Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2024
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors is the oldest scare attraction in the UK and has seen a number of big changes over the years, but one thing that has never changed is the passion and effort that is put into this charitable event. Yes, the design, build and all the actor roles are provided on a voluntary basis, which means the vast majority of the ticket price is saved for the preservation and restoration of this historical site, and long may that continue.
Upon arrival, we were met with some of the strictest security we have ever seen at a Halloween event (and having experienced the attraction in the past with multiple drunk and obnoxious people - we actually appreciated the efforts they were making.) After that we were batched into groups in a new queuing area before setting off on our terrifying trip through the Fort.
For so many years the tour has started in the lower tunnels, and slowly worked its way up the hill, meaning there was a long walk back to the main arena after all the scares. This year, the team have turned this path around and after some fun scene setting in the tunnels, we were marched up to the top of the hill to then descend through the main areas of the fort. We enjoyed the changes that the new route brought, but there really was nothing happening on the walk up. The actor leading us was trying his best - but we could have done with some other actors or scenes to break up the journey.
But that is just a minor niggle - as once we were inside the Fort - the scares and scenes were just relentless, with all the hands on intensity that we have come to expect from Fort Amherst. And we do mean intense. The actors throughout have absolutely zero concept of personal space, and will touch, grab and jostle everyone, and anyone, and the scenes and scares just come thick and fast. Think of a horror trope - and Fort Amherst will throw it at you! The scenes bounce from vampires to miners to clowns with such ease, that you just go with the flow, as you will be too busy screaming to scare! The whole attraction is just relentless, and even once guests leave the main tunnels of the Fort, there is still another big section to go - just pray the Hillbillies don't pick you out for a lap dance!
Once the main tour was over - an expanded food and drink area has been created with a number of catering options. We enjoyed a chilled drink and a bite to eat in this area, just watching the roaming actors interacting with the guests and having fun.
For what is effectively a charity event, created by volunteers, we are always amazed at the sheer terror and panic that this show can create. The up close and touching policy, adds an extreme element, yet just remains on the fun side of scariness. It's really hard to fully describe the full visceral nature of Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors, but it is an event we love, and would highly recommend to anyone who has not visited before!
Upon arrival, we were met with some of the strictest security we have ever seen at a Halloween event (and having experienced the attraction in the past with multiple drunk and obnoxious people - we actually appreciated the efforts they were making.) After that we were batched into groups in a new queuing area before setting off on our terrifying trip through the Fort.
For so many years the tour has started in the lower tunnels, and slowly worked its way up the hill, meaning there was a long walk back to the main arena after all the scares. This year, the team have turned this path around and after some fun scene setting in the tunnels, we were marched up to the top of the hill to then descend through the main areas of the fort. We enjoyed the changes that the new route brought, but there really was nothing happening on the walk up. The actor leading us was trying his best - but we could have done with some other actors or scenes to break up the journey.
But that is just a minor niggle - as once we were inside the Fort - the scares and scenes were just relentless, with all the hands on intensity that we have come to expect from Fort Amherst. And we do mean intense. The actors throughout have absolutely zero concept of personal space, and will touch, grab and jostle everyone, and anyone, and the scenes and scares just come thick and fast. Think of a horror trope - and Fort Amherst will throw it at you! The scenes bounce from vampires to miners to clowns with such ease, that you just go with the flow, as you will be too busy screaming to scare! The whole attraction is just relentless, and even once guests leave the main tunnels of the Fort, there is still another big section to go - just pray the Hillbillies don't pick you out for a lap dance!
Once the main tour was over - an expanded food and drink area has been created with a number of catering options. We enjoyed a chilled drink and a bite to eat in this area, just watching the roaming actors interacting with the guests and having fun.
For what is effectively a charity event, created by volunteers, we are always amazed at the sheer terror and panic that this show can create. The up close and touching policy, adds an extreme element, yet just remains on the fun side of scariness. It's really hard to fully describe the full visceral nature of Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors, but it is an event we love, and would highly recommend to anyone who has not visited before!
Mildly scary - Too expensive and very amateur. Lots of swearing and crude remarks which is not very scary
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2023
It's hard to believe that Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors is celebrating its 40th anniversary. It certainly is NOT showing its age and clearly has no intentions of slowing down as it gets older!
The event was originally created as a way to try and save the historical fort from council developers, but it has now morphed into a massive hour long experience with elaborate sets, a huge cast of actors and some genuinely panic inducing scares that leave a whole group of grown adults begging to get out.
