Storefront City London

14 Oct 2021

Hope & Anchor

WHAT: Hope & Anchor
WHERE: 123 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5UA
PRICE: Entrées £7–14, Draft Pint £5.30–6.50, Cocktails £10
OUTDOORS: Yes

OUR RATING: Do It!

It’s been awhile, we know, but after a year-long hiatus the Storefront City team is back in action and making the most of life. We’ll be honest: it’s been super hard to stay indoors all this time and we were itching to get back out into the big wide world and share our latest and greatest experiences with you. To that end, and to highlight venues that are a tad bit safer pandemic-wise, we’ve created a new rating category above showcasing whether the adventure reviewed is outdoors. We hope that this will give you the confidence to dive back in and explore new locations where you’ll feel safer.

For our first foray we hit up the Hope & Anchor in Brixton, a beautiful cocktail bar complete with an opulent garden dripping with style. Hammocks, private cabins, and neon accents create a stunning environment to grab a few drinks and soak up a warm evening with friends.

Adam: Whilst the name might make you think this is a run-of-the-mill pub, the Hope & Anchor (indeed established as a pub in 1815) is most certainly NOT your grandfather’s pub. After ducking through the indoor area, you are greeted by an array of leafy trees, festooned in twinkling lights. To top this off, you can opt to sit in one of the many cabanas that dot the perimeter, creating your own oasis of privacy and yet still benefiting from the trendy vibe of those around you.

Ordering is easy tableside via the app, although we’d recommend you download this beforehand to avoid the hassle of signing up there and then. I opted for a pint of refreshing Beavertown Neck Oil, a Session IPA that matched the light and airy feel of the evening. Bracing and bursting with taste, this is a citrus-hoppy beer with a somewhat flowery aspect that I would definitely recommend. A perfect complement to a perfect night.

Alicia: The Hope & Anchor seems like such a small and stuffy mini-pub when you first walk in the door, until you start getting into their backyard and suddenly you’re in a Wonderland. I’m such a sucker for unique outdoor dining experiences that give you fun lights and set elements to look at when you’re in the midst of a refreshing pint. I went for my go-to Guinness as the options for drinks were quite minimal — only Aperol Spritz and espresso martinis were available out of anything on offer, so if you’re a cocktail person this probably isn’t the place for you.

Unfortunately, I can’t say this is the best place for dining either — we splurged on some loaded fries that sounded good on paper: slow cooked ox cheek, plum ketchup, soy yoghurt, jalapeños. Alas, the fries were a bit cold and definitely mushy, albeit flavourful. We weren’t impressed enough by the chips to go in for some more food — it just didn’t seem like the kind of pub to offer some really great meals, but we were more than happy to drink up and enjoy the ambience instead!

Final Thoughts: Brixton has a few lovely outdoor pubs, but we’ve got to admit the Hope & Anchor is one of the more fun-for-the-eyes spots. Definitely a go-to for an after-dinner pint. Weather is obviously an important factor if you’re enjoying an outdoor beer garden, so go now if the sun is shining or the night is warm and get cozy in some beach huts under twinkling lights.

PS: Enjoy outdoor drinking with intricate theming? Don’t miss the rooftop bar at Queen of Hoxton!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged bars, Drinks, food, London, Pub

05 Jan 2020

Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh

WHAT: Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh
WHEN: 2 November 2019 – 3 May 2020
WHERE: Saatchi Gallery (Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY)
PRICE: £24.50-28.50 (Adults)

OUR RATING: Do It!

Gold Inlaid Canopic Coffinette of Tutankhamun Dedicated to Imseti (Protector of the Liver) and Isis.
Credit: IMG

“At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold – everywhere the glint of gold.” – Howard Carter (Archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb)

Gold is timeless – untarnishable and everlasting. It is for this very reason that the ancient Egyptians crafted their most sacred and enduring objects from this rare substance, the surfaces communicating across time to us still in sparkling majesty. For Tutankhamun, the finely crafted statuary that adorned his tomb would function as vessels for immortality up to the present day. Beautifully and touchingly presented at the Saatchi Gallery in what is billed as their last great tour outside Egypt, these mementos of a life lived so removed from our own open up the secret, personal world of the boy King.

Wooden Guardian Statue of the Ka (soul) of the King Wearing the Nemes Headcloth.
Credit: IMG

For those who have seen past iterations of travelling Tutankhamun exhibits, much of what is on display will be familiar: the canopic coffinette, a storage vessel for the embalmed organs of the King, has been emblazoned upon the literature of many of these blockbuster shows. And yet, new objects are carefully and helpfully marked, making the repeat visitor feel as if they are on a treasure hunt, discovering both old and new artifacts.

