Tulleys Shocktoberfest 2013
We have been visiting Tulleys Shocktoberfest for well over 10 years and have seen it grow and expand at an amazing rate. Starting with just a hay-ride and a small haunted house, the event was the first to adopt the "scream park" mantle and to this date, is still the most complete theme park style attraction in the UK. With dedicated pathways, permanent catering outlets, entertainment and selection of mazes - it is the attraction that other parks aspire to. It is also one of the UK's most popular events and the thousands of visitors that flock through the gates each year come looking for the right mix of fun and frights. Fortunately, Tulleys has that in bucket loads!
Before we go any further into the details of the mazes, we must mention the incredible roaming characters that we kept interacting with throughout the night. From the grumpy old hag Esmerelda and her team of sexy nurses through to the loved up pub singers and the (dare we say it!) gimp, with a keyboard. These characters were constantly entertaining, completely engaging and in the case of the sexy nurses - completely outrageous. The puns and innuendo were flying but always remained jovial and light hearted (but with a wicked sense of humour underneath).
New for this year is a circus show (open for high season only) a fairground, an aftershock bar (with more nurses) and the festival stage that takes centre stage (excuse the pun!) in the middle of the show ground. On the night we visited - a brilliant 70s cover band were entertaining the crowds but other nights have featured (or are booked) The Boom Town Rats, Dr and The Medics and many others. The live music really added to the festival atmosphere across the site.
But of course we had come for the scares. So what was this year's line up like?
For the last four years since it opened, The Cellar has been one of the best mazes in the country with its mix of intricately designed rooms, crazy "monsters" and impressive scares and this year it has just got better. Work on the outside of the maze (an impressive new facade) disguises the fact that the attraction has been expanded with a new prologue room and a completely new ending, added to extend the whole experience. As usual - the creatures throughout were some of the wildest we saw all night and them, and some of the impressive (and loud) new effects added, left all of our group screaming throughout.
The Twisted Maze has seen a number of different incarnations over the past (it started as a simple Curtains" maze but has now morphed into a crazy fun house). Some of the new tricks for this year include uneven floors, false perspective rooms and of course - one of the fastest spinning tunnels in the UK . As well as the physical effects, the actors throughout were on top form and nobody in our group was safe throughout the whole maze.
Woodshock - Rottin' Since 69 is the latest version of the park's classic corn field attraction and uses many of the elements we've seen before - dark creepy cornfields, lots of periods of intense darkness, sudden shocks and rather a few too many claustrophobia tunnels! This years theme, to tie in with the new festival stage, is of an old rock festival and early scenes reference the story nicely. About halfway through, there is a terrifying pitch dark maze section that had all of us panicking and wanting to get out. This smoke filled section, meant we had to just follow the walls and hope for the best as to whether we would find a way out! We even found a couple of groups getting lost along the way! Unfortunately, as the whole attraction reached its conclusion we were treated to a scene that really stood out as belonging to a different maze. Lets face it - we all love chainsaws but unless we are mistaken they aren't a usual part of a bands entourage! Even so - we still ran out the exit to get away. So to summarise: although not overly different to previous field attractions, Woodshock was really long and provided an large number of screams throughout.
When it opened, Hellements was the UK's first "sensory deprivation" maze and since opening has changed very little. With a black hood to block out any outside light, guests are required to follow an undulating path past different elements such as water, fire and ice. Like any "trick" maze, the attraction is less impactful if you have done it before and know what's coming. Even so the actors managed to get a number of good scares from all of us and the "newbies" in our group were genuinely very scared in places.
The Creepy Cottage is the park's small "ghost house" attraction but during Shocktoberfest is ramped up with several live actors. Although not in the same league as the other mazes - it is a great way for the more nervous or younger guest to get into the spirit. That's not saying that it isn't scary though - the live actors make use of multiple cut throughs and places to hide and scared members of our group several times.
The final big attraction is the park's signature ride - the Haunted Hayride. With no storyline, completely random scenes and a laid back attitude, the hayride is still one of the highlights of the evening. Random scenes range from hill-billies, to dinosaurs, to Bates Motel. Each scene is played off with some incredible tricks (the falling billboard joke never gets old), some incredibly lively actors and just a real sense of fun. By the time the trailer comes home and the zombie nuns are dancing along to Beyonce's Single Ladies, we have all screamed, jumped and laughed in equal measures!