Each year the event utilises different parts of the Fort and this keeps the whole experience fresh. We started in the lower section and tunnels, and slowly worked out way to the top of the site, passing through many different themed areas. The opening scenes were used to set the atmosphere and theme, but it wasn't until the "village" scene that the event revealed itself for the beast it can be. Gathered in an impressively designed exterior set - it would have been hard to believe we weren't in a traditional village square. Therefore when the scares came (and boy do they come!) the whole group was screaming in terror. This opening scene just sets the scenes for what is to come throughout the rest of the story - some periods of calm story telling, some sudden appearances and of course a LOT of touching!
And this is one of the key differences about Fort Amherst - the actors here are not afraid to touch you, mess with your hair, grab and separate you etc. In the past we have picked up and put in coffins and this year saw us dragged away from our group, pinned to walls and so much more. In an industry that has only recently moved away from "do not touch the actors and they wont touch you", it's incredible that the actors here have been doing this style of full contact scares for years.
And let's talk about those actors - they aren't professional, they aren't paid . They are just passionate volunteers who love scaring people and who put their time and effort into this event. This team dedicate so much time designing, building and operating and there is a clear camaraderie at the end of the night when they all gather round the fire for an end of evening drink.
One final thing we have to say is that this event is experienced in large groups, which just adds to the fun.We entered with a lively bunch of confident youngsters who by the time the tour had ended were basically pleading to get out. The actors spared no mercy in taunting this group and confidently put them in their place. The frankly non PC and totally hilarious put downs from the toy-maker were a particular highlight of the night.
All in - we had a great time at this year's event and cant wait to see them celebrate another 40 years!
The event was originally created as a way to try and save the historical fort from council developers, but it has now morphed into a massive hour long experience with elaborate sets, a huge cast of actors and some genuinely panic inducing scares that leave a whole group of grown adults begging to get out.
Each year the event utilises different parts of the Fort and this keeps the whole experience fresh. We started in the lower section and tunnels, and slowly worked out way to the top of the site, passing through many different themed areas. The opening scenes were used to set the atmosphere and theme, but it wasn't until the "village" scene that the event revealed itself for the beast it can be. Gathered in an impressively designed exterior set - it would have been hard to believe we weren't in a traditional village square. Therefore when the scares came (and boy do they come!) the whole group was screaming in terror. This opening scene just sets the scenes for what is to come throughout the rest of the story - some periods of calm story telling, some sudden appearances and of course a LOT of touching!
And this is one of the key differences about Fort Amherst - the actors here are not afraid to touch you, mess with your hair, grab and separate you etc. In the past we have picked up and put in coffins and this year saw us dragged away from our group, pinned to walls and so much more. In an industry that has only recently moved away from "do not touch the actors and they wont touch you", it's incredible that the actors here have been doing this style of full contact scares for years.
And let's talk about those actors - they aren't professional, they aren't paid . They are just passionate volunteers who love scaring people and who put their time and effort into this event. This team dedicate so much time designing, building and operating and there is a clear camaraderie at the end of the night when they all gather round the fire for an end of evening drink.
One final thing we have to say is that this event is experienced in large groups, which just adds to the fun.We entered with a lively bunch of confident youngsters who by the time the tour had ended were basically pleading to get out. The actors spared no mercy in taunting this group and confidently put them in their place. The frankly non PC and totally hilarious put downs from the toy-maker were a particular highlight of the night.
All in - we had a great time at this year's event and cant wait to see them celebrate another 40 years!
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2021
Fort Amherst always had a reputation for being one of the most intense scare attractions out there, but in several years we have found the experience to be a little tame. Fortunately this year the tide seems to have turned and we were back to some of the chaotic scenes that we have been accustomed to
Built and run by an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers, our tour took a different route around the fort, starting at the highest point and working our way down. As usual the atmospheric tunnels were filled with some clever set design, alongside some very hands on and touchy actors. And the actors had their work cut out for them, as a batching issue meant we were a slightly larger group than planned, but the actors were still able to squeeze around and through the group, delivering up close scares to everyone.
These scenes are always chaotic, as you can hear people scream around you and wonder what is happening before a creature suddenly pounces and scares you whilst distracted!
Once out of the main fort – some new temporary structures created a hillbilly village where the actors did their best to give everyone an up close and personal performance – We wont say what the inside of that teddy bear's eyeball socket felt like, but it was disgusting to be forced to stick our finger in it!