Whilst most people are attracted to the shining bullion all around them, important everyday items paint a different picture of the Pharaoh. In Tutankhamun’s reed “pen” case, we can imagine a young boy sitting down with his tutors and learning about what it takes to rule a mighty empire, whilst throwing sticks and bows attest to more leisurely (or warlike) pursuits. Undoubtedly, all these objects also carry ritualistic significance, but one could just as easily imagine them being used by the young Pharaoh.

To the seasoned scholar, this exhibition does have its drawbacks. A (paid) photo opportunity no doubt brings in much needed revenue, but somehow cheapens the overall experience. An epic video introduction, like much of the labelling, is high in floral language, weak on the facts. Speaking of facts, we spotted several misspellings and misunderstandings on the labels (a reference to the god “Atem”, which, in this context, should clearly have read “Aten,” the solar disc deity). To the ordinary visitor, these oversights might seem small, but to anyone knowledgeable of the period, they are most disappointing for such a well-designed exhibition.

Gilded Wooden Jackal-Headed Figure of Duamutef (Protector of the Stomach).
Credit: IMG

The exhibition itself is laid out across multiple floors and with intricate vinyls perfectly framing objects in the black-box style rooms. It is true that due to this multi-level approach, you lose your immersion in the world of the tomb each time you progress to a new gallery, but this is not a major limitation.

Final Thoughts: As potentially the last time you will be able to see Tutankhamun’s “wonderful things” outside Egypt, this is a must for Egyptophiles of all ages. Even those with more knowledge of the subject will appreciate seeing familiar artifacts and some new ones. A glittering spectacle that will amaze all who gaze upon it.

P.S. The companion volume to this exhibition, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb, by Dr. Zahi Hawass is breathtaking in its detail and completed with sumptuous photographs by Sandro Vannini. Simply stunning!

Posted in Do It!, See It!, Tours and Museums, Visual Arts and tagged Archaeology, art, Egypt, Egyptology, exhibitions, London, Museum, Saatchi, Tutankamun

20 Nov 2019

The Emerald City Rooftop Bar

WHAT: The Emerald City Rooftop Bar
WHEN: 24 October 2019 – May 2020 (4:00pm on)
WHERE: Queen of Hoxton (1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX)
PRICE: Free Entry

OUR RATING: Do It!

Travel down the yellow brick road to The Queen of Hoxton’s newest rooftop retreat – a cozy winter escape and hidden bar far far away from Kansas. We had the fortunate opportunity to attend this immersive event’s launch a few weeks ago, but luckily for our readers this emerald realm is open for free all the way to May 2020.

After entering the venue we climbed the themed yellow brick road all the way to the rooftop, where we were met with a snug and spellbinding viridescent hideout with Dorothy’s house dropped upon the evil witch herself all inside QoH’s famous rooftop WigWam. Afterwards, we found ourselves in the outdoor and bar spaces, complete with fire pits, beautiful lights, and entertaining roaming witch characters.

We immediately headed to the bar area, excited to try some hot alcoholic drinks to keep the cold away. For those less adventurous the venue offers familiar drinks – pumpkin spiced mulled cider and mulled berry wine, both of which can be spiked with additional liquor. We instead opted to try two of their spiked hot chocolates. While we were slightly underwhelmed by their Bad *itch Hot Chocolate (dark hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, activated charcoal), we thought the Wicked Hot Chocolate (white hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, matcha powder) was a unique and very smooth drink. Our favourite drink, by far, was the hot buttered rum (mulled with cinnamon, peppercorns, butter, rum, and fudge), which we had a really hard time not ordering again and again. Just thinking about it gives us fond warm memories!

If hot alcoholic drinks aren’t your thing (what??), they also serve up some cold green drinks, such as the Green Lady (egg white, gin, lemon, orange liqueur) and the Emerald Bellini (vodka, passion fruit, orange, Prosecco, salted caramel and popping candy rim). We weren’t a huge fan of the latter drink, but thought the fun and flavourful rim was well worth it.

We also tried some of the Kansas-inspired food QoH had to offer, including meat and vegan burgers with black charcoal buns, and beef or pumpkin pot roasts with collard greens & cornbread. We weren’t overly impressed with the burgers and chips, but thought the pot roasts were quite yummy and perfect for a cold night, albeit a bit pricey.

For the remainder of this Autumn/Winter, QoH will be celebrating the season of the witch with a variety of free events on this emerald rooftop, including witch academy classes, feminist witch storytelling, a winter witch craft market, and green eco-events such as pickling workshops and a clothes swap.

Final Thoughts: We can’t wait to return to The Emerald City with some mates and sit down in the gorgeous green glen of their WigWam sipping mug after mug of hot buttered rum. We might skip the food this time, but for a free immersive bar experience, this is sure to keep you warm this winter. And don’t forget to get some of their marshmallows to toast over their open fire pits – a nostalgic and perfect addition to your night out.

