Yorkshire Scare Grounds - Halloween 2023
Upon arrival at Yorkshire Scare Grounds we were immediately attacked by a creature in the car park, which really started the night off with a bang. The 4 or 5 actors were mixing with the queuing guests, and really set up the scary but fun atmosphere of the event. Once the majority of guests were inside, these roaming characters then took to taunting the queue for the scare trail, or roaming between the food and drinks area and larking about on the stage.
Although nothing major has changed in terms on infrastructure and layout, 2023 has seen big story changes for the four scare mazes and three scare zones that make up the 45 minute walk. Each attraction along the path was filled with extremely lively actors, and we had a number of genuine scares throughout the experience.
Highlights included the terrifying prospect of coming face to face with an alien in Inter Dimensional terror offset, by the saccharine sweetness of a hotel decorated for Christmas (although that sweetness didn't last long once the Krampus had us in his sights!)
Along the way we also experienced a carnival, some terrifying scarecrows and supposedly some werewolves (we say supposedly as this scare zone wasn't as clearly delineated as the others and just seemed to be an area to scare people as they climbed out of the valley). But although it wasn't obvious this was The Pack - there were still a number of great scares from the lively actors throughout.
We have mentioned the village area in previous reviews, and this year this has been redecorated to resemble turn of the century Whitechapel. Whilst traversing between and through the multiple buildings we were assaulted by vampires from all side, which created some great jump scares along the way.
The trail then finishes with a one-two punch of Krampus followed by Clown Clinic. Both of these mazes are long and twisty, with an incredible level of theming and detail throughout. As well as the multiple actors - there are a number of loud and fast animatronic effects in both these mazes, which were used to good effect to either get a sudden scare or to distract guests whilst an actor attacked from behind.
Once the route has finished, there is an array of food and drink options and plenty of seating to enjoy the periodic stage shows through the night. With a DJ pumping loud music, some add on attractions such as axe throwing, a souvenir shop and the Fear 2 Photo booth - there is plenty to do to extend your visit to the park.
We had a great time at Yorkshire Scare Grounds and its a shame that more people don't talk about or visit this experience. Now in its tenth year - it really is a great event and deserves to be visited by more people. We certainly got more scares here than in some of the more bigger known venues we have visited this year!
Although nothing major has changed in terms on infrastructure and layout, 2023 has seen big story changes for the four scare mazes and three scare zones that make up the 45 minute walk. Each attraction along the path was filled with extremely lively actors, and we had a number of genuine scares throughout the experience.
Highlights included the terrifying prospect of coming face to face with an alien in Inter Dimensional terror offset, by the saccharine sweetness of a hotel decorated for Christmas (although that sweetness didn't last long once the Krampus had us in his sights!)
Along the way we also experienced a carnival, some terrifying scarecrows and supposedly some werewolves (we say supposedly as this scare zone wasn't as clearly delineated as the others and just seemed to be an area to scare people as they climbed out of the valley). But although it wasn't obvious this was The Pack - there were still a number of great scares from the lively actors throughout.
We have mentioned the village area in previous reviews, and this year this has been redecorated to resemble turn of the century Whitechapel. Whilst traversing between and through the multiple buildings we were assaulted by vampires from all side, which created some great jump scares along the way.
The trail then finishes with a one-two punch of Krampus followed by Clown Clinic. Both of these mazes are long and twisty, with an incredible level of theming and detail throughout. As well as the multiple actors - there are a number of loud and fast animatronic effects in both these mazes, which were used to good effect to either get a sudden scare or to distract guests whilst an actor attacked from behind.
Once the route has finished, there is an array of food and drink options and plenty of seating to enjoy the periodic stage shows through the night. With a DJ pumping loud music, some add on attractions such as axe throwing, a souvenir shop and the Fear 2 Photo booth - there is plenty to do to extend your visit to the park.
We had a great time at Yorkshire Scare Grounds and its a shame that more people don't talk about or visit this experience. Now in its tenth year - it really is a great event and deserves to be visited by more people. We certainly got more scares here than in some of the more bigger known venues we have visited this year!
Yorkshire Scare Grounds - Halloween 2021
One of the things that always strikes us about Yorkshire Scare Grounds is the energy of the event from the moment you arrive. In the past we have been attacked in our cars in the car park, and even this year whilst queueing to get into the complex, the roaming characters were on hand to get guests on edge from the start.
And don't think its any safer once inside - we saw several of the characters taunt and rock the portaloos when unfortunate souls needed to spend a penny. Their interaction with the whole que line was genuinely entertaining, and helped us wait for our turn to descend into the main show itself.
As you may know - Yorkshire Scare Grounds is a linear park with a set route and order to experience all the mazes. This can mean a bit of extra time waiting to start your journey, but once inside, there is minimal to no waiting between different attractions.
This year's event started with the industrial Factory of Fear and for the opening maze it really packed a punch. Special effects and animatronics joined live actors throughout and we all experienced some incredible screams from beginning to end. We understand that sometime we can become a bit desensitized to scares, but the whole group bounced round this maze screaming at all the sudden scares and appearances. For the first maze that was impressive - but had the event peaked too early?
Well sadly it started to feel it had as the next attraction - Totally Tropical Terror was woefully understaffed (due to staff illness). We loved the concept and some of the theming in this "scare attraction" but the lack of any real scares made it feel more like a themed area or a scare zone that a full blown maze.
Which is ironic as it was surrounded on both sides by two scare zones that actually provided some genuine scares. The clowns in Forest of Freaks were very active, but it was the zombies in Undead Central that really left us screaming. There just seemed to be so many actors in this zone and their hiding places were ingenuous. This zone was a really great end to the valley part of the attraction, and as we left the zombies behind we headed up into the open air village that hosts Black Death.
