Zombie Manor House (Sept review)
When two of our reviewers had such a great time at Zombie Manor House earlier this year (see review), the rest of the ScareTOUR crew were envious that we had missed out on something cool. Fortunately we didnt have to wait too long to experience it for ourselves...
After the success of their Zombie Shopping Mall experience in Reading, ZED events looked up and down the country for other unique and exciting venues to base their games in. They struck gold when they found Daresbury Hall in Cheshire.
Daresbury Hall is a run down country house that was originally built in 1759. It has seen a number of different residents and most recently it was used as a residential home for the charity Scope. The main house itself is massive and connected to it is a large accommodation block and various other offices and catering facilities. An empty swimming pool sits out the back and the whole place is surrounded by overgrown woodland. Remnants of its past life lay scattered around the venue, which just add to the creepiness of the place. You can’t fail to be impressed as you make your way down the drive at the start of the day.
But it’s not just about the venue – a genuine zombie experience needs something to engage the visitor in the action and make it all feel like a real scenario. Fortunately for us Zed Events has a great arsenal of Air soft weaponry and some really nasty zombies!
The day started with a briefing and some basic training in weapon skills and army techniques. Many people took the briefing as jokey and light-hearted which was a big mistake as every technique taught was essential once we entered the main complex. It was also stressed at this point, that we were all extremely short on ammo and if we needed more we would have to find it on the mission. Fortunately, the worry about trying to preserve ammo helped eliminate some of the “gung-ho” nature that can be prevalent with this sort of event as we all tried hard not to expend ours too early.
With the briefing over- it was time to enter the property and from this point onwards we were all on a heightened state of alert waiting for the attacks to begin!
Daresbury Hall is a run down country house that was originally built in 1759. It has seen a number of different residents and most recently it was used as a residential home for the charity Scope. The main house itself is massive and connected to it is a large accommodation block and various other offices and catering facilities. An empty swimming pool sits out the back and the whole place is surrounded by overgrown woodland. Remnants of its past life lay scattered around the venue, which just add to the creepiness of the place. You can’t fail to be impressed as you make your way down the drive at the start of the day.
But it’s not just about the venue – a genuine zombie experience needs something to engage the visitor in the action and make it all feel like a real scenario. Fortunately for us Zed Events has a great arsenal of Air soft weaponry and some really nasty zombies!
The day started with a briefing and some basic training in weapon skills and army techniques. Many people took the briefing as jokey and light-hearted which was a big mistake as every technique taught was essential once we entered the main complex. It was also stressed at this point, that we were all extremely short on ammo and if we needed more we would have to find it on the mission. Fortunately, the worry about trying to preserve ammo helped eliminate some of the “gung-ho” nature that can be prevalent with this sort of event as we all tried hard not to expend ours too early.
With the briefing over- it was time to enter the property and from this point onwards we were all on a heightened state of alert waiting for the attacks to begin!
Led by a military commander, we covered all areas of the house, the grounds and the associated outbuildings trying to find relevant clues that would help us proceed. We searched for clues, for ways to get out, for spare ammo, for vials of antidote – in fact ANYTHING that could be useful. What works so well about Zed Events games are that you are active at all times and always expected to stay on your toes and think quickly. The commanders help steer you but it is up to players to make the decisions. As such, rooms are cleared and searched in detail and we offer everything up as a potential clue if it might help our chances of survival.
But of course – the clues and gaming element are just part of the fun. This house is full of zombies and somehow we have to get round without being eaten alive. Due to the close nature of the corridors and rooms, some of the zombie contact can only be described as extremely close! Zombies appear from unexpected hiding places and over the course of the game get faster and faster as the virus mutates.
The whole experience is absolutely terrifying at times as you never know what’s going to attack you and when. Apart from a few “safe” rooms, we were constantly on the lookout for movement or the sound of something approaching. Even once a zombie had been taken down it was a nerve-shredding experience having to step over a still twitching body which could at any time reanimate itself!
The zombies themselves were some of the most convincing and effective we have seen at any zombie event and during the whole scenario they were never seen out of character or on their phone hoping we wouldn’t see them!
Over three hours the tension and the scares built up to a full scale finale which left all of us frantically pumping out round after round of ammo grateful that we had some left! We also finally got to put to use some of the other cool weaponry we had collected along the way including a rocket launcher. Finally, with only one way to escape we fled the scene to be brought straight down back to earth when we saw the start point and the event organisers waiting for us with a cold drink. We had survived.
But of course – the clues and gaming element are just part of the fun. This house is full of zombies and somehow we have to get round without being eaten alive. Due to the close nature of the corridors and rooms, some of the zombie contact can only be described as extremely close! Zombies appear from unexpected hiding places and over the course of the game get faster and faster as the virus mutates.
The whole experience is absolutely terrifying at times as you never know what’s going to attack you and when. Apart from a few “safe” rooms, we were constantly on the lookout for movement or the sound of something approaching. Even once a zombie had been taken down it was a nerve-shredding experience having to step over a still twitching body which could at any time reanimate itself!
The zombies themselves were some of the most convincing and effective we have seen at any zombie event and during the whole scenario they were never seen out of character or on their phone hoping we wouldn’t see them!
Over three hours the tension and the scares built up to a full scale finale which left all of us frantically pumping out round after round of ammo grateful that we had some left! We also finally got to put to use some of the other cool weaponry we had collected along the way including a rocket launcher. Finally, with only one way to escape we fled the scene to be brought straight down back to earth when we saw the start point and the event organisers waiting for us with a cold drink. We had survived.
Something that some people have asked us about events like this is whether they are actually scary or not. Most of them have their moments but Zombie Manor House has to be the scariest of them all. The rooms and corridors in the house and the surrounding buildings are narrow and dark (did we also mention – very smoky?) You never know where a zombie could be hiding and some of the attacks left everyone screaming in genuine fright. It’s amazing that we didn’t end up shooting each other in the panic!
Also – the sheer variety of different locations within the one venue across 3 hours playtime, make this the definitive zombie survival experience for variety. If you can make only one zombie survival event this year – then we recommend it to be Zombie Manor House!
Links:
Zombie Zed Events
Also – the sheer variety of different locations within the one venue across 3 hours playtime, make this the definitive zombie survival experience for variety. If you can make only one zombie survival event this year – then we recommend it to be Zombie Manor House!
Links:
Zombie Zed Events
All pictures were taken with full permission from Zed Events
You Review

Fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
A bit jumpy in places but all In all a great experience , some basic weapons and house clearance training didn't really prepare you for the mayhem once we got under way for real , without giving too much away it was pretty frantic both indoors and outdoors and those pesky Walkers were never far away and kept everybody on their toes , some great little scenarios ensued and two and a half hours simply sped by , a big thank you to all the organisers , and of course not forgetting the Walkers/joggers/really fast runners as they were simply superb and unrelenting in their quest to make this a really memorable day out .
A bit jumpy in places but all In all a great experience , some basic weapons and house clearance training didn't really prepare you for the mayhem once we got under way for real , without giving too much away it was pretty frantic both indoors and outdoors and those pesky Walkers were never far away and kept everybody on their toes , some great little scenarios ensued and two and a half hours simply sped by , a big thank you to all the organisers , and of course not forgetting the Walkers/joggers/really fast runners as they were simply superb and unrelenting in their quest to make this a really memorable day out .

For more information about attractions and reviews, visit us on Facebook!

All the latest news, stories, reviews and gossip can be found on the ScareTOUR Facebook page - the hottest Facebook presence in the UK for Scare Attractions!
For the latest offers, exclusive discounts and more - Join the group!
For the latest offers, exclusive discounts and more - Join the group!