And perhaps those nuns dancing to Single Ladies sums up the whole event. Tulleys Shocktoberfest doesn't take itself seriously in any way and wants you to laugh as well as scream. Once through the gates you can actually relax and just go with the flow - especially as there is such a huge range of different entertainment across the site. Yes you will scream (a lot) but every thing is good natured. From the sexy nurses administering meds through to the terrors of the creatures in The Cellar - the whole thing is just fun. Really good and scary fun. And lets face it, who needs anything more?
All photos copyright Stephen Candy Photography
To read our previous reviews of Tulleys Shocktoberfest - click here
For opening times and booking details please visit the Tulleys Shocktoberfest website
You Review
Have you also visited this or any other attractions recently? - tell us what you thought here
Shocktober Fest at Tulley's Farm has been a firm favourite on our scare attraction itinerary for a good few years now. The Field of Screams has had a revamp into Woodshock and I wasn't sure that the Woodstock music festival theme would work in a scare maze but it really did and this turned out to be my favourite maze of the night! The absolute pitch black areas confused our group each time until we were in a bit of blind panic walking into walls which was terrifying! Twisted, a clown themed maze had also changed and the changes certainly worked well. Although scary, we were laughing throughout as the actors had the perfect balance of being scary and entertaining. The Cellar also showed off some new additions, and the actors were as amazing as always. They consistently stay true to the theme of the cellar and really make the maze. The roaming characters, including Esmerelda, were back in force along with nurses this year and gave our group a lot of laughs and really added something to the whole event so that there is always something going on around you.
I really enjoyed Tulleys, there was a great feel about this year. I think that was down to the actors and the interaction they had with most of the guests. They did provide some great laughs! The new maze Woodshock provided some great scares for me, although there were a few dead patches where I thought they could of maybe put some actors or effects in! Now although I didn’t get a chance to look very much into the last scene (due to everyone running to get out quickly!) but a chainsaw always scares everyone! Compared to last year I think the acting in the mazes has really stepped up especially in the cellar with some of the actors crawling around like spiders, on the ceilings. Really rate it this year and had a great night and will definitely be returning next year.- Bobbie
WOW was amazing to see tulleys back on top !! with amazing mazes and the best street actors keeping us laughing and screaming
Tulleys was yet again FANTASTIC this year. It is by far my favourite halloween event and i look forward to it hugely each year. The amount of effort everyone puts in is amazing, the actors work so hard and are truly fantastic.
Starting with the hayride, this was the most popular attraction of the evening attracting a 60 minute queue (i advise getting the VIP pass we had for £10 extra you get unlimited mazes and fastpass). The hayride is the tamest and full of lots of little thrills and then the big thrill at the end, the chainsaws! Hellements was really good the first time i went in it, and it still is too date, however i feel the concept isn't scary anymore and isn't too great once you've done it once or twice (just a personal opinion, maybe i'm being picky!). Twisted was a bit pants last year with not many scares, but my god they have turned it around in a year! It was amazing this year, with brilliant actors and hiding places, very disorientating and a much longer maze!! (was really impressed with that and all the people who worked on all the mazes, all really lovely and easy to talk too). Then on to cellar- amazing as usual and easily one of the best mazes around!! the theming and length is brilliant and i loved the air blow at the end, truly good jumps and a real scare factor, again all the actors work so hard and are clearly amazing at their job. Then woodshock the newbie!!! Woodshock is AMAZING, so dark it's hard to make your way around and the theming is excellent! The maze is so long it's worth any queue and the ending had people running out in fear, well done tulleys!! best maze i've personally ever been in. The creepy cottage lacked again this year but i guess they have to have one tame one. Well done tulleys, fantastic once again. Chantelle
Starting with the hayride, this was the most popular attraction of the evening attracting a 60 minute queue (i advise getting the VIP pass we had for £10 extra you get unlimited mazes and fastpass). The hayride is the tamest and full of lots of little thrills and then the big thrill at the end, the chainsaws! Hellements was really good the first time i went in it, and it still is too date, however i feel the concept isn't scary anymore and isn't too great once you've done it once or twice (just a personal opinion, maybe i'm being picky!). Twisted was a bit pants last year with not many scares, but my god they have turned it around in a year! It was amazing this year, with brilliant actors and hiding places, very disorientating and a much longer maze!! (was really impressed with that and all the people who worked on all the mazes, all really lovely and easy to talk too). Then on to cellar- amazing as usual and easily one of the best mazes around!! the theming and length is brilliant and i loved the air blow at the end, truly good jumps and a real scare factor, again all the actors work so hard and are clearly amazing at their job. Then woodshock the newbie!!! Woodshock is AMAZING, so dark it's hard to make your way around and the theming is excellent! The maze is so long it's worth any queue and the ending had people running out in fear, well done tulleys!! best maze i've personally ever been in. The creepy cottage lacked again this year but i guess they have to have one tame one. Well done tulleys, fantastic once again. Chantelle
Mildly scary - I went to Tulleys farm for the Halloween event, after reading some good reviews online paid £25.00 each ticket very disappointed with the whole experience.