The theming in this area has really improved since previous visits and our route took us on a tightly wound route around, and through many shops and houses. Attacks came from all sides, and being out doors, our screams were mixed with the screams of the other groups ahead and behind us. This area has been a bit dead in the past as it just used the airsoft shelters from the open battlefield but the intricate design and close quarters of the village was genuinely disconcerting.
Walking up from the village is when guests first notice the imposing entrance to Haunted Hotel. It looks very impressive as you walk up to it and the theming continues throughout the whole attraction. Both the last two mazes have a selection of loud and sudden animatronic effects that the actors were using expertly as distraction techniques then terrorising us and we jumped away from the sudden movement. Both The Haunted Hotel and Hospital Hell provide great scares throughout. Our only niggle is that the attraction story isn't quite clear and the final maze features, Nazis, a Hospital and some Ancient Egyptian artefacts! Regardless of that, we had a scream.
All in - apart from Totally Tropical Terror, we had some great scares across the whole park and enjoyed our night at the Scare Grounds. One thing to point out is that the valley section is now all on concrete path, which makes it a lot easier to traverse on wet winter days. Our Halloween walking boots are already covered in mud from different events, so it was nice to feel solid and dry pavement underfoot at all times.
Back up in the refreshments area - a more permanent bar area has been created and there is plenty of seating to relax and enjoy the atmosphere over a drink or a burger!
We had a great time at Yorkshire Scare Grounds, and left with big grins on our faces. We had all experienced multiple scares and laughs throughout the mazes and zones and cant wait to see where they go next. The team have even more infrastructure plans for 2022, and we will certainly be back to see what they are!
And don't think its any safer once inside - we saw several of the characters taunt and rock the portaloos when unfortunate souls needed to spend a penny. Their interaction with the whole que line was genuinely entertaining, and helped us wait for our turn to descend into the main show itself.
As you may know - Yorkshire Scare Grounds is a linear park with a set route and order to experience all the mazes. This can mean a bit of extra time waiting to start your journey, but once inside, there is minimal to no waiting between different attractions.
This year's event started with the industrial Factory of Fear and for the opening maze it really packed a punch. Special effects and animatronics joined live actors throughout and we all experienced some incredible screams from beginning to end. We understand that sometime we can become a bit desensitized to scares, but the whole group bounced round this maze screaming at all the sudden scares and appearances. For the first maze that was impressive - but had the event peaked too early?
Well sadly it started to feel it had as the next attraction - Totally Tropical Terror was woefully understaffed (due to staff illness). We loved the concept and some of the theming in this "scare attraction" but the lack of any real scares made it feel more like a themed area or a scare zone that a full blown maze.
Which is ironic as it was surrounded on both sides by two scare zones that actually provided some genuine scares. The clowns in Forest of Freaks were very active, but it was the zombies in Undead Central that really left us screaming. There just seemed to be so many actors in this zone and their hiding places were ingenuous. This zone was a really great end to the valley part of the attraction, and as we left the zombies behind we headed up into the open air village that hosts Black Death.
The theming in this area has really improved since previous visits and our route took us on a tightly wound route around, and through many shops and houses. Attacks came from all sides, and being out doors, our screams were mixed with the screams of the other groups ahead and behind us. This area has been a bit dead in the past as it just used the airsoft shelters from the open battlefield but the intricate design and close quarters of the village was genuinely disconcerting.
Walking up from the village is when guests first notice the imposing entrance to Haunted Hotel. It looks very impressive as you walk up to it and the theming continues throughout the whole attraction. Both the last two mazes have a selection of loud and sudden animatronic effects that the actors were using expertly as distraction techniques then terrorising us and we jumped away from the sudden movement. Both The Haunted Hotel and Hospital Hell provide great scares throughout. Our only niggle is that the attraction story isn't quite clear and the final maze features, Nazis, a Hospital and some Ancient Egyptian artefacts! Regardless of that, we had a scream.
All in - apart from Totally Tropical Terror, we had some great scares across the whole park and enjoyed our night at the Scare Grounds. One thing to point out is that the valley section is now all on concrete path, which makes it a lot easier to traverse on wet winter days. Our Halloween walking boots are already covered in mud from different events, so it was nice to feel solid and dry pavement underfoot at all times.
Back up in the refreshments area - a more permanent bar area has been created and there is plenty of seating to relax and enjoy the atmosphere over a drink or a burger!
We had a great time at Yorkshire Scare Grounds, and left with big grins on our faces. We had all experienced multiple scares and laughs throughout the mazes and zones and cant wait to see where they go next. The team have even more infrastructure plans for 2022, and we will certainly be back to see what they are!
Bloody Valentines: Love is in the Scare 2020
Valentine’s Day – a time to celebrate with your loved ones, maybe go for a nice romantic meal or a cosy night in? Well not at ScareTOUR! This Valentines day we found ourselves driving to Yorkshire to experience Yorkshire Scare Ground’s latest version of their show – Bloody Valentine: Love is in the Scare.
The seasonal shows at the Scare Grounds, follow the main route around the site, but focus mainly in the large permanent structures on the site, to take into account the time of year and potential weather issues. As it was, despite the threat of storm Dennis, we had a particularly mild night for our visit.
Without the major crowds the event draws at Halloween, the team were able to batch visitors in much smaller and more intimate groups, which meant that couples could go through on their own, which definitely added to the scare factor.
The selling point for this year’s event, is that the only light we would have in the mazes would be a single glowstick between us. Apart from some strategic safety lighting around the mazes, the attractions were very dark in places, which just added to the atmosphere (especially for the people at the back of the group as the glowstick provided near to no help at all!)