P.S. For better burgers, head over to The Old Bengal Bar for some fun and juicy ones!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged bars, Drinks, immersive, London, Queen of Hoxton

08 Nov 2019

Le Bun

WHAT: Le Bun
WHEN: 2 November – 1 December, 2019 (every Saturday and Sunday, 11:30am – 4:00pm)
WHERE: Old Bengal Bar and New Street Grill (16 New Street, London, EC2M 4TR)
PRICE: £8-14 (Buns)

OUR RATING: Do It!

This month kicks off a four-week residency with Le Bun at New Street Grill and Old Bengal Bar. Coming up, there will be four weekends with four collaborations every Saturday and Sunday featuring different Le Bun burger classics. We had the amazing opportunity to attend their launch event last weekend, and boy do they have some mouth-watering burgers in store for you!

So what does this month bring in the burger world? The upcoming collaborations include the first week with @theburgerlist and Le Bourguignon Bun ‘2.0’ (pulled beef shin, red wine jus, beef fat rosti, Roquefort crumble, smoked lardons, champagne slaw, truffle mayo, and potato brioche) and then the second week with @TheBiggestLew and ‘Le Grande Lew feat. Oxtail Crack’ (aged beef, smoked oxtail crack, confit garlic dijonnaise, double American cheese, pink onions, mustard, and potato brioche). Week three follows with @LaurenwCapulet’s vegan version of the Le Bun menu (see below for our review of one of their vegan burgers), and then week four with @Fitwaffle and the classic Le Bun burger.

The Old Bengal Bar itself is a swanky affair – complete with luxurious sofas, exposed brickwork, and an eye drawing mirrored bar (which looked exceedingly well-stocked). Certainly a perfect spot to shelter in these colder months.

So now for the important part – how was the food?

Alicia: I took the opportunity to try the Chicken Skin Caesar salad and the Truffled F*****g Vegans burger with a vegan patty, burger sauce and cheese, confit beer onions, pickles, ketchup & mustard, and a potato bun.

The salad had a lovely dressing and a generous amount of creamy blue cheese, although it was far too dressed and practically swimming in sauce. The best part was definitely the chicken skin pieces, which were reminiscent of pork rinds and had a gorgeous crunch. The burger itself was without doubt a much more successful dish, with a great bite from the pickles and a very pleasing vegan take on cheese. The patty was quite similar to Quorn – perhaps not the best vegan patty I’ve ever had but still extremely delicious.

Adam: The Double Double (double aged patty, double American cheese, truffle veal jam (how decadent!), truffle mayo, and potato brioche) my burger of choice, was a truly perfect masterpiece. Superbly finished in a mouth-watering combination of condiments complementing the subtly smoked richness of the beef, you need to be prepared for this one: it’s a HUGE stack! Most decidedly a knife and fork job!

What goes better with a burger than fries? Unfortunately, as with all the sides, I was a little less impressed with this offering. Fries and truffle mayo might sound splendid, but these were pretty standard thin cut fries with a smattering of mayo (the truffle taste wasn’t strong). A little perplexing given the amazing quality of the burgers.

Final Thoughts: Go for the burgers (maybe skip the sides), some lovely bubbly and the stylish ambiance. Next time we return we might go for a Bloody Mary with a cheeseburger slider on top and try their small bites like their truffle mac and cheese. We can’t wait to experiment with all the upcoming burger options!

P.S. Have burgers on the brain? Stay tuned for our upcoming feature on The Queen of Hoxton’s Emerald City event and their charcoal bun burgers.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged burgers, Le Bun, London, New Street Grill, Old Bengal Bar

06 Nov 2019

London Halloween Parties 2019

In addition to the many haunted attractions we attended this Halloween season, we also let our hair down for a few nights and attended some of London’s most unique Halloween parties. Obviously there were dozens upon dozens of events this year, but here are our thoughts on a few to get some ideas on what to visit next season, as we’re sure they’ll return with a vengeance in 2020!

WHAT: Halloween Ball at the Mansion
WHEN: 26 October, 2019 (9:00pm – 4:00am)
WHERE: Loft Studios
PRICE: £24-150

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Perhaps the most chic event we attended, the Halloween Ball was definitely a very artsy and multi-layered event. Guests did not take the fancy dress requirement lightly – we saw the best costumes this year here and literally every single patron put at least a bit of work into them, which made it a great participative event.

