Your hosts and companions on the strange journeys ahead of you:
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is the site owner and creator and has extensive knowledge and experience of Scare Attractions around the world. He is now in his 20th year of reviewing since co founding Haunted Attractions in 2000 and moving onto ScareTOUR a few years later. In 2010 he designed and co-ran Ghost of Christmas a critically acclaimed 45 minute scare attraction in Glasgow and consulted with the Norfolk Dinosaur Park to create 2 new mazes for their expanded PrimEVIL event. Michael has also worked with a large range of scare events (both in the UK and abroad) ranging from farm attractions through to corporate theme parks.
Michael has also acted in a number of attractions including Frightmare at Over Farm (where he was instrumental in expanding it to the multiple maze event it is today), Bludzworth Haunted House in Florida, The London Tombs and several nights within the premiere season of The Field of 1000 Screams at Alton Towers. Michael is also the owner and creator of ScareCON - Europe's only trade show for the scare attractions industry which will return to Thorpe Park in 2020.
Michael has also acted in a number of attractions including Frightmare at Over Farm (where he was instrumental in expanding it to the multiple maze event it is today), Bludzworth Haunted House in Florida, The London Tombs and several nights within the premiere season of The Field of 1000 Screams at Alton Towers. Michael is also the owner and creator of ScareCON - Europe's only trade show for the scare attractions industry which will return to Thorpe Park in 2020.
Sam Cousins
Sam is a mild mannered lawyer by day but a screaming horror fan at night!. His first official visit to a scare attraction was the opening night of the London Tombs and he hasn't looked back since - recently taking a break away from his planned holiday schedule to visit some haunts in California!
Sam has acted in a number of attractions including Frightmare at Over Farm, and The London Tombs as well as being part of the team that scared thousands of visitors to the ScareZone mazes at Leisure Industry Week at the Birmingham NEC.
Sam has acted in a number of attractions including Frightmare at Over Farm, and The London Tombs as well as being part of the team that scared thousands of visitors to the ScareZone mazes at Leisure Industry Week at the Birmingham NEC.
Timothy Deves
Tim started his love for all things scare related, living life vicariously reading through reviews on ScareTour. It took him a couple of years, but he finally picked up the courage to try his first scare event in 2012, visiting Alton Towers Scarefest for the first time. After experiencing the delights of The Sanctuary, he was hooked.
Within a couple of years he had branched out of the theme parks into the smaller independent events, paying close attention to the nominees of the annual SCAR awards. He soon started attending ScareCON and even ended up acting a couple of nights with the Twisted Attractions team.
Tim soon joined the ScareTOUR team, with his first outing being Room Escape Southend. It was a bit of a rocky start as all he did to help in the room was standing in the corner looking totally befuddled, but thankfully his skills soon improved. He has since gone on to become quite the escape room enthusiast and has even started travelling overseas to visit a range of international scare events.
Within a couple of years he had branched out of the theme parks into the smaller independent events, paying close attention to the nominees of the annual SCAR awards. He soon started attending ScareCON and even ended up acting a couple of nights with the Twisted Attractions team.
Tim soon joined the ScareTOUR team, with his first outing being Room Escape Southend. It was a bit of a rocky start as all he did to help in the room was standing in the corner looking totally befuddled, but thankfully his skills soon improved. He has since gone on to become quite the escape room enthusiast and has even started travelling overseas to visit a range of international scare events.
James Edwards
James first discovered scare events when he was asked to perform in the original Evil Rising in 2012, following which he joined the crew of More is More as Head of Creative, writing and directing events such as Evil Rising: The Hole, The 00-Experience and Evil Rising: Possessed. He was also responsible for running the bar at several Evil Rising events. As an Equity registered actor performing under the stage name AJ King, he has appeared on stage and in TV and film productions for the RSC, BBC, Channel 4, Touchstone Pictures and many more. Recently he has been working with Watchers Productions on a number of low budget web series' including Whovians and Sketchy AF. He is also a published author with interests in horror, romance and dystopian futures.
James has reviewed several scare events and attractions for the site, and is a regular reviewer of London's more macabre theatrical productions and experiences on behalf of ScareTOUR, usually attending with his long-suffering husband in tow.