Of course – all the actors took complete advantage of the darkness and succeeded to make us scream and jump throughout each maze. The scares were particularly prevalent in Factory of Freaks Unloved as the factory was littered with mannequins and dummies, and we could never work out what was real and what wasn’t.
Hotel Transylvania Love Bites was next in the running order and after a fun interaction with the bellboy outside we were led into the preshow area. We must just mention that we liked the two preshow videos in the first two mazes – they set up the story perfectly and provided some laughs. Once inside the hotel we were stalked by several different vampires and pneumatic effects and again experienced some strong scares throughout.
One thing that has always puzzled us about the Yorkshire scare grounds layout is the long tunnel that connects the last two mazes. We assume it’s to hide something we aren’t meant to see on the site, but It works well to keep the tension up and some compressed air tricks added to the scares.
The final maze was Undead on Arrival: Medical Nightmares which was once again extremely detailed and well decorated (well from what we could see in the darkness.) Something that really stood out in this maze was the overriding medical smell throughout and with some lively actors and more loud pneumatic props – we had some great scares throughout this maze.
Once back out in the main event arena we spent some time with the hilarious roaming characters who really added to the overall experience, with their mixed banter of scares and comedy.
All in – we had a good set of scares at Yorkshire Scare Grounds. Our only real criticism would be that the event wasn’t very “Valentines” themed. But hey – who actually likes all that mushy stuff anyway?
The seasonal shows at the Scare Grounds, follow the main route around the site, but focus mainly in the large permanent structures on the site, to take into account the time of year and potential weather issues. As it was, despite the threat of storm Dennis, we had a particularly mild night for our visit.
Without the major crowds the event draws at Halloween, the team were able to batch visitors in much smaller and more intimate groups, which meant that couples could go through on their own, which definitely added to the scare factor.
The selling point for this year’s event, is that the only light we would have in the mazes would be a single glowstick between us. Apart from some strategic safety lighting around the mazes, the attractions were very dark in places, which just added to the atmosphere (especially for the people at the back of the group as the glowstick provided near to no help at all!)
Of course – all the actors took complete advantage of the darkness and succeeded to make us scream and jump throughout each maze. The scares were particularly prevalent in Factory of Freaks Unloved as the factory was littered with mannequins and dummies, and we could never work out what was real and what wasn’t.
Hotel Transylvania Love Bites was next in the running order and after a fun interaction with the bellboy outside we were led into the preshow area. We must just mention that we liked the two preshow videos in the first two mazes – they set up the story perfectly and provided some laughs. Once inside the hotel we were stalked by several different vampires and pneumatic effects and again experienced some strong scares throughout.
One thing that has always puzzled us about the Yorkshire scare grounds layout is the long tunnel that connects the last two mazes. We assume it’s to hide something we aren’t meant to see on the site, but It works well to keep the tension up and some compressed air tricks added to the scares.
The final maze was Undead on Arrival: Medical Nightmares which was once again extremely detailed and well decorated (well from what we could see in the darkness.) Something that really stood out in this maze was the overriding medical smell throughout and with some lively actors and more loud pneumatic props – we had some great scares throughout this maze.
Once back out in the main event arena we spent some time with the hilarious roaming characters who really added to the overall experience, with their mixed banter of scares and comedy.
All in – we had a good set of scares at Yorkshire Scare Grounds. Our only real criticism would be that the event wasn’t very “Valentines” themed. But hey – who actually likes all that mushy stuff anyway?
Yuletide Terror - Yorkshire Scare Grounds 2019
For Christmas 2019 - Yorkshire Scare Grounds offered three seasonal mazes - Krampus, Bad Santa's Banged up! and Twisted Toy Factory.
Bloody Valentine - Yorkshire Scare Grounds 2019
For three nights only, the gates of the Yorkshire Scare Grounds creaked open and invited us to survive three mazes; Cabin of Freaks, Hotel Transylvania and Undead on Arrival. The theme was the same as last year, which was a great event so, how would this year unfold? Here’s what the four of us thought.
Once through the ticket office we were entertained by at least 6 roaming characters; one of who has a voice that you don’t expect to come from such an evil looking character, but it works so well and is incredibly comical. It’s always fun too, to watch people who think they’ve come for a romantic night out and are genuinely panic stricken.
Armed with just a single glow stick to guide the way, we were off. First up was the Cabin of Freaks, decorated to look like an old, abandoned travelling circus. A horde of killer clowns awaited us inside a long winding mass of twisting corridors, all of which felt like they’ve been rotting for years. Cleverly placed actors lunged at us from different angles with only the eerie glow of our glow stick lighting their faces. As the event is deliberately dark it’s hard to work out set detail which worked well in the cabin.
After a short walk through the woods we came to Hotel Transylvania where a group of well costumed vampires awaited our arrival. The set of the hotel was incredible, you could tell a lot of work had gone into a very detailed piece that looks and feels like a hotel. This is also where we started to notice the differences from last year, some of the set had been changed and some extended including the impressive boiler room but, we don’t want to spoil it for you so won’t tell you any more than that. The hotel is full of animatronic props that pull your attention in different directions and this maze is a definite favourite.
Last was Undead on Arrival where an actor dressed as a doctor told us about a woman inside who has started attacking patients and all hell has broken loose. This again is a well themed set with winding corridors, loads of animatronic props and great actors playing infected patients who want your flesh. The set and route again felt different to last year which is great to see. Hint: if you make it out of Dead on Arrival, hang around to watch others experience the finale, it’s hilarious!
The audio used throughout and the range of different scents (some were disgusting) really added to each maze. Yorkshire Scare Grounds definitely haven’t rested on their laurels and have produced another great event. The throughput was purposely slightly slow which was a bonus as it meant groups were smaller and you weren’t rushed through.
