting but this was ridiculous. Some of our group will not return due to the time we had to wait
The length of the queues have become a joke and that is a shame.
It was pouring down when we arrived, so the field of fear was like a WW1 battlefield. The other haunts are under cover so no problem there.
The haunted woods tour was also a wash out but I actually better as the rain added to the ambience and there was no stopping and stating. Straight through while being terrorised by various creatures!.
The only downside was the queues. You expect some waiting but this was ridiculous. Some of our group will not return due to the time we had to wait
You Review
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