After our latest venture to the British Museum we were quite ravenous, and spotted a venue called Eggslut, which we knew of as a popular chain in LA for famous ‘gourmet’ egg-laden sandwiches. So we readied our stomachs and prepared to get our egg on!
Eggslut actually started off as a street food truck in Los Angeles in 2011, then expanding into permanent sites not only in LA, but also in Las Vegas, Singapore, Kuwait, Seoul, Tokyo, and three outlets in London, including the venue in Fitzrovia that we visited. Eggslut is known for its busy outlets, and when we visited the smaller ground floor was definitely full, but the upstairs was quiet. The venue gave us an up-scale Instagram version of McDonalds vibe. It looked fancier than your average fast-food restaurant, but the tables we went to were unclean and sticky, and the service a bit lacklustre.
Credit: Uber Eats
But we were there for the food, and our stomachs were keen for some butter, eggs and grease, so we were hoping we were in the right place! A few of us went for coffees, while others went for the overpriced orange juice, which was pretty good but we wouldn’t rave about. We first tucked into their famed ‘Slut’, which was a coddled egg on top of potato puree in a glass jar, with salt and chives and slices of baguette. The egg itself felt slippery, but with everything mixed together with the crunchy baguette, it was a fun little meal, although the texture threw us off quite a bit. It was also a little difficult to eat – but that was the start of our messy difficulties!
Credit: Eggslut
We also tried their Fairfax sandwich, with scrambled eggs, chives, cheddar cheese, caramelised onions and sriracha mayo on a brioche bun. For the more carnivorous of us, we also tried the sausage, egg and cheese brioche bun which came with an over-medium egg along with some honey mustard aioli. We enjoyed the scrambled eggs, but sensed more butter than egg, and oh boy was it a disaster to eat! The hash browns we ordered on the side were also pretty good, and offered a nice texture difference in relation to the very soft and creamy sandwiches, which themselves we felt were missing crunch.
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: Now, the food is acceptable here, and we’re not saying we had a bad time, but we were disappointed after all the hype the restaurant has around it. What makes this place harder to review are the exorbitant prices, with all the sandwiches and the Slut being between £9-10. We left the venue still a bit hungry and with much lighter wallets, which is never what you want after having a nice brunch. We’re happy to have tried it, but we wouldn’t go back…we’ll try our eggs elsewhere!
Looking for your next competitive sport group night out? We stretched our wrists, warmed up our arms, donned our flannels (well, not really) and headed out with a large group to Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing in London, and we’re here to report on this fun and high energy night out.
One’s mind usually jumps to lumberjacks out in the woods when thinking about axe throwing, but as a sport it started in Europe after the millennium, and became more popular around 2006. The first commercial axe throwing venues opened in 2016 in the UK and Poland, and before our visit here in London we’ve heard it being a super popular group activity in the USA as well.
Credit: Whistle Punks UK Ltd
The rules are quite simple: throw a small axe towards a target board, and while no prior experience or special athletic ability is required, there is definitely a method and strategy to throwing an axe successfully.
With other locations in Bristol, Manchester and Leeds, Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing provides a down-to-earth rough and ready night out, with its fun mix of corrugated metal and wooden decor. Upon first arriving we wondered if we were even in the right place, as it’s a little difficult to find. Once inside it’s a simple venue, but with its many lanes and targets which each allow for up to 10 players, it’s definitely a busy and energetic space.
Credit: Whistle Punks UK Ltd
Stocking up on food and drinks, we were then provided training from instructors who showed us a few strategies on how to score a bullseye, and these staff were always on hand to offer advice on bettering our throws, and, perhaps even more importantly, how to do so safely. Not only did we compete against the others in our group, but there was also a winner-takes-all tournament between all the lanes, with prizes including t-shirts and gift cards, and even an opportunity to join a hall of fame wall with your own tree ring, so there was an amazing meld of camaraderie and competition!
Credit: Whistle Punks UK Ltd
Final Thoughts: This seems the perfect place to bring a group of friends, and while there was a lot of downtime while waiting for another turn to throw, there was always something to do, whether enjoying the food and drink on offer or watching fellow players and seeing what their strategies and methods were for a successful throw (and those that weren’t), and what tricks were possible with a single hatchet. It’s also a decent amount of time for an event, which approximately 70-minute slots on offer. This may not be our favourite competitive sport of choice, but we’d go back – there’s a definite thrill in throwing an axe, and a unique way to go about stress relief!
Two ridiculous facts led us to on latest foodie venture into Camden: 1) despite our love of horror films, we had never until recently seen the cult classic The Lost Boys, and 2) we had never gone to the eponymous restaurant despite reviewing in London for almost ten years and enjoying everything 80s and vampiric. We were lacking some essential must-dos in our life, but now that we’ve been to this iconic pizza parlour in the north of London we can finally feel at rest!
