We were very kindly invited to this year's Tulleys Shocktoberfest. Whilst we were given free entry to the event, we have full editorial control of what our review of the event says.
OUR SLASHER REVIEW
Tulleys' scare event this year featured a vibrant atmosphere with food stalls, rides, and talented roaming characters. The first haunt, Purgatory, was a highlight, using Haunted Lantern technology to create a suspenseful experience with excellent actors. Next, the Haunted Hayride: Route 666 offered a more laid-back experience, but lacked some actors and excitement compared to previous years. Creepy Cottage felt stale with long stretches without performers, prompting thoughts about its retirement. In contrast, The Village: Coven of 13 provided a solid eerie atmosphere, maintaining its charm despite no updates. The Cellar delivered a consistently chilling experience with well-placed actors, while Electrick Circus fell short, feeling repetitive despite talented performers. Chop Shop impressed with its chaotic atmosphere and relentless actors, creating an intense chase. Doom Town showcased great theming, though it relied on familiar scare tactics. Wastelands Penitentiary stood out with a captivating fire and light show, enhancing the intense atmosphere. The final haunt, The Carving, felt like a rehash of last year’s attraction, lacking originality and impact. Due to time constraints, we opted to skip Hellements and Carnevil Cabaret, focusing instead on maximizing their experience at Tulleys.
Top Tips - Arrive early and soak up the atmosphere
Things that bite - The similar scare styles from the actors in all the attractions
Value for Money - Yes, I'd say so
Scare Rating - 4/5
Do we recommend - Yes
OUR STALKER REVIEW
Tulleys is always one of the first scare events of the season but this year we decided to visit a bit later than we usually would. Entry was quick and once in we were entranced in a world of horror. Their were food and drink stalls, rides, stage shows and, of course, the amazingly talented roaming characters who just make the night.
Our first haunt of the evening took us to Havistock Manor, where we experienced one of Tulleys’ newest attractions, Purgatory. The anticipation built as we waited in a dark queue line, surrounded by warnings of construction hazards and occasional power outages that hinted at the mysteries awaiting us inside the manor. Once inside, our small group of two was handed a lantern, and the adventure began. The attraction makes clever use of Haunted Lantern technology, casting the manor in near-total darkness, with only our flickering light to guide the way. As we moved from room to room, the lantern would suddenly dim, change colours, strobe, or even switch off entirely, heightening the tension with every step. The actors inside were exceptional. In one room, we saw a figure standing silently in the corner. Just as the lantern flickered, the figure vanished, dissolving into the darkness as if they were never there. Moments later, when the light returned, they were standing right in front of us, causing our hearts to race. Every twist and turn kept us on edge, never knowing what might be lurking just around the corner. There wasn’t a moment where we felt safe, which made Purgatory a truly spine-chilling experience from start to finish.
For our second haunt of the night, we opted for a more relaxed experience with the Haunted Hayride: Route 666. While the ride still delivers its comedy, there were a few noticeable differences from previous years. Some scenes lacked actors, and the chainsaws were absent this time around, which might be due to visiting on a quieter Tuesday night. Although my favourite cowboys were still there! The finale has also changed, offering a different twist that, while still amusing, didn’t quite live up to the comedy of past years. If you’re pressed for time and have to skip a haunt this year, the hayride might be the one to miss—though the chance to sit back and enjoy the ride does make for a nice break from the scares.
Our next stop was a Shocktober Fest classic, Creepy Cottage. This long-standing attraction at Tulleys hasn’t seen many changes over the years, and unfortunately, our experience this time fell a bit flat. Despite the smaller size of our group, we encountered long stretches of the haunt without any actors at all. While the few performers we did meet managed to deliver a couple of solid scares, it wasn’t enough to make up for the gaps in the experience. We left wondering if it might be time for Tulleys to retire this classic and make room for something new.