By the time we came to the end of our hour long tour, we had been touched, jostled, grabbed, pushed (and even in one special case – put in a coffin). The hands on nature of the event is what makes it so special, and it's clear that everyone at the Fort and the volunteers who run this event, are passionate about giving a terrifying but fun experience to all those who dare to enter. We WILL be back for 2022!
Built and run by an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers, our tour took a different route around the fort, starting at the highest point and working our way down. As usual the atmospheric tunnels were filled with some clever set design, alongside some very hands on and touchy actors. And the actors had their work cut out for them, as a batching issue meant we were a slightly larger group than planned, but the actors were still able to squeeze around and through the group, delivering up close scares to everyone.
These scenes are always chaotic, as you can hear people scream around you and wonder what is happening before a creature suddenly pounces and scares you whilst distracted!
Once out of the main fort – some new temporary structures created a hillbilly village where the actors did their best to give everyone an up close and personal performance – We wont say what the inside of that teddy bear's eyeball socket felt like, but it was disgusting to be forced to stick our finger in it!
By the time we came to the end of our hour long tour, we had been touched, jostled, grabbed, pushed (and even in one special case – put in a coffin). The hands on nature of the event is what makes it so special, and it's clear that everyone at the Fort and the volunteers who run this event, are passionate about giving a terrifying but fun experience to all those who dare to enter. We WILL be back for 2022!
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2019
We have always regarded Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors to be one of the most intense scare attraction experiences out there, which is quite a claim, seeing as the event has been running for over 35 years. Built and run purely by volunteers, it is a massive passion project for everyone involved and is a big fundraiser for the charity that owns the historical building.
It's a shame then to report that this year we just didn't seem to get the same level of experience that we have had in the past. There was an incredibly tense and terrifying tunnel at the start of the route, and the final couple of scenes were as intense as we remember. But in between these, there just seemed to be a lot of stopping and starting without much happening. We miss some of the scenes of mass hysteria, where creatures would attack mercilessly from all sides. The nearest we got to this was a clown scene, and despite a bit of hair touching, they actors were quite passive in their interactions. Remember this is an event that in the past has picked us out of the group and dragged us into a coffin and closed the lid on us! As we mentioned above - it was only the final scenes that felt anywhere like it. For example, this reviewer was forcibly dragged onto a grimy sofa and dry humped by a hillbilly! It was shocking, scary and bloody good fun!
One thing we did notice this year, was a bigger focus on sets and theming elements throughout. The spider projections on the wall were particularly impressive as was a laser room and a couple of the maze sections. For an event that has no money for infrastructure build and tech, they have pulled off some effects that would put larger events to shame!
All in - Halloween Horrors at Fort Amherst is a great event, and we have to praise everyone involved for all the time and effort they put into this show without payment. Maybe they were missing a few actors on our night we visited, but we hope this is just a temporary glitch, as we would love to see the event come back as manic as it has been in the past and maybe even run for another 35 years!
It's a shame then to report that this year we just didn't seem to get the same level of experience that we have had in the past. There was an incredibly tense and terrifying tunnel at the start of the route, and the final couple of scenes were as intense as we remember. But in between these, there just seemed to be a lot of stopping and starting without much happening. We miss some of the scenes of mass hysteria, where creatures would attack mercilessly from all sides. The nearest we got to this was a clown scene, and despite a bit of hair touching, they actors were quite passive in their interactions. Remember this is an event that in the past has picked us out of the group and dragged us into a coffin and closed the lid on us! As we mentioned above - it was only the final scenes that felt anywhere like it. For example, this reviewer was forcibly dragged onto a grimy sofa and dry humped by a hillbilly! It was shocking, scary and bloody good fun!
One thing we did notice this year, was a bigger focus on sets and theming elements throughout. The spider projections on the wall were particularly impressive as was a laser room and a couple of the maze sections. For an event that has no money for infrastructure build and tech, they have pulled off some effects that would put larger events to shame!
All in - Halloween Horrors at Fort Amherst is a great event, and we have to praise everyone involved for all the time and effort they put into this show without payment. Maybe they were missing a few actors on our night we visited, but we hope this is just a temporary glitch, as we would love to see the event come back as manic as it has been in the past and maybe even run for another 35 years!
Mildly scary
Was disappointed with event this year. Not many characters throughout the tunnels, groups too large, lots of security guards hanging around and long waits to get in and then delays between sections in the tunnels. Having been before and having had great experiences this year was not up to the expected standard.
