a guy

It’s an odd and unfortunate situation at towers, because they’re pouring a lot of money in to things, but to “the GP” really they’re treading water and there’s nothing truly new happening…

Realistically, despite the bits of investment over the last 5 years, you’d struggle to argue with these statements:
- Ripsaw has re-opened 
- The same Nemesis is still there but is now black and red
- The same Skyride is still sat there but is broken
- Same old Hex has been sat there for years but is broken 
- The haunted house ride is still there, but has had a refurb.
 
Don’t get me wrong, this is all money well spent in my opinion and was badly needed and overdue, but really I think AT needs something truly new.
There is little that they’ve done since Wicker Man that truly offers something new.
 
As much as I think Toxicator is a fantastic addition, it’s arguably yet another “re-opening of something that closed” if you know what I mean.

I visited a few weeks ago on a Monday and Last Night (The 3rd) and here is my honest thoughts. No holding back here lol.
 
Stitches:
This is my favourite maze of the 4. I find Stitches very eerie to walk through and both run throughs I had were both very lively. I love some of the disgusting costumes like the oversized teddy bear, the puppet doll, and the gorilla. The actors also seemed more than happy to play off the already creepy vibe and give great startle scares. I found the scares varied and energetic on both runs, and the finale seemed a lot better than last year and managed to really work on both runs. Stitches is a long, well themed, and unique maze that should be kept for longer. 
 
Survival Games:
I had one run with no separation and on my second I was alone for the first half. In the arena on both times I found myself in a conga line of people and no actors in sight. The conga lines slowly lingered towards the exit, the conga line on both runs meandered to the end casually strolling through the equally flat finale. P*ss poor. I hope it goes next year as this year it just felt dead. The arena on both times just felt stuffed full of people and no actors to cause chaos- the arena is bloody lifeless now and it completely makes this maze a disaster.
 
Trailers:
This maze has grown on me over the years. It is not the scariest maze but I feel it has a nice variety of scares, mostly good theming, and the casts do really shine in here.
Even though we caught up with the group in front the actors still managed to power their way through our group. The acting quality was really high and I liked the new buckwheat scene. The new scenes are honestly a bit lacking in theming but the Platform and Creek actors both were totally great in their rooms which helped me forget. My conclusion is Trailers is a good maze that belongs in the line-up even if just for being a fun concept with some cool ideas.
 
Deadbeat:
Deadbeat is a frustrating mess of an attraction. I like the idea of the theme but I feel the design really is a let down with this one. The concept is cool but walking through it just doesn't make much sense? I find it is a little hard to follow and some rooms I wonder why they are there? It also is strange with the multiple slot machine rooms where not much happens, the room with a dancing girl?
 
I think where DeadBeat feels weak for me is seemingly the design for actors. The actors we saw were brilliant but with the loud dance music it made their great scares fall flat. A noise for an actor really I think is an important tool for grabbing those scares but all the actors are fighting against an overly loud soundtrack. I think a more sinister lowkey soundtrack after the initial rooms would be so much better. The maze also seems to lack much in the way of hidey holes, actor runs, and honestly it seemed not very actor friendly. A lot of the actors still made it work but even with brilliant efforts we still walked out thinking it was terrible, and quite frankly I would say it just feels poorly designed. I hope they "Big Top" this as like Survival Games, it was pathetic. To think I paid £10 for either makes me feel sick.
 
Lucifer's Lair/Creature Campus:
Great talent here with the shows. Both bring a lot to the park and the atmosphere, and I hope both of these are here to stay. I like the variety that Lucifer brings, and I feel like it gives Fright Nights a real meaty catalogue of stuff to see. Bored? Head to Lucifer's Lair there probably is something going on now or soon.
 
Crows: 
Though not too long and not many actors, The Crows were enjoyable. I do think a full scale maze would be really brilliant if it brought back. I do think it is worse than last year for sure in regards to amount of actors.
 
Overall: Good event with honestly very mixed opinions on mazes. Stitches and Trailers I feel like gives me hope but if DeadBeat is the new style we are getting, I want to get off the train lol!

Okay honest Tulleys Review from my visit a few weeks back.
 