Renowned as the world’s only vampire-themed pizzeria, Lost Boys Pizza is a restaurant and bar serving up quirky charcoal pizza and a healthy dose of 80s nostalgia. While you’ll enjoy the ambience of this spooky eatery without having seen the movie, we definitely suggest you watch it if you haven’t yet, as it will heighten your experience! Themed after the comic store in the film, the intimate space has neon-lit windows, graphic novel drawings covering the ceiling, beautiful skull chandeliers and tons more gothic and 80s decor to ogle at.
Credit: Lost Boys Pizza
We started the night with a delicious espresso martini and a more unique drink they called Stranger Tings with tequila, grapefruit soda (Ting) and tabasco. In fact, if you’re a Stranger Things fan they’ve got a ton of menu options calling back to this series. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still try out Lost Boys themed cocktails. They’ve even got drinks inside of oyster pails (Chinese takeout containers) – including gummy worms of course – and several other drinks harkening back to the namesake film, which are super fun to experience.
Credit: Lost Boys Pizza
Now for the main event – the pizza! We decided to try a standard as well as a vegan pizza while we were here. First we ordered the Jack Skellington with butternut puree base, mozzarella, goat’s cheese, shallots, sun-dried tomato, red onion and balsamic. For our vegan option we went with Death, which had no-rizo, peppers, red onions, chilli flakes and Violife cheese. Lost Boys Pizza does offer to do vegan pizzas with normal cheese for no extra cost, which is great for those of us who are merely veggie. Overall, the pizzas were definitely unique, and the portions were certainly generous, but while we thought most of the toppings were lovely the pizza bases were missing some flavouring and texture. We feel silly even saying this, but both pizzas could have also done with garlic – but maybe that’s a no-no in this restaurant for the undead!
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: Now having seen the movie we will definitely go back to Lost Boys Pizza, but our main reason for wanting to return is to get to experience Croque Monsieur, their amazing looking absinthe bar in the basement. Unfortunately this bar has been temporarily closed for awhile, but we are waiting with bated breath for it to re-open, as it is near the top of our list of must-dos. And for the pizza parlour itself? We’d recommend going on a Wednesday – every week they drop a password on Instagram and Facebook, and if you say the secret phrase on arrival you’ll unlock 2-4-1 pizza and happy hour drink prices, which we think makes the visit extra worthwhile. Ultimately, the experience and ambience is what you go there for, and we loved every second of it!
Storefront City needed some warm and hearty (not to mention delicious) food to keep us going during the grim and rainy days, so we headed down to Elephant and Castle with a couple of friends to one of their favourite South London restaurants – Sabor Peruano Internacional. Serving homestyle Peruvian soups, fish stews and Creole rice dishes, Sabor Peruano Internacional may not look like much on the outside, but offers a cosy and welcoming space full of energy and a knack for tasty and authentic Peruvian food.
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
As soon as we walked into the space we felt immediately welcome and at home, with everyone around us including the staff incredibly friendly – the only thing we felt slightly intimidated by was the remarkably extensive menu! To start the night off right we decided to try their Pisco sour, the national cocktail of Peru and a drink none of us had tasted before. Featuring pisco, lime, egg white and sugar, this drink was ridiculously delicious, and deadly as well in the full pitcher it came in!
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
Our appetites growing, we decided to try one of their more famed appetisers, a ceviche de pescado. Served alongside chifle (fried plantain chips) and cancha salada (toasted, dried and salted chulpe corn), these delicate pieces of raw fish marinated with lemon juice and spices were mouth-wateringly good, and was a decent portion to share amongst us. However to be honest, we could have done with a whole bowl of the cancha salada itself – such an addictive snack!
Credit: Storefront City
A majority of our party had very carnivorous appetites that evening, so opted for a few plates of the most popular dish in the venue, the lomo saltado. Featuring fried beef slices with onions, tomatoes and red pepper, alongside a healthy portion of chips and rice, this dish lovingly represents the cultural blending of Peru and Asia, as it also combines the use of aji amarillo paste and soy sauce in a classic stir fry technique. It’s clear why this dish is so popular at Sabor Peruano Internacional, and throughout Peru in general, and is definitely something we’ll continue to go back to again and again.
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
We also decided on a chicken dish that evening, their Papa a la Huancaína con pollo. Another traditional dish, here potatoes are boiled in a spicy, creamy sauce made of queso fresco along with garlic, onion and yellow Peruvian pepper, and our version also came with tender shredded chicken. None of our party had tried this dish before, so obviously have nothing to compare it to. While very delicious, it was a bit one note – but that was just in comparison with the more heavily spiced lomo soltado. We could have used a bit more heat, but that’s definitely just our own taste preferences. This was definitely a unique dish to try – but we’re interested to see next time what other plates they have on offer.