After a much-needed drink and food in The Severed Head bar (and an hilarious conversation with a great character who is brilliantly bonkers) we spotted a real fire engine near the exit. Two bloodied, zombie fire fighters lunged at guests through the smoke pouring from the fire engine which all looked very impressive. Could this be a clue to the Scare Grounds big Halloween event? There’s only one way to find out! We had a great night and will be back, well done!
Once through the ticket office we were entertained by at least 6 roaming characters; one of who has a voice that you don’t expect to come from such an evil looking character, but it works so well and is incredibly comical. It’s always fun too, to watch people who think they’ve come for a romantic night out and are genuinely panic stricken.
Armed with just a single glow stick to guide the way, we were off. First up was the Cabin of Freaks, decorated to look like an old, abandoned travelling circus. A horde of killer clowns awaited us inside a long winding mass of twisting corridors, all of which felt like they’ve been rotting for years. Cleverly placed actors lunged at us from different angles with only the eerie glow of our glow stick lighting their faces. As the event is deliberately dark it’s hard to work out set detail which worked well in the cabin.
After a short walk through the woods we came to Hotel Transylvania where a group of well costumed vampires awaited our arrival. The set of the hotel was incredible, you could tell a lot of work had gone into a very detailed piece that looks and feels like a hotel. This is also where we started to notice the differences from last year, some of the set had been changed and some extended including the impressive boiler room but, we don’t want to spoil it for you so won’t tell you any more than that. The hotel is full of animatronic props that pull your attention in different directions and this maze is a definite favourite.
Last was Undead on Arrival where an actor dressed as a doctor told us about a woman inside who has started attacking patients and all hell has broken loose. This again is a well themed set with winding corridors, loads of animatronic props and great actors playing infected patients who want your flesh. The set and route again felt different to last year which is great to see. Hint: if you make it out of Dead on Arrival, hang around to watch others experience the finale, it’s hilarious!
The audio used throughout and the range of different scents (some were disgusting) really added to each maze. Yorkshire Scare Grounds definitely haven’t rested on their laurels and have produced another great event. The throughput was purposely slightly slow which was a bonus as it meant groups were smaller and you weren’t rushed through.
After a much-needed drink and food in The Severed Head bar (and an hilarious conversation with a great character who is brilliantly bonkers) we spotted a real fire engine near the exit. Two bloodied, zombie fire fighters lunged at guests through the smoke pouring from the fire engine which all looked very impressive. Could this be a clue to the Scare Grounds big Halloween event? There’s only one way to find out! We had a great night and will be back, well done!
YuleTide Terror - Yorkshire Scare Grounds 2018
For three nights only, the Yorkshire Scare Grounds hosted Yuletide Terror with three mazes especially for the festive season. Naturally, we had to visit. We visited on a cold and frosty Friday night in Wakefield' and after the success of Halloween and the Valentine’s event, were we in for a scarily good time?
Stood in the queue, we watched people running through the entrance in terror, being chased by four to five roaming characters. The characters interacted well with the audience and each other, setting the tone of what was to come. We didn’t have to wait long until we were put into a group of 4, given the safety brief (which was actually quite comical) and we were off.
The approach to the first attraction, Krampus, was like a scene from a twisted fairy tale - almost a cross between Hansel & Gretel and Evil Dead. A huge wooden cabin beckoned us, decked in lights, looking like a gingerbread house. Dark Elves greeted us and before long, the chase was on. The cabin was highly decorated and used dark and light spaces well. The detail was incredible, we could very easily imagine Krampus coming through the home leaving nothing but death and destruction. Dark Elves pounced from every angle and concentrated on the whole group, not just the person at the front.
From Krampus we went on a short walk up to Christmas Carol to be met with a warning that Carol was on the rampage, killing to take revenge. The detail in this makeshift hotel was even better than Krampus. Really intricate sets everywhere which for us, is part of the success of any attraction. Actors jumped at us and victims ran through the hotel in terror to escape Carol. Thankfully, Carol was already knee deep in someone else’s blood when we met her, giving us time to flee!
Lastly was Bad Santa’s Banged Up, a jail full of criminals who tried to take advantage of the Christmas season and make some money the wrong way. Again, another fantastic set with tons of detail and effects. All the way through each of the attractions there had been clever use of animatronic props with even more in the jail. Bad Santa’s were everywhere; drunk, harassing us, causing chaos, dancing and banging on their cell doors. All great fun!
After a final showdown we popped into the new Severed Head bar where people were already sat having a much-needed drink. The Severed Head is in a huge marquee with plenty of tables and chairs and a large, well-stocked bar. The prices weren’t bad either. While we were drinking some of the roaming characters has us laughing with their humorous interactions.
Yorkshire Scare Grounds has some brilliant actors who told the story well and had us jumping around. Together with the great sets, quality costumes and props, we really enjoyed Yuletide Terror. A Valentine’s event for 2019 has already been announced so we will definitely be back. Well done!
Stood in the queue, we watched people running through the entrance in terror, being chased by four to five roaming characters. The characters interacted well with the audience and each other, setting the tone of what was to come. We didn’t have to wait long until we were put into a group of 4, given the safety brief (which was actually quite comical) and we were off.
The approach to the first attraction, Krampus, was like a scene from a twisted fairy tale - almost a cross between Hansel & Gretel and Evil Dead. A huge wooden cabin beckoned us, decked in lights, looking like a gingerbread house. Dark Elves greeted us and before long, the chase was on. The cabin was highly decorated and used dark and light spaces well. The detail was incredible, we could very easily imagine Krampus coming through the home leaving nothing but death and destruction. Dark Elves pounced from every angle and concentrated on the whole group, not just the person at the front.