I visited early on in the season and I found my visit to be really good. I did about 20 maze throughs with two fastracks (just for Purgatory). I think if you are going next year do an early day in the season and you will be shocked at the light crowds. Hayride, Wastelands, Coven, all walk on. Queued 15 minutes for DoomTown and that besides Purgatory, was the only wait.
 
Purgatory:
Very Very different maze from Tulleys here. Purgatory uses the haunted lantern technology and uses it pretty well in my opinion. The Nuns in an abandoned manor I thought was a good idea, though theming is a little light compared to stuff like DoomTown. I feel it is a little more psychological compared to the rest of the lineup with a lot of The Nuns stalking you and trailing you, this makes it feel quite distinct. I feel it has some issues like a lack of a finale and some light bleed. These though I think are stuff that can be worked on and the concept itself is good. The VERY small groups that are batched are great, but equally makes the queue very hard. 
 
DoomTown:
Theming is still just stupidly detailed and it feels very full of actors. 3 years in and I am still wondering how a farm can build a literal 80s town. The theme is just beyond cool and the maze has a lively cast to back it up.
 
Wastelands:
Brilliant sets, loads of actors, and generally just a really consistent attraction for me. The outside show is a really fun riot like usual too.
 
Carving:
Probably the best use of this space? Adding talking I think helps differentiate this from the other mazes. I love the saw mill at the back, that is a great new set piece. The mazes re-uses some sections but does try to overhaul them. Still a little long for my liking but better than Island. 
 
Cellar:
Wasn't a fan last year but this year it felt like they gave the actors steriods. It shows what a brilliant cast can do with a space, every little small crack in the wall had an actor popping out on my run throughs.
 
Coven:
Some really good scares in here with good pacing, with a kind of slow build up to the fire finale. I do feel some moments in between the main sections could do with some darkening/more theming but it had good actors and a lot of them!
 
Cottage:
Not my favourite this year to be honest. I feel like this maze felt a bit empty on my run through, but I guess it is the smallest maze here.
 
Eletrick Circus:
A bit hit and miss with the run throughs, but I think it is good fun. Could do with more going on in the middle, but I really like things like the animatronics, the actor staring at you while you hear the announcement, and the lively scares.
 
Haunted Hayride:
Went in a half full trailer and it was a total laugh. I love the GhostBusters ending, just silly and fun. 
 
Chop Shop:
Probably done this too many years now- actors really going for it but I think I am little unfazed by chainsaws now.
 
I did not do Hellements as I kind of know what to expect and Tulleys has so many mazes at this point. Overall a great night and I would say my £45 was well spent with 20 maze run throughs. I paid £16 for Fastrack (£8 each), so I think that's about £3 a maze? I think the value is better than Thorpe. Particularly with actor crammed longer mazes like Wastelands or Doom. 
 
Purgatory X2
Carving X3
DoomTownX3
WastelandsX3
EletrickX3
Coven X1
Cellar X2
Chop X1
Cottage X1
Hayride X1

If an Easter Egg is a put up in a forest and no one understands it correctly, is it still a Easter Egg?

I visited a few weeks ago on a Monday and Last Night (The 3rd) and here is my honest thoughts. No holding back here lol.
 
Stitches:
This is my favourite maze of the 4. I find Stitches very eerie to walk through and both run throughs I had were both very lively. I love some of the disgusting costumes like the oversized teddy bear, the puppet doll, and the gorilla. The actors also seemed more than happy to play off the already creepy vibe and give great startle scares. I found the scares varied and energetic on both runs, and the finale seemed a lot better than last year and managed to really work on both runs. Stitches is a long, well themed, and unique maze that should be kept for longer. 
 
Survival Games:
I had one run with no separation and on my second I was alone for the first half. In the arena on both times I found myself in a conga line of people and no actors in sight. The conga lines slowly lingered towards the exit, the conga line on both runs meandered to the end casually strolling through the equally flat finale. P*ss poor. I hope it goes next year as this year it just felt dead. The arena on both times just felt stuffed full of people and no actors to cause chaos- the arena is bloody lifeless now and it completely makes this maze a disaster.
 