Credit: Storefront City
We of course had to round off the night with some dessert, opting to try their helado de lucuma and picarones. Lucuma is a fruit native to South America, and something we’re now interested in trying in its original form. It’s hard for us to pin down the taste in this review, but imagine something like the mix of maple, sweet potato, butterscotch and caramel. The unique flavour and the texture of the ice cream was nice and creamy – writing about it makes us want another bite! It also served as the perfect complement to our picarones (like a doughnut but created from a batter including squash and sweet potato). Served alongside these decadent fried rings was a delicious syrup called chancaca, a sweet sauce made from raw unrefined sugar from sugarcane. Yum!
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
Final Thoughts: We can’t wait to go back to Sabor Peruano Internacional and bring more friends, since family and friends, and of course good homestyle food, seem to provide the backbone to this lovely establishment. We’ve learned so much about Peruvian food from just one supper, and are keen to learn and try more – and we of course can’t say no to some more Pisco sours along the way! The price is right too – you won’t find much cheaper in London, and if your stomach is full and happy at the end what more is there to ask?
This past Halloween night, Storefront City had a decision to make. After a busy and haunt-filled month of reviews, we felt pressure to choose our adventure on the 31st wisely, and thus landed on a bone-chilling tale of the undead creature of the night himself – Dracula. Making our way again to The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington, we ascended the stairs to see Brother Wolf’s production of Dracula’s Guest, which has been on tour in the UK throughout the year. As soon as we entered the dark and cosy space, silent bar the sound of a music box, we were immediately arrested by the intimacy of the environment created pre-show. Before us was a man, his head in his hands, seated at a table carrying a rotting pig’s head. And so the evening began!
Under the helm of James Hyland (actor, writer, producer and director), and inspired by the writings of Bram Stoker, Dracula’s Guest presents an intimate scene between Count Dracula (Hyland) and Renfield (Ashton Spear), who in the classic novel is the unstable and devoted familiar of the vampire, and fully under his control. In Dracula’s Guest, however, we are taken slightly back in time, when Renfield has first been taken hostage by the Count, and has a life-changing decision to make in exchange for his freedom.
Credit: Brother Wolf
This production truly thrust us into the action, the simple yet compelling setting transporting the audience into the centre of Castle Dracula. Notably, compared to some other productions we’ve recently seen, there is deep seriousness about the creative framing of this piece and we soaked up the immersive atmosphere with trepidation. The narrative itself is a clear departure from the original short story by Stoker (which actually served as a draft and later deleted chapter of Dracula itself, and was published posthumously), but nonetheless provides an intriguing alternative interpretation and indeed introduces new material to ponder.
In performances that require a great degree of physicality, Hyland and Spear captivate us with their presence, both commanding and pitiful, respectively, resulting in a transformation of man into beast that seems all too real. Delving into issues that are present from a different perspective in the novel, we learn of how the fates of these two characters, human and undead, have been intertwined for centuries, culminating in a unique insight into Dracula’s past. The psychic interplay between them is arresting and becomes darker as their evil nature is revealed, resulting in a torturous situation that left us rightly uncomfortable.
Final Thoughts: Dracula’s Guest presents an assault on both the emotions and senses. Revulsion and sympathy are felt throughout, along with an unexpected twist that left us with many questions. Notable too was the sheer volume and violence of the piece. That we were left shocked by the blows wrought suggests that the realism achieved was excellent, but also demonstrates that one must have a taste for such blood to partake properly here. We struggled with various other aspects of the piece including that the pacing felt occasionally uneven and from time to time the characters appeared so very different that perhaps they did not belong in the same space. There are currently two more scheduled chances to see Dracula’s Guest in 2022, over at The Blake Theatre in Monmouth on November 24th and then at the Two Sisters Arts Centre in Felixstowe on November 25th. This is a production you can really sink your teeth into!
This past Halloween weekend we travelled to the big top! The Clapham Grand was the latest venue for the travelling circus-inspired clubbing event. Cirque Du Soul brands themselves as the 21st Century’s Moulin Rouge, and we can tell why with the level of colour and energy they bring to the table. Granted, Clapham Grand is a smaller venue than they are used to performing in, but it was no less delightful than we expected, and let us dress up in our favourite twisted-carnie-style!