From Krampus we went on a short walk up to Christmas Carol to be met with a warning that Carol was on the rampage, killing to take revenge. The detail in this makeshift hotel was even better than Krampus. Really intricate sets everywhere which for us, is part of the success of any attraction. Actors jumped at us and victims ran through the hotel in terror to escape Carol. Thankfully, Carol was already knee deep in someone else’s blood when we met her, giving us time to flee!
Lastly was Bad Santa’s Banged Up, a jail full of criminals who tried to take advantage of the Christmas season and make some money the wrong way. Again, another fantastic set with tons of detail and effects. All the way through each of the attractions there had been clever use of animatronic props with even more in the jail. Bad Santa’s were everywhere; drunk, harassing us, causing chaos, dancing and banging on their cell doors. All great fun!
After a final showdown we popped into the new Severed Head bar where people were already sat having a much-needed drink. The Severed Head is in a huge marquee with plenty of tables and chairs and a large, well-stocked bar. The prices weren’t bad either. While we were drinking some of the roaming characters has us laughing with their humorous interactions.
Yorkshire Scare Grounds has some brilliant actors who told the story well and had us jumping around. Together with the great sets, quality costumes and props, we really enjoyed Yuletide Terror. A Valentine’s event for 2019 has already been announced so we will definitely be back. Well done!
Yorkshire Scare Grounds 2018
The next stop on our Halloween trail took us to Wakefield, West Yorkshire for Yorkshire Scare Grounds. The long-standing multi-part event, operated by Fear Masters Entertainment, is now in its 8th year. So, what’s in store for the intrepid visitor this year?
After a creepy woodland prelude, first up was new-for-2018, The Torture Rooms. With its layout of narrow up-and-back sections, we found ourselves at the mercy of a series of torturers in a twisted internet bidding frenzy to result in our demise in the name of entertainment. Ebay, this was not! Whilst
not a unique concept, this maze offered a good introduction to our journey through the Grounds.
Next up was Zombie Outpost with Nazi zombies still patrolling this territory. Controversy aside, we were really impressed with the intensity of this walkthrough. Some great timing from the actors coupled with well-angled lighting made for some brilliantly unexpected scares. We could tell a great deal of thought had gone into creating a sense of being stalked with the slow crunching of leaves under boot in the darkness.
As we marched from the outpost, we were met by a hooded figure who warned us of a village steeped in pain and suffering, its inhabitants turned to the hunger of human flesh. Enter The Colony. New for this year, this attraction made good use of existing buildings to create an authentic village that time forgot. We found the inhabitants to be particularly lively and terrorised our group relentlessly throughout. We did however witness an actor briefly but needlessly break character, though just a small gripe we had in an otherwise good attraction.
Returning under new management of the red-nosed variety is Hotel Hell. Now a clown maze, its larger-than-life characters made this our favourite of the night. Definitely a worst nightmare for any coulrophobe, the clowns left no-one out amongst our group. There were some really good jump scares, often following periods of total darkness which really helped to build the anticipation well! We also absolutely loved the humour on show throughout this attraction.
After our unforgettable stay in Hotel Hell, we found ourselves walking the Draconian wards of The Blackthorn Asylum. Making it the third new attraction for this year, this maze featured a great array of animatronics that complimented the live characters well. We also felt the strobe light timing was spot-on and key to a number of the scares.
As we hastily discharged ourselves from the asylum, we were cornered... caged... nowhere to go... what next..?!
Faced by one of the event’s icon characters, Eugene, we were goaded and tormented into a chainsaw finale with no immediate escape. This capped off a well-imagined and well-executed journey through the five environments that boasted some intense moments with some genuinely funny ‘tongue-in-cheek’ humour - no offence Eugene!
Special mention should go to the characters placed at the beginning of each attraction as we found they delivered the back stories really effectively whilst also keeping groups well batched. All in - a brilliant event once again!
After a creepy woodland prelude, first up was new-for-2018, The Torture Rooms. With its layout of narrow up-and-back sections, we found ourselves at the mercy of a series of torturers in a twisted internet bidding frenzy to result in our demise in the name of entertainment. Ebay, this was not! Whilst
not a unique concept, this maze offered a good introduction to our journey through the Grounds.
Next up was Zombie Outpost with Nazi zombies still patrolling this territory. Controversy aside, we were really impressed with the intensity of this walkthrough. Some great timing from the actors coupled with well-angled lighting made for some brilliantly unexpected scares. We could tell a great deal of thought had gone into creating a sense of being stalked with the slow crunching of leaves under boot in the darkness.
As we marched from the outpost, we were met by a hooded figure who warned us of a village steeped in pain and suffering, its inhabitants turned to the hunger of human flesh. Enter The Colony. New for this year, this attraction made good use of existing buildings to create an authentic village that time forgot. We found the inhabitants to be particularly lively and terrorised our group relentlessly throughout. We did however witness an actor briefly but needlessly break character, though just a small gripe we had in an otherwise good attraction.
Returning under new management of the red-nosed variety is Hotel Hell. Now a clown maze, its larger-than-life characters made this our favourite of the night. Definitely a worst nightmare for any coulrophobe, the clowns left no-one out amongst our group. There were some really good jump scares, often following periods of total darkness which really helped to build the anticipation well! We also absolutely loved the humour on show throughout this attraction.
After our unforgettable stay in Hotel Hell, we found ourselves walking the Draconian wards of The Blackthorn Asylum. Making it the third new attraction for this year, this maze featured a great array of animatronics that complimented the live characters well. We also felt the strobe light timing was spot-on and key to a number of the scares.
As we hastily discharged ourselves from the asylum, we were cornered... caged... nowhere to go... what next..?!