Was disappointed with event this year. Not many characters throughout the tunnels, groups too large, lots of security guards hanging around and long waits to get in and then delays between sections in the tunnels. Having been before and having had great experiences this year was not up to the expected standard.
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2017
We have always loved Halloween Horrors at Fort Amherst and this year has seen a management changeover in the volunteer team that run it. Created as a charity event, over 35 years ago, the tours have always been chaotic and genuinely scary - but what would the new team bring for this year?
First up was a complete, re-route around the venue. Starting at the exit and working our way down through the fort was already a different dynamic to before. Next, we realised that many of the "stop the group here then attack them on a particular sound cue" scenes had been taken out. Granted there were several remaining and yes we somehow ended locked up in a coffin again, but this year felt less repetitive.
There were also some more theatrical scenes including the creepy church scene with the demons and the whole army section trying to protect us from the zombies. Add in some more confined corridors and a hooded rope section, and it was clear that the new team are looking for some variety.
All in - it's still an event that is really hard to talk about unless you have experienced it yourself. The whole venue, audience dynamic and themes, all worked perfectly to create a completely unique experience that has to be seen to be believed!
First up was a complete, re-route around the venue. Starting at the exit and working our way down through the fort was already a different dynamic to before. Next, we realised that many of the "stop the group here then attack them on a particular sound cue" scenes had been taken out. Granted there were several remaining and yes we somehow ended locked up in a coffin again, but this year felt less repetitive.
There were also some more theatrical scenes including the creepy church scene with the demons and the whole army section trying to protect us from the zombies. Add in some more confined corridors and a hooded rope section, and it was clear that the new team are looking for some variety.
All in - it's still an event that is really hard to talk about unless you have experienced it yourself. The whole venue, audience dynamic and themes, all worked perfectly to create a completely unique experience that has to be seen to be believed!
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2016
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors has been a long standing favourite of the ScareTOUR team. It’s always been an exercise in unrestrained terror, and due to the large group sizes, the feeling of mass panic in each of the scenes is palpable. Sadly over recent years, the attraction had started to repeat the same style of scare over and over, and although the team were still able to scare us each time, the attraction started to lack some originality.
Roll on 2016, and it would seem that the team have their mojo back, as the first half of this year’s event was new and different – playing out more like a maze style scare attraction with a trip down Amherst Mine. The actors were as lively as we would expect from Amherst with no qualms about touching and grabbing. Of course – it’s this physical content that makes the event stand out and in the later rooms (which started to follow the old pattern of attack) the actors weren’t afraid to get very up close – even if that meant dragged us off into a coffin!
The fact that this attraction is manned by volunteers who are giving them time for charity, is amazing as they are all very dedicated and very active in their roles. They clearly seem to be having fun (point in question – the 6ft 7 werewolf that decided to tickle us for an extended period in one room.) It was the closest we have ever come to a Code Yellow in an attraction!
Another great thing to see this year was the enhanced security presence, and when a group of people in our tour were noisy and disrespectful, they were immediately escorted out the experience. If only more attractions had the courage of their convictions in this regard. We know most safety spiels threaten expulsion, but it was great to see it in action, which meant we could enjoy the show in peace.
All in – it was great to see the event had made so many changes and we left the fort with a massive grin on our faces.
Roll on 2016, and it would seem that the team have their mojo back, as the first half of this year’s event was new and different – playing out more like a maze style scare attraction with a trip down Amherst Mine. The actors were as lively as we would expect from Amherst with no qualms about touching and grabbing. Of course – it’s this physical content that makes the event stand out and in the later rooms (which started to follow the old pattern of attack) the actors weren’t afraid to get very up close – even if that meant dragged us off into a coffin!
The fact that this attraction is manned by volunteers who are giving them time for charity, is amazing as they are all very dedicated and very active in their roles. They clearly seem to be having fun (point in question – the 6ft 7 werewolf that decided to tickle us for an extended period in one room.) It was the closest we have ever come to a Code Yellow in an attraction!
Another great thing to see this year was the enhanced security presence, and when a group of people in our tour were noisy and disrespectful, they were immediately escorted out the experience. If only more attractions had the courage of their convictions in this regard. We know most safety spiels threaten expulsion, but it was great to see it in action, which meant we could enjoy the show in peace.
All in – it was great to see the event had made so many changes and we left the fort with a massive grin on our faces.
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