Staff were rude with most being 'kids' they generally had the can't be bothered to help attitude.
All haunts consisted of the same thing, about ten people go though at a time, all actors focused on people at the front and people at the back knew what was coming so wasn't scared in the slightest. Really got very repetitive and boring and would not was my time and money going to this place again. - Lil
Staff were rude with most being 'kids' they generally had the can't be bothered to help attitude.
All haunts consisted of the same thing, about ten people go though at a time, all actors focused on people at the front and people at the back knew what was coming so wasn't scared in the slightest. Really got very repetitive and boring and would not was my time and money going to this place again. - Lil
My family and I visited on the 29th during the day it was our first year and found it extremely enjoyable . We were disappointed that we were unable to see the circus . However that was no fault of anyone's just the dam weather .
Thought I may of seen more staff dressed up in withes and halloween costumes .
Thought the hayride was excellent !
I appreciate it's a large event however was not impress with the toilet facilities especially being a children's event has well as adults . Ok they are practical for men but women and children really .
Thought I may of seen more staff dressed up in withes and halloween costumes .
Thought the hayride was excellent !
I appreciate it's a large event however was not impress with the toilet facilities especially being a children's event has well as adults . Ok they are practical for men but women and children really .
Went on Saturday 2nd on the Finale night and paid online for VIP tickets. The busiest queue times I found on that day was between 8pm after the fireworks till about 9.30pm with queue times from 45mins to 75mins. Any other time most maze queue times were 20minutes.
Me and my partner were still glad that we had VIP tickets though because we hate queuing even for 20 minutes and we were able to visit the mazes unlimited times!
The security were not helpful as they could see we ran the wrong way and straight passed the road that leads to the entrance but said nothing! Very bad communication from staff and lack of signs. For example, you can get your picture taken before entering the haunted hayride and they saw we had VIP but did not direct us to the correct queue and we ended up lining up for 15 minutes thinking our VIP tickets just let you skip half the queue! However that is wrong and VIP actually makes you skip the entire queue and you go right at the front! The male staff there informed his colleague though and she let us sit at the front of the hayride on the next go :)
My personal scare factor rating of the mazes:
Creepy cottage 0/10 Was not scary at all when I went in however it was the last one we went to compared to the other freaky mazes! I thought I was still walking through to reach the main maze entrance inside until I saw an actor! I would be disapointed if I queued up even 15 minutes for that maze.
Twisted Maze 4/10
The one clown I saw was a lil freaky and was well played. I couldn't even see the face of one of the other actors and she didn't really do much so she wasn't scary. It was fun to walk through that maze though.
Haunted Hayride 6/10 This one was more entertaining but there was a couple of times when things happened that were unexpected and got a few screams from me!
Woodshock 8/10
I enjoyed this maze a lot and the most as it incorporates the outside as well as a lot of dark inside areas and a mix of different actors. I Loved the actors in this one as well! A lot of the group wonders off if you don't keep up because you don't have to hold onto each others shoulders so sometimes you're left alone in your own group so it made it become more fun and scary!