Faced by one of the event’s icon characters, Eugene, we were goaded and tormented into a chainsaw finale with no immediate escape. This capped off a well-imagined and well-executed journey through the five environments that boasted some intense moments with some genuinely funny ‘tongue-in-cheek’ humour - no offence Eugene!
Special mention should go to the characters placed at the beginning of each attraction as we found they delivered the back stories really effectively whilst also keeping groups well batched. All in - a brilliant event once again!
Yorkshire Scare Grounds - Bloody Valentines - Love is in the Scare 2018
Hmmm, what to do for Valentine’s weekend? Get scared, that’s what!
Fear Masters Entertainment invited us to their Valentine’s event at their home, the Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park in Wakefield, to take on the Cabin of Freaks, Hotel Transylvania and Undead on Arrival. Did we feel the love though? Read on to find out.
We queued for about half an hour watching very small groups of up to 6 people being dispatched with only a glow stick to light the way as you venture down the stairs, into the woodland. The dispatchers were two medical looking people who warned us of what was to come and joked with us and made us laugh.
After a short walk, the two of us came to a huge wooden cabin, the Cabin of Freaks, that really looked the part sat amongst the dense woodland and dim moonlight. Greeted by three clowns we were given a short story of the cabin’s history which, is difficult to listen to properly when you’re being screamed at, poked, taunted and stroked!
The inside of the cabin felt huge and was highly decorated. It’s at this point (once inside) that the idea of using glow sticks worked brilliantly. They gave off just enough light to cast eerie shadows on the walls and dimly light the very detailed scenery. Following the winding corridors, we encountered numerous characters who stalked us all the way through the cabin. From jumping out to flitting through the shadows, they seemed to be everywhere.
The Scare Grounds then took us on a new route, off the traditional circular walk and up to the impressive Hotel Transylvania. A gentle fog surrounded the entrance where two vampires waited for us, welcoming us to our doom. The theming of the hotel was very well done; it looked old and decayed as if it had been abandoned and the vampires took over. Gothic style coal fires added to the little bit of light from our glow stick and gave you a glimpse of the impressive sets. Vampires hissed at us and tried to lure us in to feed on us. Some of the hotel rooms had a distinct emptiness to them which created the perfect atmosphere as you tried to negotiate your way through the old, dust covered furniture. The boiler room you go through looked great with hot embers still fuelling the giant boiler and a very intimidating masked character who gets right into your face. All the actors who had speaking parts delivered their lines with a believable Romanian accent.
The last part of the attraction was Undead on Arrival and, as the Doctor outside explained, the dead didn’t stay dead in this hospital facility. Filled with zombies, mutants, victims and test subjects, the hospital felt like a real maze of rooms and corridors and at points we genuinely didn’t know which of the numerous doors to go through, a good tactic that worked well with the small groups.
Once out of the attractions, you come to the food and beverage area and can even visit the Fear Masters gift shop or photo opportunity. This area is filled with roaming characters who all did a great job keeping people on their toes. You can have your photo taken with them and get a free (comedic) insult or a chainsaw in your face!
We talked to Chris, Creative Director, who asked if we would change anything and for this event we really wouldn’t, it worked very well. One of the things we pointed out was that all the way through, every single actor said or did something different from the last. There was no repetition between the cast which we found a real bonus. From the story line to the layout, the detailed sets, scripts, the cast and crew, makeup effects and the vast number of actors, everything was very well done.
We had an enjoyable night and it was nice to do something scare related outside of the main Halloween season.
Fear Masters Entertainment invited us to their Valentine’s event at their home, the Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park in Wakefield, to take on the Cabin of Freaks, Hotel Transylvania and Undead on Arrival. Did we feel the love though? Read on to find out.
We queued for about half an hour watching very small groups of up to 6 people being dispatched with only a glow stick to light the way as you venture down the stairs, into the woodland. The dispatchers were two medical looking people who warned us of what was to come and joked with us and made us laugh.
After a short walk, the two of us came to a huge wooden cabin, the Cabin of Freaks, that really looked the part sat amongst the dense woodland and dim moonlight. Greeted by three clowns we were given a short story of the cabin’s history which, is difficult to listen to properly when you’re being screamed at, poked, taunted and stroked!
The inside of the cabin felt huge and was highly decorated. It’s at this point (once inside) that the idea of using glow sticks worked brilliantly. They gave off just enough light to cast eerie shadows on the walls and dimly light the very detailed scenery. Following the winding corridors, we encountered numerous characters who stalked us all the way through the cabin. From jumping out to flitting through the shadows, they seemed to be everywhere.
The Scare Grounds then took us on a new route, off the traditional circular walk and up to the impressive Hotel Transylvania. A gentle fog surrounded the entrance where two vampires waited for us, welcoming us to our doom. The theming of the hotel was very well done; it looked old and decayed as if it had been abandoned and the vampires took over. Gothic style coal fires added to the little bit of light from our glow stick and gave you a glimpse of the impressive sets. Vampires hissed at us and tried to lure us in to feed on us. Some of the hotel rooms had a distinct emptiness to them which created the perfect atmosphere as you tried to negotiate your way through the old, dust covered furniture. The boiler room you go through looked great with hot embers still fuelling the giant boiler and a very intimidating masked character who gets right into your face. All the actors who had speaking parts delivered their lines with a believable Romanian accent.
The last part of the attraction was Undead on Arrival and, as the Doctor outside explained, the dead didn’t stay dead in this hospital facility. Filled with zombies, mutants, victims and test subjects, the hospital felt like a real maze of rooms and corridors and at points we genuinely didn’t know which of the numerous doors to go through, a good tactic that worked well with the small groups.
