Buckle in this is a long blog post given the amount of scare mazes there are at Shocktoberfest. First of all, thank you to the team at Ed Hopkins PR & Tulleys Farm for having us.
Disclaimer – there will be spoilers going forward and all opinions are our own.
The Carving – 2.5/5:
Let’s get the not-so-positive review out of the way first. Unfortunately, The Carving still hasn’t hit off with us. Is it unfortunate timing on our behalf? Or is it just a weaker maze in comparison to the others? I’m not too sure. It just feels like it falls quite flat and lacks a lot of jumps.
Chop Shop – 5/5
Now, this maze has me squirming at the thought however this time was VERY different. Just standing in the queue it’s inevitable this was going to be truly repulsive watching the finale chainsaw chase people out just sets the tone enough. Heading into each room there were countless actors. Then the finale hits the one which never ends. I have never felt that petrified before in my life. I had actors pinning me against the wall brushing their chainsaws against my legs whispering in my face and holding me put for what felt like an eternity. That’s the first maze in absolute years I’ve come out shaking like a leaf and close to tears. The actors in here were truly something else this year!
Wastelands Penitentiary – 4/5
Who doesn’t love this maze? The build-up to the strobe maze section was one of the powerful in a few years. The actors used their settings perfectly to give everyone a good jump. Then the finale strobe maze section is just beyond me. It’s so disorienting and the actors play their space so well you don’t really catch a minute between being lost and truly frightened.
Creepy Cottage – 3.5/5
I absolutely adore Creepy Cottage. Besides the couple of empty sections with a lack of actors. This maze is so spooky and the scenes are all so well themed. It will always be that initial starting point I’d recommend to anyone.
Coven of 13 – 3/5
We aren’t usually a fan of this maze the last few years it really lacked something for us. However, this year it felt really decent. The actors were on top form and providing ominous jumps from the least expected areas. The mist has definitely eased down which made it more enjoyable. It feels really prolonged too especially with the indoor & outdoor sections. The batching did mean the group all kind of accumulated at one point but the actress did a tremendous job at splitting everyone backup. It’s nice to have a new appreciation for this maze.
Glitch – 5/5
Brand new for 2025 and replacing The Cellar. It is certainly an excellent replacement. The story and theme are unique not one you see recited across many scare mazes. We had some really intense jump scares in here and again the batching was flawless & you end up being just your group. The actors were truly outstanding here. Some of their masks alone were nightmare fuelled. It’s constantly intense with the lighting and sounds. The army-like characters were far too blended into the rooms which gave us even potent scares. This has to be one of our favourite newer additions to the line-up. We can’t wait to see this evolve for next season.
Purgatory – 5/5
Another second-year returner. This maze is truly something so special yet utterly disgusting. If you don’t enjoy the dark this isn’t the one for you. Lighting the way is the small lantern you handed to your group. It interacts with each room. This is a nun maze and they are the most creepy nuns you’ll ever lay eyes on. The noises they make and the jumps they give are horrid. We had two run-throughs of this and I promise both times were equally as terrifying. The distinctive characteristic of the lantern leading your path with the interactive light alone makes this maze but the actors & actresses doing their thing just strengthens it to levels beyond your imagination.
Electric Circus – 4.5/5
You’d think we’d grow a thicker skin to clown mazes given how many we’ve done. Yet this is so beautifully laid out with so many immaculate hidey spots for the cast to use. There are the minute of real characters and dummies throughout and that mixture creates some fiery scares alone. We also did 2 run through of this and the second time the mist being stronger made it all so much more unnerving! This maze is that ideal line of fun, scary and the mixed match flooring and special effects just put the icing on the cake.
Doom Town – 4/5
Doom Town is definitely less about drastic jump scares and more about the scale of the sets & theming. It’s so visually captivating. You genuinely transform into this zombie-filled town and you see every you’d expect from your local town centre including a Greggs this season. It’s one of the most visually immaculate and fun mazes we’ve ever laid eyes on. It just never fails to surprise us with how exceptionally realistic it is. The absence of intense jumps is effortlessly made up for by the perfection of theming. But the actors do still give you promising jumps.
Haunted Hayride:
It’s an absolute staple and a must-experience. It’s that ideal mixture between hilariously silly, a little spooky and all-round fun. It’s the perfect length and the interactions are always amusing. I feel it’s changed to last season but I could be wrong. Either way, we thoroughly enjoyed it as always.
Roaming Team
If Tulleys do anything perfectly it’s the roaming team. It was really refreshing to see some fresh characters introduced this year but also have some of the firm favourites back again. There’s hardly any place across the park that’s free from the roaming team. The atmosphere they create alone is just phenomenal.
Bars & Eateries:
Tulleys have definitely upped the offering for this year and the new area is stunning. We really enjoyed having a drink in the tavern near the Coven of 13. All the food smelled amazing but we didn’t try any ourselves.
Overall:
What an event! It has to be the strongest year yet for Tulleys. Every maze except The Carving just delivered their utter finest scares and work. The theming throughout them all had their own unique quirks and were all visually incredible. The event as a whole feels like it’s come so far since our visit back in 2019. We just had an absolute blast and truly can’t describe how extraordinary the whole evening was.
If you haven’t added Shocktoberfest to your calendar this October you truly HAVE to. It isn’t the place you’d want to miss out on.
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Thank you so much again to Ed Hopkins PR & Tulleys Farm for having us. And thank you for reading!