The most memorable aspect of this event was the macabre art exhibition by Y. Wildi, with amazing handcrafted skeletons around the rooms in a creepy and beautiful setup. We also enjoyed the free tarot reader, a photobooth and some yummy food, including the all-essential candy floss. We were also super thankful that there were three different dance floors so that we could select which ones fit our fancy: pop/mainstream, electro and Latino. The electro was even visited by sax player Tolik and djembe player Paolo Forcellati – some really great music!

There were, however, quite a few letdowns at this event. The marketing promised fire shows, cage dancers, a Beelzebuth walking performance and a real backyard graveyard, none of which we saw no matter how many trips we took walking around the entire event space to find them. Admittedly, we didn’t stay the entire night, but after staying for four hours one would think we’d see at least some of the elements we were promised. Overall, however, it was something we’d go to again if some of these elements were better incorporated into next year’s event.

WHAT: Carnivale: The Dark and the Damned
WHEN: 31 October – 2 November, 2019
WHERE: Bunker 51 (3 Herringham Road, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE7 8NJ)
PRICE: £5-30

OUR RATING: Chance It!

There were so many options for events to attend on Halloween itself, but, in the end, we chose an event that was a bit more local to us, had the perfect carnival theme and, most importantly, promised two scare mazes as part of the entertainment! We couldn’t resist.

The large underground nuclear bunker where this event was hosted was really an amazing space – we’d love to produce something there ourselves! The space was very fun, allowing guests to wander through a series of small carnival games, such as basket toss, hook a duck and Zolda – these came at a small extra fee, but if you won you got a drink ticket, so very worth it for the prizes and fun of it all. The best part of the event, hands down, were the mazes, which completely went above and beyond our expectations. The first maze, Freakshow, took us up and down and all around through the lost souls of the carnival, requiring us to crawl, climb, and squeeze our way out through the natural architecture of the bunker’s smaller spaces. Send in the Clowns was an amazing amount of fun and used a ton of gimmicks we hadn’t even seen in any of the professional mazes we attended prior to this. Unforgettable moments included a crazy clown on a zip wire, a balloon room, and even a slide!

However, there were a few aspects we weren’t too happy about this night – the event opened almost an hour late and the music was not very good whatsoever (and with only one dance floor we couldn’t explore any other options). This may not have been the best choice to celebrate Halloween night itself, but if Apocalypse Events put their heads into a more professional maze attraction we would definitely be first in the queue!

WHAT: Twisted Circus Halloween Festival
WHEN: 1 November, 2019 (10:30pm – 3:00am)
WHERE: The Clapham Grand (21-25, The Clapham Grand, St John’s Hill, London, SW11 1TT)

OUR RATING: Skip It!

Twisted Circus returned for its sixth year with death-defying acts, crazy characters and a raveyard dance floor. We attended this party after another event at The Clapham Grand so were able to stick around to witness this sold-out happening. Loyal readers to SFC might know that we aren’t the most keen guests for ‘twisted’ acts such as sword swallowing, wax pouring, and body stapling – all which were front and centre at this event. The performers were really into their acts and involved with the guests, which we definitely appreciated. We also enjoyed some (but not most) of the music, especially the remixes of popular scary songs, fun circus snacks, and a really sweet clown stilt walker.

Ultimately, however, we felt really let down by the event, having thought that the acts would be a bit more immersed in the event itself. Worst of all, the MC was absolutely atrocious, constantly making terrible rapping attempts and, worst yet, horribly sexist and inappropriate comments about all of the female circus performers. We finally got sick of all the disgusting and unnecessary harassing commentary and dreadful MC-ing and left the party early. We’d go back to The Grand, but not for this event!

Final Thoughts: There were so many options for Halloween parties this year, and to be honest, we’ll probably try a completely different batch next year. However, we’ll definitely keep a look out at all events hosted by The Mansion, Apocalypse Events, and The Clapham Grand, because while none of the events were perfect, we did enjoy ourselves a bit at each, and we’d like to see what they have in store next!

P.S.: We actually attended The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Clapham Grand the same night as the Twisted Circus party, so stay tuned for that review coming soon!

Posted in Do It!, Nightlife and tagged 2019, Halloween, London, parties

02 Nov 2019

Face Your Fears

WHAT: Face Your Fears
WHEN: 11 October – 3 November, 2019
WHERE: Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park (Hell Lane, Heath, Wakefield, WF1 5SG)
PRICE: £17-21

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Credit: Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park

Our Overall Scare Factor: 7
Overall Atmosphere Rating: 6

Welcome to Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park, a 24-acre estate where visitors travel through the dark woods of Yorkshire to come across five different mazes as they try to make their way to safe harbour. We had no idea that we would be gallivanting in the woods as part of the experience to get from one maze to another, with the concept being one complete journey through contrasting terrors rather than just going to disparate haunts – definitely a refreshing concept after all the mazes we’ve been to this year. Because of the nature of this haunt, we’ve given the attraction as a whole a scare factor and atmosphere rating rather than each individual maze, although some mazes were without doubt better and scarier than others, as we’ll highlight below.