Once out of the attractions, you come to the food and beverage area and can even visit the Fear Masters gift shop or photo opportunity. This area is filled with roaming characters who all did a great job keeping people on their toes. You can have your photo taken with them and get a free (comedic) insult or a chainsaw in your face!
We talked to Chris, Creative Director, who asked if we would change anything and for this event we really wouldn’t, it worked very well. One of the things we pointed out was that all the way through, every single actor said or did something different from the last. There was no repetition between the cast which we found a real bonus. From the story line to the layout, the detailed sets, scripts, the cast and crew, makeup effects and the vast number of actors, everything was very well done.
We had an enjoyable night and it was nice to do something scare related outside of the main Halloween season.
Yorkshire Scare Grounds 2017
Yorkshire ScareGrounds is back for 2017 with 5 brand new attractions. The route around the site remains the same and after a short wait in the holding pen, we were sent down into the darkness of the woodland valley.
The first attraction was Slaughterhouse - a typical hillbilly cannibal family with a penchant for human flesh. As an opening for the whole event we had a number of good scares in this attraction.
As we approached Zombie Outpost, we could see a Nazi swastika bathed in red light and soon we were deep in the trenches being terrorised by Nazi soldiers and their zombie creations. Despite the potentially controversial use of Nazis and swastikas, we absolutely loved this attraction. The scares came thick and fast and the trench walls made for a very claustrophobic atmosphere which meant the actors could get us from every angle. Even after we had left the trenches, there were zombies chasing us into the next zone. This was easily our favourite experience of the night.
Ghost Town used the villages and structures that Fearmasters use for their regular paintball events and the route took us in and out of these buildings to meet some of the inhabitants. Killer cowboys and gunslingers stalked us through our journey and we had a number of good scares despite the open nature of this zone.
After escaping the cowboys it was time for a break so we checked into Hotel Hell. Unfortunately our stay wasn't a very pleasant one! Starting with a plummet in a faulty elevator, we were stalked around the hotel rooms by a number of lively actors and ghosts. This attraction had some of the most detailed theming of the whole event and provided some great scares although really lacked a killer ending. We just sort of walked out into a black tunnel that led to the final maze.
DOA - Dead on Arrival continued the story of last year's SCAR award winning The Tomb. The Egyptologist has brought his specimens back to the UK and is experimenting with bringing them back to life. As it was, the maze was a mix of medical/hospital scenes with some Egyptian artifacts scattered around. We had some good jump scares but as the final maze of the event we were hoping for a bit more intensity. Our biggest concern? Absolutely no ending or finale - we just turned a corner and ended up back in the main hub. Granted, we were then immediately met by a killer ringmaster with a chainsaw that made us jump, but we would have loved something in keeping with the theme of the attraction.
The Hub area itself, had a number of returning characters (besides the chainsaw) and all were really interacting with the guests. The atmosphere in this area was pretty electric and many people were just getting food and drinks and sitting back to watch the entertainment.
All in - another fun night at Yorkshire Scare Grounds - we look forward to seeing what themes they come up with next year.
The first attraction was Slaughterhouse - a typical hillbilly cannibal family with a penchant for human flesh. As an opening for the whole event we had a number of good scares in this attraction.
As we approached Zombie Outpost, we could see a Nazi swastika bathed in red light and soon we were deep in the trenches being terrorised by Nazi soldiers and their zombie creations. Despite the potentially controversial use of Nazis and swastikas, we absolutely loved this attraction. The scares came thick and fast and the trench walls made for a very claustrophobic atmosphere which meant the actors could get us from every angle. Even after we had left the trenches, there were zombies chasing us into the next zone. This was easily our favourite experience of the night.
Ghost Town used the villages and structures that Fearmasters use for their regular paintball events and the route took us in and out of these buildings to meet some of the inhabitants. Killer cowboys and gunslingers stalked us through our journey and we had a number of good scares despite the open nature of this zone.
After escaping the cowboys it was time for a break so we checked into Hotel Hell. Unfortunately our stay wasn't a very pleasant one! Starting with a plummet in a faulty elevator, we were stalked around the hotel rooms by a number of lively actors and ghosts. This attraction had some of the most detailed theming of the whole event and provided some great scares although really lacked a killer ending. We just sort of walked out into a black tunnel that led to the final maze.
DOA - Dead on Arrival continued the story of last year's SCAR award winning The Tomb. The Egyptologist has brought his specimens back to the UK and is experimenting with bringing them back to life. As it was, the maze was a mix of medical/hospital scenes with some Egyptian artifacts scattered around. We had some good jump scares but as the final maze of the event we were hoping for a bit more intensity. Our biggest concern? Absolutely no ending or finale - we just turned a corner and ended up back in the main hub. Granted, we were then immediately met by a killer ringmaster with a chainsaw that made us jump, but we would have loved something in keeping with the theme of the attraction.
The Hub area itself, had a number of returning characters (besides the chainsaw) and all were really interacting with the guests. The atmosphere in this area was pretty electric and many people were just getting food and drinks and sitting back to watch the entertainment.
All in - another fun night at Yorkshire Scare Grounds - we look forward to seeing what themes they come up with next year.
Yorkshire Scare Grounds 2016
Yorkshire Scare Grounds is back for its 6th year and brings 5 new mazes to the appropriately named Hell Lane in Wakefield. This year's event follows the same pattern as previous years, with the mazes all encountered one after the other along a long walk around the venue. So as the sun was setting for the night, we headed down the stairs into the darkness of the forest.
House of Arachnia: Mutation - Upon arrival at our first maze we were met by an hilariously inept pest control man, who seemed to be having some trouble with spiders. His introduction to the maze was a great way to start the event and he ushered us inside to try and rescue the rest of his team. Once inside we were attacked from all sides by some very noisy and energetic actors and of course eventually came face to fang with "mother" herself. The sets inside this first attraction were really well designed and we had some genuine scares and jumps throughout. Fortunately none of us are arachnaphobes, but for some people the sheer thought of this maze would be enough to terrify them!