The Cellar haunted house 9/10 There was a few times where you feel so scared to walk ahead and I was at the front! One moment I was so scared to get back up and carry on walking after I nearly fell to my knees! The actors are very good at what they do but they could improve their makeup though because my makeup was more scary than them.
Hell-ements 9/10 If you're someone who would be more scared when you can't see anything then this one would definitely freak you out. Normally when I am scared I would close my eyes but in this maze it was still very scary as I used my imagination a lot! My partner says the cellar maze was the scariest.
Some tips: If you want to be very scared you should go first in the cellar maze as when I was in the middle the 2nd time round it wasn't that scary!
Always try and turn up early because there was so much traffic and you have to drive to an off site car park and wait for a bus to arrive to take you to the park. The wait wasn't too long as there was about 3 busses running.
Definitely wear boots, preferably wellies as you get very muddy in the woodshock maze and maybe wear 3 pairs of socks with it because my feet were freezing even with 2 pairs of tights and socks.
I would go again next year and VIP is worth it if you don't mind paying the extra to jump straight to the front of queues and go in unlimited number of times!
Shara
Me and my partner were still glad that we had VIP tickets though because we hate queuing even for 20 minutes and we were able to visit the mazes unlimited times!
The security were not helpful as they could see we ran the wrong way and straight passed the road that leads to the entrance but said nothing! Very bad communication from staff and lack of signs. For example, you can get your picture taken before entering the haunted hayride and they saw we had VIP but did not direct us to the correct queue and we ended up lining up for 15 minutes thinking our VIP tickets just let you skip half the queue! However that is wrong and VIP actually makes you skip the entire queue and you go right at the front! The male staff there informed his colleague though and she let us sit at the front of the hayride on the next go :)
My personal scare factor rating of the mazes:
Creepy cottage 0/10 Was not scary at all when I went in however it was the last one we went to compared to the other freaky mazes! I thought I was still walking through to reach the main maze entrance inside until I saw an actor! I would be disapointed if I queued up even 15 minutes for that maze.
Twisted Maze 4/10
The one clown I saw was a lil freaky and was well played. I couldn't even see the face of one of the other actors and she didn't really do much so she wasn't scary. It was fun to walk through that maze though.
Haunted Hayride 6/10 This one was more entertaining but there was a couple of times when things happened that were unexpected and got a few screams from me!
Woodshock 8/10
I enjoyed this maze a lot and the most as it incorporates the outside as well as a lot of dark inside areas and a mix of different actors. I Loved the actors in this one as well! A lot of the group wonders off if you don't keep up because you don't have to hold onto each others shoulders so sometimes you're left alone in your own group so it made it become more fun and scary!
The Cellar haunted house 9/10 There was a few times where you feel so scared to walk ahead and I was at the front! One moment I was so scared to get back up and carry on walking after I nearly fell to my knees! The actors are very good at what they do but they could improve their makeup though because my makeup was more scary than them.
Hell-ements 9/10 If you're someone who would be more scared when you can't see anything then this one would definitely freak you out. Normally when I am scared I would close my eyes but in this maze it was still very scary as I used my imagination a lot! My partner says the cellar maze was the scariest.
Some tips: If you want to be very scared you should go first in the cellar maze as when I was in the middle the 2nd time round it wasn't that scary!
Always try and turn up early because there was so much traffic and you have to drive to an off site car park and wait for a bus to arrive to take you to the park. The wait wasn't too long as there was about 3 busses running.
Definitely wear boots, preferably wellies as you get very muddy in the woodshock maze and maybe wear 3 pairs of socks with it because my feet were freezing even with 2 pairs of tights and socks.
I would go again next year and VIP is worth it if you don't mind paying the extra to jump straight to the front of queues and go in unlimited number of times!
Shara
|
All the latest news, stories, review and gossip can be found on the ScareTOUR social media pages - the hottest Facebook and Twitter presence in the UK for Scare Attractions!
For the latest offers, exclusive discounts and more - Join the group! |
|