We started our creepy trek through the woods, navigating our way through the dark trails of trees, never sure when or where anything would jump out at us. This was hands down the scariest factor of the haunt. Since there were no seen boundaries to the woods, the opportunities for things to come at us from any which way seemed endless, and we found ourselves checking for things behind us constantly, and when things did come at us, the jump and scare factor were quite high!

We came across the first maze, A.I., where we met a variety of cyborgs. Truth be told, this maze was not a great start. We’ll hand it to the actors, they were trying very hard, as was seen in all of the mazes here, but they just didn’t quite pull it off. It really felt like a school group was trying to put on their end of term scary theatre project without much being put into it. There was definitely an attempt at scenic elements and a nice interplay between real and fake cyborgs, but it was ultimately underwhelming and had us worried about the quality of the mazes that lay ahead of us.

We next came upon The Sewer – Mutation, which had much more outdoor elements than the previous maze. The mutants were…interesting. Not much set design to go along with this one, but its outdoor nature made it a bit creepier, and even when we thought the maze was over and we were back “safe” in the woods, we found the mutant creatures had still not had their fill of us.

Witchcraft – Bloody Mary is definitely where the attraction started heating up. This maze was quite extensive and took us through a very old and dilapidated village, encountering various characters warning us not to say Mary’s name and then later the witches themselves. Some of the small huts we had to navigate through were admittedly way too dark – this made walking a bit difficult, but it also added an obvious terror element as we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. There was also a really terrifying scene with two Mary’s, one which we assumed couldn’t be real until she moved toward us – certainly a great jump scare. We genuinely liked the set elements and characters in this one, and it surely didn’t hurt that we both are actually surprisingly superstitious of saying Bloody Mary three times – which both of us refused to do despite the characters hinting we should. That’s just one step too far for these horror fans!

Next on our journey, we checked into Hotel Hell – Undead Vacation. But this wasn’t your typical weekend away, for as soon as we stepped into the faulty lift and were plunged into blackness we knew our stay would be far from welcoming. With numbered hotel room doors and highly themed interiors full of scare actors waiting to terrify you, this was definitely one of the scariest haunts of the night. We’re pretty sure that it’ll be you served for room service!

Insane clowns – we love the idea! Clown Asylum mixes these two concepts effortlessly to give you a twisted and winding series of corridors where heavily made-up jesters might just snatch you away to join them. Many of the actors were cleverly placed in this maze and gave us some shocks, especially in the pitch black areas that left you wondering which way to turn.

At the end of this maze we were finally spat out into safer territory – at least after surviving one last chainsaw attack – to a hub of food at the end with a nice little Halloween shop to go along with it. We didn’t really stick around, but the characters roaming about seemed to be having a good time, and it gave us particularly great delight than one seemed to be dressed as Hoggle from Labyrinth.

Final Thoughts: While a bit underdone than we were hoping for, all in all we definitely think the walk through the woods concept of this attraction is one to experience, with a few good mazes along the way to make it more than worthwhile and a wonderful interaction between actors and a ton of animatronics. This park is also really great in that it is open more nights than any other attraction we’ve been to, even several Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and even Sundays, and quite lengthy as well, taking an average of 40-minutes to get through. If you’re in the Yorkshire area this is for sure a fun night out.

P.S.: On your way to Yorkshire, you’ve got to check out Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights for some more scares.

Posted in Do It!, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Face Your Fears, Halloween, Wakefield, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park

30 Oct 2019

The Howl

WHAT: The Howl
WHEN: 5 October – 2 November, 2019
WHERE: Mead Open Farm (Stanbridge Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9JH)
PRICE: £10-50

OUR RATING: Chance It!

From the twisted minds that brought you Tulleys Shocktober Fest comes a more contained scare park with an ample selection of mazes to chill your blood. The Howl may be smaller than the Fest, but rest assured that it’s a superb introduction to haunts that are both well designed and (for the most part) frightening.

Toppers Twister
Our Scare Factor: 3/10
Atmosphere Rating: 5/10

Mr. Topper is not a clown that deals in laughter, he prefers screams.

Clowns, clowns, nothing but clowns! While missing the 3D glasses from Tulleys, this maze was still quite a bit of fun. Highlights for us were a remarkably whimsical room with balls and a slide and a crazy rabbit on a bike – a great mix of creepiness and laughs, but not super scary.

Squealers Yard
Our Scare Factor: 5/10
Atmosphere Rating: 5.5/10

Squeal, piggy, squeal! Did I forget to mention that it’s you they’ll be hunting?