After our disappointing experience at Creepy Cottage, we decided to confront the witches of The Village: Coven Of 13. While there were no changes this year, the experience still delivered its signature eerie atmosphere. We began by navigating through the dense, fog-filled swamp that gave our legs quite the workout, setting an ominous tone right from the start. As we ventured deeper, we entered the heart of the witches’ coven. The journey concluded in the heat of the inferno, where the intensity reached its peak. Despite the lack of new elements, The Village: Coven Of 13 still managed to immerse us in its dark and twisted world.
For our next haunt took us through the freshly tarmacked area outside the hayride and into The Cellar. This haunt remains one of my favourites, with its oppressive gloom and grotesque inhabitants lurking in the shadows. While, like our last haunt, not much has changed this year, the atmosphere and intensity still hit the mark. The Cellar had a solid number of actors, all expertly positioned to deliver plenty of scares that kept us on edge throughout. It’s a must visit attraction that continues to deliver the chills, making it one you definitely don’t want to miss.
Next, we made our way to the Electrick Circus, where Tulleys promises a “super-charged journey of terror.” Spoiler alert—it didn’t quite live up to the hype, unless you happen to have a fear of clowns. While the actors were undeniably talented and energetic, much of the performance relied heavily on foot stomping and hand in your face, which felt more repetitive than truly frightening.
Despite their efforts to create chaos and tension, the scares didn’t quite hit the mark, leaving us wanting more in terms of creativity and genuine terror. If you’re not already unnerved by clowns, this haunt might fall short of expectations.
Conveniently, our next haunt was just out of the clown butt: The Chop Shop. This attraction is themed as an abandoned car garage that’s now home of a clan of bloodthirsty, pig-faced hillbillies. The atmosphere was gritty and chaotic, perfectly capturing the feel of a twisted roadside nightmare. As we navigated through the cluttered garage, we were constantly pursued by chainsaw-wielding maniacs, their relentless roars echoing. The hillbillies were relentless, chasing us to the very end and making sure we didn’t feel safe for a second. Thankfully, we managed to escape this time—but only just.
Next up, we headed into Doom Town, where the walkers never sleep. This haunt has some of the best theming at Tulleys, set up like a full-blown street. We started by queuing through a creepy church graveyard before our group was batched right outside the church doors. Once inside, we wound our way through the pews, then out the back and down a sketchy alleyway, even passing through some truly nasty toilets—all while the dead were stalking us at every turn. The experience ended on a high street where we had to navigate through the shops, pubs, restaurants desperately searching for a way out. The actors here were intense, but like in some of the other haunts, they relied a lot on foot stomping and getting up close in your face, which felt a bit repetitive. Still, the atmosphere and setting made Doom Town a memorable stop on our journey.
Our penultimate haunt of the evening was Wastelands Penitentiary, the whole area is themed to a prison yard that oozed chaos and danger. This year, Tulleys offers a brand-new immersive 360-degree fire and light show, featuring cage dancers, roaming prisoners, and a mesmerizing display of flames and lights that shows every 30 minutes. The show itself was a spectacle, drawing us into the gritty world of the penitentiary. After taking in the fiery performance, we ventured inside to face the once-incarcerated prisoners who now run the place. The atmosphere was intense, with plenty of in-your-face moments from the actors, especially in the disorienting strobe maze where the foot-stomping and sudden confrontations were relentless. Despite some familiar scare tactics, the setting and energy made Wastelands Penitentiary a standout experience.
Our final haunt of the evening was one of Tulleys’ new attractions for this year, The Carving. While it’s technically a new addition, it’s mostly a re-theme of last year’s The Island. This time, we were introduced to the twisted Appleton family, who welcomed us to their annual Halloween dinner—with us as the main course. The opening section stood out as the most unique part of the experience, guiding us through the unsettling rooms of the Appleton family home and then into a sinister sawmill. After that, though, much of the haunt felt all too familiar, with many sections almost identical to The Island. Unfortunately, it didn’t leave a lasting impression and felt like it could have been much shorter to pack more of a punch.
We decided to give Hellements and Carnevil Cabaret a miss this year just because there is so much to do and we just wouldn't have had the time to really soak up everything and do everything.
We want to say a huge thank you to Tulleys for inviting us along. You can find our more by visiting the Tulleys Shocktoberfest website.
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