James has reviewed several scare events and attractions for the site, and is a regular reviewer of London's more macabre theatrical productions and experiences on behalf of ScareTOUR, usually attending with his long-suffering husband in tow.
Francesca Harper
Fran's love of scare attractions began in 2013 after dragging her other half, Marc, along to Alton Towers overnight event at the Altonville Motel. Funny, considering that Fran was the biggest wuss ever at the time! Since then, Fran's love of anything scary has only ever increased and together with Marc, she clocks up the miles attending year round scare attractions. Fran's highlight of the year is always an annual visit to Alton Towers, her favourite maze being 'Terror of the Towers' - after all that's where it all began for her!
She has tried her hand at acting, becoming a zombie for a South West zombie attraction, and most of all loved making grown me run and scream in fear. Despite her ever growing love for scare attractions, Fran does still need to ensure she has 'protection' available when watching horror films and can't flush the loo at night due to possible visits from the lesser known 'bog monster'.
She has tried her hand at acting, becoming a zombie for a South West zombie attraction, and most of all loved making grown me run and scream in fear. Despite her ever growing love for scare attractions, Fran does still need to ensure she has 'protection' available when watching horror films and can't flush the loo at night due to possible visits from the lesser known 'bog monster'.
Amanda Large
For as long as she can remember, Amanda has loved horror. Her favourite books from the age of 6 were Goosebumps, which then escalated into an obsession with horror movies. She has seen most of them, from the golden oldies like Dracula, through to the most recent cinematic delights. The down side to this is that It takes a lot to actually scare her!
She loves the mazes at Scarefest and Fright Nights (especially the scare rooms!). Her most recent favourite is The Sanctuary (Extreme) and would love to experience some very scary stuff that puts even more chills through her!
She loves the mazes at Scarefest and Fright Nights (especially the scare rooms!). Her most recent favourite is The Sanctuary (Extreme) and would love to experience some very scary stuff that puts even more chills through her!
Ryan Large
Ryan grew up hating horror and everything about it. It was only his wife's love of it, that forced him to watch. Eventually it grew on him to the point that he now loves it even if he is quite a scaredy cat and gets extremely jumpy in horror films or mazes! His all time favourite maze so far has been The Sanctuary at Alton Towers - the whole idea gives him the creeps!
He and Amanda have been attending Scarefest for the last 4 years and have slept over in the Altonville motel twice now. Quite new to all this, Ryan's very first maze was the Boiler House and he was at the back of the group when he heard a tapping on the window. When he turned around and saw one of the Hamble Twins waving a knife at him, he instantly screamed and pushed forward, making the whole line fall over! His aim for 2014 is to do even more extreme attractions!
He and Amanda have been attending Scarefest for the last 4 years and have slept over in the Altonville motel twice now. Quite new to all this, Ryan's very first maze was the Boiler House and he was at the back of the group when he heard a tapping on the window. When he turned around and saw one of the Hamble Twins waving a knife at him, he instantly screamed and pushed forward, making the whole line fall over! His aim for 2014 is to do even more extreme attractions!
Phil Perez
Phil is fascinated by the pace at which the scare scene is evolving around Europe, and takes joy in applauding the new wonders and insanity of other creators. As an 8 year old boy, he experienced his first horror walk through show in Costa del Sol, Spain. This live action scare show, twisted his mind so much, that he always had the bug to produce his own horror productions. In 2016 he wrote & directed 'The Haunting of Sarah Taylor' which showed the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, and from 2012-15 he co-created The Creep, New Brighton. Since he has been immersed in film making, and been co-producing a Paranormal TV show on Merseyside. Phil is an award winning film Director/Videographer, & screen actor. His acting credits include BBC's Being Eileen, Emmerdale & Ridley Scott's movie EXODUS: GODS & KINGS. He has also featured in countless commercials. You may recognise him as 'Pop-up Pirate'. 'Ooo Aaargh!'.