The content of this maze is usually our least favourite at haunts, but this version had quite a bit to offer with lots of interesting places actors could pop out from, including the riveting use of space in the interior of a van guests had to walk through. This maze appeared to have a ton of mazes within it and was probably one of the lengthier experiences. We had a hilarious time making our way through a room of fog – the group in front and behind us were also getting lost and the actors probably thought we are all idiots – hilarious!

The Shed
Our Scare Factor: 1.5/10
Atmosphere Rating: 5/10

So where do unwanted ‘arrivals’ go? Why, The Shed of course.

Unfortunately the timing was incredibly off with our group. Perhaps there were either too many people in front of us, or perhaps the group ahead was too slow, but whatever the reason our group missed out on most of the scares we assume were in this maze. We instead came upon a lot of empty rooms – although because they were empty of actors we had the chance to appreciate the lovely scenery and lighting. There were also some surprisingly cool chainsaw effects near the end!

The Attic
Our Scare Factor: 2/10
Atmosphere Rating: 6.5/10

What happens in The Attic after dark is too gruesome to imagine.

We really appreciated the narrative of this maze, which began with us being welcomed into a hotel and navigating some really frightening and extremely well-themed rooms before climbing up to the haunted attic. The characters were genuinely fun and very well thought out, and with such a complete concept from beginning to end this turned out to be a very well executed maze.

Red
Our Scare Factor: 4/10
Atmosphere Rating: 6/10

Step into the woods if you dare. Happily ever after doesn’t exist.

We were really looking forward to this maze as it had a much less cliched concept than your usual haunt. The story was unique and the characters were very well realized. There were a few fun jumps and a return to a great effect we experienced at The Coven at Tulleys Shocktober Fest with fog and lasers, except this time we ourselves got to ‘go for a swim’.

Final Thoughts: In general, The Howl rates their mazes at a much – MUCH – higher scare factor than us. While we are admittedly more difficult to scare than your average guest, we still think these mazes were some of the more docile we’ve been to, and the much younger average age of guests at this event than at others we’ve attended seems to go well with this lower key scare factor. The mazes are definitely shorter, tamer, and less well executed than big brother Tulleys, but we really appreciated some of the more unique themed mazes like The Attic and Red and the great quality of the set builds. Definitely a top place for those experiencing haunts for the first time!

P.S.: If you don’t mind travelling a bit further north, Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights offers a bit more fun and a lot more scare factor!

Posted in Do It!, Outdoor Attractions and tagged Halloween, Horror, Leighton Buzzard, Scare Park, The Howl

28 Oct 2019

Phobophobia 13

WHAT: Phobophobia 13
WHEN: 25 October – 2 November, 2019 (6pm-10pm)
WHERE: The London Bridge Experience (2-4 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2SY)
PRICE: £31-60

OUR RATING: Chance It!

This year, we returned to The London Bridge Experience for Halloween and their latest iteration of the attraction, Phobophobia 13, after attending a similar event several seasons ago. With the term phobophobia meaning the fear of phobias and the sensations associated with those phobias, and mentions of monsters, clowns, snakes, insects and more, we were quite excited to see what the most central to London Halloween maze had to offer.

We remember creepy performers and hospital beds rolling down the street as we queued up last time for the event, but this year they had a much different approach – karaoke? With lyrics projected onto tunnel walls, a very entertaining Steampunk gent invited the crowds to sing along with popular songs. Most of the line seemed to enjoy it during the long wait to enter the attraction, but it mainly had us really confused how karaoke – and not even Halloween themed karaoke – had anything to do with the attraction, nor did it prime us to anticipate anything scary!

Perhaps due to the popularity of the event, the organizers chose to put everyone in groups of ten to enter the maze – this is by far the greatest number of people in a single group we have experienced, and in our opinion much too large to be able to traverse a haunt properly.

There are two parts of the maze, an upstairs themed space, which we assume changes drastically depending on the theme that year, and the lower London Tombs, which itself becomes part of the maze. While the first intake room with snakes was a bit of a miss (and we wonder how pleasant for the snakes involved), we soon entered a seance calling forth a victim of Jack the Ripper; a thoroughly unsettling happening. The upstairs as a whole was a bit hit or miss, with the most unappealing part of the night being a hillbilly wedding where a character physically and somewhat sexually harassed one of the men in our group. Perhaps it was supposed to be creepy and funny, but it was just really off-putting!

The best part of the night was once we got through the first half of the maze and entered into the tombs, which are such an amazing setting for a haunt. However, there was a downside – here we were asked to put our hands on the shoulder of the person in front of us. Little did we know then, but the rest of our group were so terrified that we basically jogged the entire way through the maze in order to keep up with everyone in front of us – thereby missing most of what the lower part of the tombs had to offer.

