Yesterday evening we were kindly to visit Warwick Castle to check out their Castle After Dark event. It was the first we had visited this event and had no idea what to expect! So, without further ado let’s get into this blog where I’ll be discussing the overall event alongside the additional attractions too. Just quickly before we do I just want to acknowledge the fact I headed to this event with a different expectation to what it is. I anticipated a Scream Park kind of event however it is in fact a family event. Therefore, after sleeping on it my ratings of the mazes have altered from my original Twitter posts! I just wanted to express this and be transparent in regards to my thoughts on the matter. I’m sure you guys understand.
Please note these are all our views & none of which are impacted by the fact this was an invite event for us.
The Crest – 4/5
Let’s begin with the new 2022 scare maze; The Crest. This is a time-ticketed attraction but we would highly recommend heading to collect your tickets as soon as you enter as it does get exceptionally busy throughout the evening. The queue itself was somewhat lengthy when we joined we waited 45 minutes. However, the queue itself is inherently beautiful yet creepy. It sets the scene and the ambience. Upon entering you are blindfolded for a small amount of time and the method of becoming blindfolded is unique but alone terrifying. The story was not outstanding but I guess it was straightforward to follow.
I believe this maze is intended for a 10+ audience which I think is passable. Each the room has its background for the story. Throughout were respectable jump scares nothing too extreme and almost what you’d expect from a 10+ maze. The scenes were stunning and the use of the castle itself just assembles the eeriest vibe. It was an admirable length perhaps around 15-20 minutes. The finale was the highlight and effortlessly one of the best ends to any scare maze possible. The actors throughout were flawless there were a lot of moments where it was just purely creepy acting and no jump scares but that was enough. Quite honestly one scene was so simple yet it played on my mind all night (the room with the bed in the middle section with the actor randomly appearing). Of course, there is room for improvement and quite honestly I would love to see this become a more intense experience because it has the potential to be brutal. I would also love to see a more history-led theme instead too.
The Hunted – 3/5
The setting within the castle has always been the area that has given me the creeps. It’s just spooky. We waited only 15 minutes for this nice maze and no time slot is needed. Upon entering you are given a rope for the group to hold throughout, I did hear some groups were instructed for hands on shoulders, however, we weren’t. Ant was leading and the fact he had to drag the group along had me in tears laughing… it was very amusing you had to witness it to understand.
Again this was another 10+ maze which I feel was flawless for the experience. The audio throughout was tremendous. As were the actors. There were a couple of scares nothing too intense again. I feel there was a fair few missed opportunities of switching out the wax figures for actors. As well as the fencing used inside I’m not too sure why these were used or at least used in this sense. They could have been themed up to suit the maze or just darken that entire section. As I mentioned prior the already existing wax works just intensified the maze entirely as you do expect at least one to be real. They had me on edge the entire time of passing them. In regards to a finale there wasn’t really one although I do think it needed a strong one or we should have done this before experiencing The Crest. But all in all, this is a really good family maze with another easy-to-follow story. Great casting inside with amazing costumes. Again room for improvement but great fun nonetheless.
Haunted Hollows – 5/5
Wow, the actors here are sly with their scares. There were loads of which I did not predict to happen or come from the places they accomplished. They all played their roles so incredibly. The actual setting is charming the theming throughout is a stunning setting that tone to what is about to happen. It begins with one of the spookiest entrances. I enjoyed this attraction it probably was my favourite of the evening. I just did not predict it to be as fantastic as it was. The lighting, effects and sets are just perfect not to forget how decent the length was. This is a simple walkthrough as well there’s no queuing either. It just reminded me exactly of my love for scare zones but also emphasised how much other events also need to use them too.
The Dungeons:
Unfortunately, we missed our time slot for this due to how busy other attractions were & arriving late.
Dead Centre Stage:
The stage in the courtyard is always fab. There’s so much atmosphere. We managed to catch the band which was great playing some bangers! It’s just such a vibe. We then also caught a dance show with a light person which was unique but fun. Then of course the DJ again played some amazing hits and altogether so much fun to experience. This alone is worth a visit to be honest.
Overall:
The event was a lot busier than we ever expected which made the queues quite lengthy. Given there are only two scare mazes I think another one or two would certainly assist in taking the pressure off the current attractions but also make it more feasible for other guests too. Without adding another attraction perhaps lowering the capacity. The event is fun for all the family to enjoy. There’s a decent amount of things to do & see. I’d love to see it expand in the future as there’s still a lot of room for more scare zones, roaming teams or even further scare experiences. Either way, the team smashed it with creativity and overall event. It will undoubtedly become a staple in our October for years to come.
If you haven’t already visited go & check out this event for yourself!
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A tremendous thank you to the team for inviting us down. We had the best night and can’t wait to visit again soon. And thank you to you guys for reading!
Speak again soon.