Liam Proctor
Liam has always loved anything horror from a young age, apart from walk around ghost houses. He would always get too scared to make it all the way through and would ask to be let out of the attraction before it had finished! Somehow, he eventually then plucked up the courage to go into Pasaje del Terror at Blackpool and loved the adrenaline rush. He then began searching for even more scary thrills.
His obsession grew in 2007 after visiting Alton Towers Scarefest and each year since then he has traveled the country visiting more and more scare attractions as the industry has grown. His favourite recent attraction was Pitch Black, due to the actual maze layout and multiple possibilities. Having visited the majority of scare attractions in the UK, his aim for 2014 is to try out the USA horror attractions, starting with Universal's Halloween Horror Nights.
His obsession grew in 2007 after visiting Alton Towers Scarefest and each year since then he has traveled the country visiting more and more scare attractions as the industry has grown. His favourite recent attraction was Pitch Black, due to the actual maze layout and multiple possibilities. Having visited the majority of scare attractions in the UK, his aim for 2014 is to try out the USA horror attractions, starting with Universal's Halloween Horror Nights.
Andy "Cookie" Rawlings
Known more affectionately as ‘Cookie’ by his peers, he is no stranger to the scare industry. A veteran scare actor for multiple years, he has continually made a name for himself in the UK, as well as the United States, by appearing in various haunted houses, constructing two original mazes, leading a team of sideshow and fire artists, even writing and publishing a ‘dos and don’ts’ guide for first time scarers. Cookie has recently guested the best of the best as Master of Ceremonies for ScareCON’s annual SCAR awards, while still exploring new attractions as a guest and actor.
Sarah Rushforth
Sarah Rushforth’s interest in scare attractions is very surprising as she hated absolutely anything horror related as a kid growing up. Having found herself in the queue for The Asylum at Thorpe Park “accidentally” back in 2006, it was an instant addiction to the scare industry. During the last 11 years Sarah has spent time travelling throughout the UK experiencing some of the country’s finest events and attractions. Sarah has been reviewing scare attractions since 2009 and has now changed from the quivering wreck she used to be and can now take in and appreciate all components of an attraction. It’s actually a hard job to scare her now! Sarah’s favourite attraction each and every year is Terror of the Towers due to the amazing venue that the team have to work with. Her worst memory is sitting on the grass for over an hour in the rain looking at Field of 1000 Screams at Scarefest in 2007 and never going through due to pure fear.
Sarah has travelled far and wide to gain a knowledge of how to run and promote successful events and has been able to use this experience along with the vast amount of scare attractions and events she has visited to be able to create comprehensive and fair reviews.
Sarah has travelled far and wide to gain a knowledge of how to run and promote successful events and has been able to use this experience along with the vast amount of scare attractions and events she has visited to be able to create comprehensive and fair reviews.
Laura Sackett
Laura used to work for a major theme park and entertainments company but was generally gutted that her role seems to just revolve around fish and not some of the company's "darker" offerings. She now works managing sponsorships and events. She has a passion for all things scary yet can't watch The Exorcist or even see an image of the possessed girl, without freaking out!
Laura has travelled across the country extensively, visiting as many scare events as possible. Her professional experience in marketing and event management allow her to critically assess attractions on her review visits.
Laura has travelled across the country extensively, visiting as many scare events as possible. Her professional experience in marketing and event management allow her to critically assess attractions on her review visits.
Mackenzie Vee Crompton
Mackenzie is an actress from York and has performed in many independent scare attractions across the country as well as The Dungeons and Alton Towers Scarefest. She also occasionally runs the Ghostwalk tours around the city of York. Her first attraction was in 2011 when GNG Entertainment asked her to perform for them in Haunted: Live and Xtreme! Until then she had never ever heard of a scare attraction and or knew how to be a scare actress, but after her first show she became hooked and has never looked back.
Mackenzie first met the ScareTOUR team in 2012 during a scare attraction Project:FEAR where she performed as an abused child and covered Michael Bolton and other fellow ScareTOUR members in whipped cream. A memorable first meeting! But despite her love of all the mazes she has visited and performed in she has a very ironic truth about her. She doesn't like horror movies, is scared of the dark and still sleeps with the light on! Mackenzie has hopes and plans to run her very own scare attraction company in the next year.