However, what we did experience was quite hair-raising, with actors emitting terrifying shrieks and groans, and emerging out of the most unassuming places. Another huge difference with this maze compared to the others we’ve attended this year is that not only did these actors touch us, they grabbed us, and two creatures completely physically overwhelmed one of the girls in front of us who had gotten cut off from the rest of the group (again, since everyone was basically running, there is only so much we could all do to hang on and keep up!) Since we’ve gone to so many no-touch mazes this year already (usually our preference), having the actors touch us was so surprisingly terrifying.

Final Thoughts: In terms of haunts, we can’t say that Phobophobia 13 has been our absolute favorite this year. However, if you are limited to London it is by far your best option for a scare maze in the centre of the city. The experience is possibly contingent upon your group attitude: if they decide to run through the maze, the price of admission might be considered a tad steep. If, however, they are willing to absorb the terrors within like a fine Amontillado, best savored, you will have a far better adventure.

P.S.: If you are able to travel a small while outside London, Tulleys Shocktober Fest is where you want to head for a night of trepidation and terror.

Posted in Do It!, See It! and tagged Halloween, London, London Bridge, London Tombs, Phobophobia

25 Oct 2019

Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights

WHAT: Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights
WHEN: 17 October – 2 November, 2019
WHERE: White Nurseries (Clay Lane, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, NN6 0EP)
PRICE: £16.95-33.95

OUR RATING: Do It!

Credit: Dr. Frights Ltd

Welcome to HorrorTown – an indoor township of terror buzzing with four scare attractions, a food stall, a bar, and an electric atmosphere uniting them all. This haunt promised to be a mix of fun and fear – and boy was it! There was such a great feeling to this place, and while there were a few patrons that threatened to ruin the experience for us (shrieking children and drunk adults), we definitely soaked up the Halloween atmosphere at this scream park’s 10th anniversary.

There’s Something in the Woods
Our Scare Factor: 8/10
Atmosphere: 8/10

Storyline: Take a harrowing journey through the dense, dark woods that surround St. Agatha’s boarding school. Discover the terrifying presence possessing the nuns and students that live there.

This maze was a great start to our evening – we trekked through ‘the woods’ and ended up at a creepy Catholic school, with real scares along the way. There were some significant jump scares and so many parts where we didn’t know where the actors were appearing from. The best moments were when we questioned which bodies and shadows were real and what were just props, with all aspects having a great sense of timing and an amazing grasp of light versus dark. It will take us a while to forget terrifying screaming nuns!

Hollywood Horror: Director’s Cut
Our Scare Factor: 6/10
Atmosphere: 8/10

Storyline: It’s time for you to take a trip through some of the most iconic moments in horror cinema.

It was so much fun to see classic monsters from the cinema – creatures from scary movies of our childhood – returning in front of our very eyes. There were some wonderful interactions between music from the films and the characters themselves. Iconic moments included reliving the movie house scene in Scream and some really disturbing mimicked laughing from Pennywise the Clown. Super sinister!

Redneck Redemption
Our Scare Factor: 2/10
Atmosphere: 4/10

Storyline: Mumma Beef’s gang has evaded capture and taken up residence in an abandoned mining town. Encounter murderous, blood fueled hillbillies on a rip rollicking journey.

We are so surprised that this maze lives in the same attraction as the three other great mazes, as this one was a severe let down. Unlike the others, this maze was very open and bright, and we could see all the other guests moving around us as well as many scenes and…hillbillies…coming up – which meant that nothing was a surprise to us, not to mention the extreme cliche of the entire theme.

Killer Clowns on a Spaceship
Our Scare Factor: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10

Storyline: The killer clowns are back! And this time they have gone intergalactic! All you need to know is they want you dead. So your mission is simple… escape!

With the absurd movie an inspiration for this maze we expected it to be a bit bizarre and fun – and indeed it was! The labyrinth certainly wasn’t your typical clown and fun house theme, but rather a few clowns meets ridiculous sci–fi equipment meets … techno music! There was an amazingly effective use of strobe lights in this haunt, as they turned down the frequency of strobes and thus aided actors in moving about in surprising and intimidating ways. With the nature of the maze and the fun music playing on the speakers, we ended up in quite a hilarious mood in this one, dancing during the drop to Benny Benassi’s ‘Satisfaction’ in order to get past a crazy clown – definitely a memorable moment!

Final Thoughts: With an awesome mix of chills, laughs, and totally mad theming and characters, Dr. Fright’s is completely different from anything else out there. Now running for 10 seasons, this is one horror series you can’t afford to miss.

P.S.: Need another haunt to get your blood pumping? Try Hallowscream at York Maze for some more terrifying encounters.