Trailers:
This maze has grown on me over the years. It is not the scariest maze but I feel it has a nice variety of scares, mostly good theming, and the casts do really shine in here.
Even though we caught up with the group in front the actors still managed to power their way through our group. The acting quality was really high and I liked the new buckwheat scene. The new scenes are honestly a bit lacking in theming but the Platform and Creek actors both were totally great in their rooms which helped me forget. My conclusion is Trailers is a good maze that belongs in the line-up even if just for being a fun concept with some cool ideas.
 
Deadbeat:
Deadbeat is a frustrating mess of an attraction. I like the idea of the theme but I feel the design really is a let down with this one. The concept is cool but walking through it just doesn't make much sense? I find it is a little hard to follow and some rooms I wonder why they are there? It also is strange with the multiple slot machine rooms where not much happens, the room with a dancing girl?
 
I think where DeadBeat feels weak for me is seemingly the design for actors. The actors we saw were brilliant but with the loud dance music it made their great scares fall flat. A noise for an actor really I think is an important tool for grabbing those scares but all the actors are fighting against an overly loud soundtrack. I think a more sinister lowkey soundtrack after the initial rooms would be so much better. The maze also seems to lack much in the way of hidey holes, actor runs, and honestly it seemed not very actor friendly. A lot of the actors still made it work but even with brilliant efforts we still walked out thinking it was terrible, and quite frankly I would say it just feels poorly designed. I hope they "Big Top" this as like Survival Games, it was pathetic. To think I paid £10 for either makes me feel sick.
 
Lucifer's Lair/Creature Campus:
Great talent here with the shows. Both bring a lot to the park and the atmosphere, and I hope both of these are here to stay. I like the variety that Lucifer brings, and I feel like it gives Fright Nights a real meaty catalogue of stuff to see. Bored? Head to Lucifer's Lair there probably is something going on now or soon.
 
Crows: 
Though not too long and not many actors, The Crows were enjoyable. I do think a full scale maze would be really brilliant if it brought back. I do think it is worse than last year for sure in regards to amount of actors.
 
Overall: Good event with honestly very mixed opinions on mazes. Stitches and Trailers I feel like gives me hope but if DeadBeat is the new style we are getting, I want to get off the train lol!

I visited a few weeks ago on a Monday and Last Night (The 3rd) and here is my honest thoughts. No holding back here lol.
 
Stitches:
This is my favourite maze of the 4. I find Stitches very eerie to walk through and both run throughs I had were both very lively. I love some of the disgusting costumes like the oversized teddy bear, the puppet doll, and the gorilla. The actors also seemed more than happy to play off the already creepy vibe and give great startle scares. I found the scares varied and energetic on both runs, and the finale seemed a lot better than last year and managed to really work on both runs. Stitches is a long, well themed, and unique maze that should be kept for longer. 
 
Survival Games:
I had one run with no separation and on my second I was alone for the first half. In the arena on both times I found myself in a conga line of people and no actors in sight. The conga lines slowly lingered towards the exit, the conga line on both runs meandered to the end casually strolling through the equally flat finale. P*ss poor. I hope it goes next year as this year it just felt dead. The arena on both times just felt stuffed full of people and no actors to cause chaos- the arena is bloody lifeless now and it completely makes this maze a disaster.
 
Trailers:
This maze has grown on me over the years. It is not the scariest maze but I feel it has a nice variety of scares, mostly good theming, and the casts do really shine in here.
Even though we caught up with the group in front the actors still managed to power their way through our group. The acting quality was really high and I liked the new buckwheat scene. The new scenes are honestly a bit lacking in theming but the Platform and Creek actors both were totally great in their rooms which helped me forget. My conclusion is Trailers is a good maze that belongs in the line-up even if just for being a fun concept with some cool ideas.
 
Deadbeat:
Deadbeat is a frustrating mess of an attraction. I like the idea of the theme but I feel the design really is a let down with this one. The concept is cool but walking through it just doesn't make much sense? I find it is a little hard to follow and some rooms I wonder why they are there? It also is strange with the multiple slot machine rooms where not much happens, the room with a dancing girl?
 