Forest of Freaks is not so much a maze in its own right - just a long trail through the woodland where the evil clowns are looking for their next victim. The appearances of the clowns ranged from sudden sharp shocks through to more theatrical moments, with them interacting with the guests as we pushed through. It was good to see the pathway populated with so many clowns from beginning to end.
The Chapter: Order of the Raven takes place in the open fields at the top of the Scare Grounds site, and the pathway winds through lots of small shacks and shelters that are just perfect for actors to hide in. The actors throughout were really lively and we experienced a number of real scares along the way. Our only real criticism would be that it lacked a killer ending.
Lockdown: They're Out is an intricately themed prison building (both inside and out) that was under attack from ravenous inmates. This was a very fast paced and noisy maze which just seemed to be crawling with actors. The scares were relentless at times and the maze seemed to go on for ages - especially as there is no real ending to the maze - the theming just sort of stops and the path leads into a very black tunnel that seemed to go on forever.
The Tomb: Afterlife - starts at the the end of the long black tunnel and the theming is a true assualt on the senses. This attraction has to be the most elaborately themed maze at the park (check out the exit facade in the pics below) and the scares and interaction in the maze genuinely match the level of the theming. Although not the scariest of the 5 mazes (that accolade has to go to Lockdown), The Tomb was such a great finale to the whole event that we were sad to emerge back out into the night again.
In recent years, we haven't had the best experiences at Yorkshire Scare Grounds (mainly due to some unprofessional actors not seeming to care about their performance) but we can honestly say that every actor we experienced was on top form, and really giving it their all. This revived performance energy and the unusual and original concepts behind some of the mazes, really combined to give us a stunning experience from beginning to end. Well done YSG - you've done yourselves proud!
House of Arachnia: Mutation - Upon arrival at our first maze we were met by an hilariously inept pest control man, who seemed to be having some trouble with spiders. His introduction to the maze was a great way to start the event and he ushered us inside to try and rescue the rest of his team. Once inside we were attacked from all sides by some very noisy and energetic actors and of course eventually came face to fang with "mother" herself. The sets inside this first attraction were really well designed and we had some genuine scares and jumps throughout. Fortunately none of us are arachnaphobes, but for some people the sheer thought of this maze would be enough to terrify them!
Forest of Freaks is not so much a maze in its own right - just a long trail through the woodland where the evil clowns are looking for their next victim. The appearances of the clowns ranged from sudden sharp shocks through to more theatrical moments, with them interacting with the guests as we pushed through. It was good to see the pathway populated with so many clowns from beginning to end.
The Chapter: Order of the Raven takes place in the open fields at the top of the Scare Grounds site, and the pathway winds through lots of small shacks and shelters that are just perfect for actors to hide in. The actors throughout were really lively and we experienced a number of real scares along the way. Our only real criticism would be that it lacked a killer ending.
Lockdown: They're Out is an intricately themed prison building (both inside and out) that was under attack from ravenous inmates. This was a very fast paced and noisy maze which just seemed to be crawling with actors. The scares were relentless at times and the maze seemed to go on for ages - especially as there is no real ending to the maze - the theming just sort of stops and the path leads into a very black tunnel that seemed to go on forever.
The Tomb: Afterlife - starts at the the end of the long black tunnel and the theming is a true assualt on the senses. This attraction has to be the most elaborately themed maze at the park (check out the exit facade in the pics below) and the scares and interaction in the maze genuinely match the level of the theming. Although not the scariest of the 5 mazes (that accolade has to go to Lockdown), The Tomb was such a great finale to the whole event that we were sad to emerge back out into the night again.
In recent years, we haven't had the best experiences at Yorkshire Scare Grounds (mainly due to some unprofessional actors not seeming to care about their performance) but we can honestly say that every actor we experienced was on top form, and really giving it their all. This revived performance energy and the unusual and original concepts behind some of the mazes, really combined to give us a stunning experience from beginning to end. Well done YSG - you've done yourselves proud!
Please note: No cameras are allowed on the trail, so there are no photos of any of the attractions.
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Mildly scary - Introductory actor was a good mix of funny and scary, getting the group in a good mood for the event while also giving rules (no use of phones, hold onto rails in the dark etc.)
The entire event had fantastic theming but unfortunately lacked the scares and tense settings you'd expect for £19.
There were so many missed opportunities for a good jump scare or a monologue/interactive section to stagger the groups out (we caught up to the group in front of us mid way through affecting the flow of the event).There also seemed to be a distinct lack of actors, with a good majority of the event just walking in a forest with very little happening even during some of the zones.
A real shame to have left this attraction disappointed at the amount of money it costs per ticket. I had a good giggle, but was I scared? Not really. I'd hope that with the incredible theming the Yorkshire Scare Grounds can improve scripts and actor placement to improve immersion, create a more tense experience and make the jump scares more effective.
The entire event had fantastic theming but unfortunately lacked the scares and tense settings you'd expect for £19.
There were so many missed opportunities for a good jump scare or a monologue/interactive section to stagger the groups out (we caught up to the group in front of us mid way through affecting the flow of the event).There also seemed to be a distinct lack of actors, with a good majority of the event just walking in a forest with very little happening even during some of the zones.
A real shame to have left this attraction disappointed at the amount of money it costs per ticket. I had a good giggle, but was I scared? Not really. I'd hope that with the incredible theming the Yorkshire Scare Grounds can improve scripts and actor placement to improve immersion, create a more tense experience and make the jump scares more effective.
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