Mackenzie first met the ScareTOUR team in 2012 during a scare attraction Project:FEAR where she performed as an abused child and covered Michael Bolton and other fellow ScareTOUR members in whipped cream. A memorable first meeting! But despite her love of all the mazes she has visited and performed in she has a very ironic truth about her. She doesn't like horror movies, is scared of the dark and still sleeps with the light on! Mackenzie has hopes and plans to run her very own scare attraction company in the next year.
Marc Watton
A big theme park fan, Marc discovered his passion for scare attractions in 2013 when he attended Alton Towers' overnight Halloween attraction, The Altonville Motel. This marked a turning point for Marc as he'd previously been completely put off anything remotely scary as a kid after being terrified by a dark walk-through attraction that used to be at Paultons Park - Captain Blood's Cavern.
Since 2013 and together with Fran, Marc has travelled the UK attending numerous Halloween and out-of-season scare attractions, even dabbling in a bit of acting for a local South Coast zombie event along the way. He points out that he's thankfully now much more difficult to scare than his Paultons days! It's unusual for Marc not to be planning his next scare fix. A newbie himself only a few years ago, he takes great satisfaction in introducing others to the crazy world of scare attractions with his scary weekend exploits often a popular topic of conversation amongst friends and colleagues on Monday mornings! As for other interests, Marc loves horror movies and is a keen runner though naturally he says he's training in case of a zombie apocalypse!
Since 2013 and together with Fran, Marc has travelled the UK attending numerous Halloween and out-of-season scare attractions, even dabbling in a bit of acting for a local South Coast zombie event along the way. He points out that he's thankfully now much more difficult to scare than his Paultons days! It's unusual for Marc not to be planning his next scare fix. A newbie himself only a few years ago, he takes great satisfaction in introducing others to the crazy world of scare attractions with his scary weekend exploits often a popular topic of conversation amongst friends and colleagues on Monday mornings! As for other interests, Marc loves horror movies and is a keen runner though naturally he says he's training in case of a zombie apocalypse!
Darrell Xavier
Darrell has always had a strange obsession with anything horror from quite an early age following a school visit to Whitby Abbey and the “grave” of Dracula. From school plays as Dracula to designing 3D ghost trains for Art & Design exams, Darrell took his first acting job in the scare industry with Fear Masters Entertainment for their first ever event HospitHELL back in 2010.
Fear Masters built themselves a new permanent home the same year which you will know now as the Yorkshire Scaregrounds Screampark. Darrell was recruited as one of their producers, working on everything from concept design, set construction and decorating, actor training, script writing, media campaigns, special effects make up, costuming and acting in the shows for several years.
Darrell has since worked on other attractions and volunteers as an actor for the annual charity event, Otley Zombie Apocalypse.
Together, Darrell and Liam tour the UK visiting scare attractions, escape rooms, theatre productions, ghost hunts and haunted locations. They have also visited attractions in Florida, Italy, Germany and Spain including Halloween Horror Nights, Traumatica and Howl-O-Scream.
Fear Masters built themselves a new permanent home the same year which you will know now as the Yorkshire Scaregrounds Screampark. Darrell was recruited as one of their producers, working on everything from concept design, set construction and decorating, actor training, script writing, media campaigns, special effects make up, costuming and acting in the shows for several years.
Darrell has since worked on other attractions and volunteers as an actor for the annual charity event, Otley Zombie Apocalypse.
Together, Darrell and Liam tour the UK visiting scare attractions, escape rooms, theatre productions, ghost hunts and haunted locations. They have also visited attractions in Florida, Italy, Germany and Spain including Halloween Horror Nights, Traumatica and Howl-O-Scream.
Want to Join the Team?
With the current expansion in the scare attraction industry, it gets harder for the team to visit every attraction across the UK,and so therefore we are always on the lookout for more reviewers. At ScareTOUR we pride ourselves on unbiased, professional reviews that don't give away major plot points and all our reviewers work to the same stringent review guidelines to ensure quality. If you love writing and visiting scare attractions then why not contact us now.
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