I think where DeadBeat feels weak for me is seemingly the design for actors. The actors we saw were brilliant but with the loud dance music it made their great scares fall flat. A noise for an actor really I think is an important tool for grabbing those scares but all the actors are fighting against an overly loud soundtrack. I think a more sinister lowkey soundtrack after the initial rooms would be so much better. The maze also seems to lack much in the way of hidey holes, actor runs, and honestly it seemed not very actor friendly. A lot of the actors still made it work but even with brilliant efforts we still walked out thinking it was terrible, and quite frankly I would say it just feels poorly designed. I hope they "Big Top" this as like Survival Games, it was pathetic. To think I paid £10 for either makes me feel sick.
 
Lucifer's Lair/Creature Campus:
Great talent here with the shows. Both bring a lot to the park and the atmosphere, and I hope both of these are here to stay. I like the variety that Lucifer brings, and I feel like it gives Fright Nights a real meaty catalogue of stuff to see. Bored? Head to Lucifer's Lair there probably is something going on now or soon.
 
Crows: 
Though not too long and not many actors, The Crows were enjoyable. I do think a full scale maze would be really brilliant if it brought back. I do think it is worse than last year for sure in regards to amount of actors.
 
Overall: Good event with honestly very mixed opinions on mazes. Stitches and Trailers I feel like gives me hope but if DeadBeat is the new style we are getting, I want to get off the train lol!

If anything like last year I would disagree heavily. I liked both events last year but I think The Howl is underated and actually has a more consistent lineup.
Mazes like Squealers/Shed are not like the flashiest but have pretty awesome scares and they have a good length. I feel the smaller size of The Howl compared to Fright Nights really helps as the crowds when I went were very mild and we walked into most of the mazes without queues in small groups. I love Thorpe and the rides really make it worthwhile but I do think The Howl does mazes better.

I just have to say, that while I get the point that you're making here, my dad and I personally feel The Howl blows Thorpe outta the water every year, haha.

We haven't been to The Howl yet this year, but we've been every other year, and are saving it until last this year for a reason - it's our favourite local scare event! (we actually like it more than Shocktoberfest even though it's the baby brother because actor interactions have always been better at The Howl than at Shocktoberfest where it's understandably busier).

I totally agree that the sets of the mazes themselves aren't as fancy as some of what Thorpe has, but they have still always been much better mazes in our eyes at The Howl purely because the atmosphere and the actors have always been superior when we've been there. And at the end of the day, it's the actors that really make the mazes come alive. You can have the fanciest theming in the world, but if the actors aren't there, or their energy is lacking, it's just a casual walk through a cool-looking set.

For us, The Howl's actors have always been plentiful and lively every year, with the roamers being absolutely outstanding.

Whereas our experience of Thorpe's actors has been very hit or miss over the years. Sure, we've had some incredible interactions from exceptional individuals, some of which I will never forget! BUT, we've had soooo many attraction runs at Thorpe that were devoid of actors it's kind of insane. And roamers are practically non-existent nowadays.

The Howl may be much smaller than Thorpe, but as a scare event, we reckon it's easily better than Fright Nights if you take away Thorpe's rides.
 
Overall atmosphere at The Howl has always been electric for us. Whereas there have only been 1 or 2 years where the atmosphere at Thorpe has actually felt like it's supposed to be a Halloween event. This year is not one of them thanks to the soundtrack sounding waaaay too club-like. I get that it's probably supposed to tie into Dead Beat with it being their new maze, but still. It's just not a very atmospheric soundtrack. At least there's some nice lighting back this year though.

The fact that Thorpe has the availability of some pretty epic rides in the dark is the only reason we still return to Fright Nights year on year. If the only offering was mazes and the other event-related entertainment, we probably wouldn't bother >.< And it hurts to say that cos there were some fantastic iterations of Fright Nights in the past, just not much to write home about in recent years.

Both my dad and I were lamenting past Fright Nights while queuing for Saw, and we both said we can't understand how an event that's so big can have gone from being pretty damn epic to just getting gradually worse over time It should be the other way around! Other places we go to tend to get better year on year, but not Fright Nights, sadly.
 
I know everyone will have differing opinions, of course. That's just our experience. If we were forced one year to choose between going to Thorpe for Fright Nights or to The Howl as opposed to both. We would pick The Howl over Fright Nights in a heartbeat!