Posted in Do It!, See It! and tagged Dr. Fright's Halloween Nights, Halloween, Haunted, Horror, Northamptonshire

24 Oct 2019

Cursed Presents Fright Fest 2019

WHAT: Cursed Presents Fright Fest 2019
WHEN: 17 October – 2 November, 2019
WHERE: Wat Tyler Centre (Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, Basildon, SS16 4UH)
PRICE: £18-34

OUR RATING: CHANCE IT!

Credit: BCM Productions

On the winding back roads of the Essex countryside, you come across a whimsical fairground, complete with big top. But beware: this isn’t your ordinary circus, which you’ll soon realize when the friendly-looking clown that’s rapidly approaching has something other than fun on his mind. Enter Cursed…

Credit: BCM Productions

Safe Zone
Our Scare Factor: 6/10
Atmosphere: 7/10

Storyline: The infected are honing in, and you need to make it to quarantine. Will you arrive at the safe zone unharmed, or will you become one of them?

After facing judgement we were thrown into the outside ‘safe zone’ starting with a journey through a haystack maze. This was definitely one of the highlights of the night, as the haystacks and the actors created a chilling ambience, and it was really fun trying to decide in the complete dark which path to take and if we should venture under the haystack piles and face the wrath of the creatures in order to get out.

The only real downside to this maze is that after we passed the actors some of them broke character and started chatting and laughing, but it was still probably the most fun we had all night.

The Institute
Our Scare Factor: 5/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Storyline: As Junior Reporter’s, you have been assigned to witness the execution of Andie Gard at Bridgegate Institute, the infamous serial killer… but inmates don’t take too kindly to visitors, so watch your back

The beginning of this maze was definitely scary as you witnessed the attempted – and botched – execution of a serial killer who escapes in front of your very eyes. Other than this, this was a very typical prison-style attraction with lots of metal bars and strobe lights, but the beginning certainly made it an entertaining adventure.

Credit: BCM Productions

The Haunting
Scare Factor: 5/10
Atmosphere: 6/10

Storyline: This house has been left vacant for decades, and you are about to learn why. You’d be surprised how heightened your senses are when you aren’t able to see.

After experiencing Tulleys’ VIXI maze, the concept behind this maze was very familiar. We put on blackout goggles to venture into this hair-raising house – while a bit annoying for those who wear glasses, this was much better than the black hoods of Tulleys, as we could feel water, air, and other elements on our faces, which was certainly an interesting experience. We don’t think the two mazes were too different from each other other than this – it still seemed a bit too simple and missing out on lots of sensory opportunities (again, no smells!) but there was a tiny bit of touching by the actors which was definitely creepy! (Granted, they should have warned about this for those who have issues, but it was so slight to not be problematic for us – instead it was quite intriguing!)

Abducted
Our Scare Factor: 5/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Storyline: A quiet drink in the local tavern leads to a chilling story about local disappearances. What will you do when you come face to face with the explanation? Running may be your only option.

The beginning and end of this maze were exceptional, with an immersive tavern-themed intake room and a crazy room full of alien-like nests and creatures protecting them at the end. We also enjoyed the slower strobes in this maze where we couldn’t really see what terrors we were headed toward at the end of harrowing hallways. Our special warning for this maze is to put your hats and any loose accessories away before you get extremely squeezed – do not take the warnings of claustrophobia in this one lightly!

Credit: BCM Productions

The Sewers
Our Scare Factor: 4/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Storyline: The Workshop was shut down, forcing business underground. Will you be able to navigate your way through the tunnel system and escape the butchers clasp?

This maze certainly had a genuinely fun theme perfect for the UK at Halloween, with old and eerie Victorian-style brick walls and tunnels you had to choose between. Unfortunately, while all the mazes at this park were short, this one was even shorter, and we were out before we really knew what was going, but it was gripping while it lasted!

Final Thoughts: This was for sure a special community-style event and we could tell the actors really cared and tried very hard to help you enjoy your evening. The mazes were admittedly quite short, but they definitely took amazing advantage of the space allowed in each of the maze marquees. The biggest disappointment was the theming of the main event green area, which is the hub into and out of the mazes. There was a small entertainment space and a single food truck, but the lack of lighting and any decorations really let this area down. We didn’t really want to hang around and enjoy the ambience as there really wasn’t any – this was the biggest let down of the night, and just a few small touches, from decorating the ped-barriers to adding some strands of lights or even a sweet stand, would have changed everything. But all in all the mazes and actors made this a night we would suggest you give a try, especially if you are local to the area!

P.S.: The UK has haunts galore this Halloween season. Why not try out Hallowscream at York Maze for some more chills and thrills.

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Outdoor Attractions, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Basildon, Cursed, Halloween, Haunted, London

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