Credit: Storefront City
There was a wide range of great music on offer, anywhere from house, to soul and funk, to a bit of disco and hip-hop spun from live DJs on the dance floor. Clapham Grand set up the night in an interesting manner, with the DJ on the ground floor allowing for two different dance areas, one on the Grand’s stage itself, which was fun to experience as we’ve been to the venue many times but have never set foot on the stage before. This also allowed for a variety of perspectives to experience the decor and performers from several vantage points, and we loved the immersive feeling this provided with everything happening all around us.
Credit: Cirque Du Soul
The performers were definitely our highlight of the night, with circus-themed stilt walkers roaming the crowd and even two giant puppet-like clowns dancing among the revellers. Upon seeing these Killer Klowns from Outer Space-themed creatures we knew right away that Cirque du Soul must work with Area 51, an immersive design and event company who also provide performers and costumes – and we’re well acquainted with these favourite clowns of theirs! All the performers made the night what it was, dancing and interacting with the crowd in these incredible-difficult costumes. They charged up the atmosphere, and brought the circus to life at this incredible venue. We didn’t stay the entire night having already been to some other Storefront City events that evening, so we don’t know if we missed a bigger variety of acts (we thought there would be aerialists, fire or more, but The Grand is too small of a venue for this). Regardless, we were more than satisfied from the floor performers and the delightful and raucous energy they brought to the party.
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: While not as show-stopping as rival event The Dark Circus Party, Cirque Du Soul is definitely a fun themed night out with high levels of entertainment value, and heads above the Twisted Circus events we’ve also attended before. We’d be interested in seeing what Cirque du Soul can do with larger event spaces, especially with their relationship with Area 51 and their expertise in the circus arena – they’ve got a Christmas/NYE event coming up at the Troxy this year, so we’ll head over and try it out. And we can never say no to some Killer Klowns from Outer Space – these wacky weirdos will always have a place in our Halloween hearts!
Deep in the Chiltern Hills, a twisted array of man-made caverns is waiting for its next set of victims. Excavated in the 18th century by Francis Dashwood, a notorious rake and co-founder of the mysterious Hellfire Club, they stretch 300 feet underground and conjure up images of the rumoured dark rituals and hauntings within. Whilst usually a heritage site, on Halloween you’ll find the tunnels populated by a frightening variety of ghouls and devils. Our exploration had started!
The theme for this year’s most haunted attraction is the stuff of your nightmares – quite literally, for dreaming is the name of this depraved game. As we visited much later in the night, no queueing was required and we were immediately greeted by a most well-dressed and spirited poet who whisked us down into this otherworld. The passages were crammed with creatures who were not afraid to run up and get right in our faces, sometimes popping out from the most unexpected crannies.
Credit: Storefront City
One of the highlights of the Caves is the actors penchant for following close behind us between the segments, which meant that more often than not you looked over your shoulder and were greeted by continuing terror. Also, bear in mind that there is only one way in and out of the Caves, so if any of the creatures within particularly frighten you, you’ll need to face them again on the way back up! We’d highly recommend you visit at later times so that you can experience the haunt relatively alone – it was exceedingly creepy being locked in the central shrine festooned with eerie masks peering down upon us.
Credit: The Hellfire Caves
Final Thoughts: The caverns themselves are a huge part of the draw here, with the River Styx perfectly lit to accentuate the uncanny cast of the place. Coupled with a range of sinister actors, from deadly twins to an ominous dream catcher, and some giant and monstrous entities, Nightmare on Church Lane is spooky, fun, unique, and well worth a visit this Halloween.
“He’s been dead for over a hundred years, is constructed from the dismembered body parts of a number of different corpses. He has a sense of perspective.” These memorable lines come from Big Telly Theatre Company’s newest hit show, a crash course masterclass in immersive physical theatre adapted from a short story by Owen Booth. At times comical, at others poignant, this 70-minute whirlwind story of love, loss, community and the struggles of otherness is a beautiful tale that had us enthralled from start to finish.
Credit: Storefront City
This was our first time at Omnibus Theatre, the host for this show’s latest transfer. We fell in love with the theatre itself and the cafe/bar instantly, both having a comfortable but buzzing atmosphere. This multi-award-winning independent venue in Clapham, South London focuses on both classics re-imagined and contemporary storytelling, and has a huge programme on offer year-round. Sporting more than one stage, Omnibus is currently scheduled to host everything from poetry nights and monthly musical theatre cabarets, to larger productions such as an upcoming run of Richard the Second and a Norwegian puppet production in December.
Credit: Neil Harrison
Meanwhile Big Telly Theatre Company, based in Northern Ireland, designs professional theatre productions, site specific, immersive games and participatory community driven projects, and this latest production has already travelled to the Belfast International Arts Festival, and will soon transfer to Broadway at 59E59 Theaters in New York from January 2023. The premise? In 1946, Frankenstein’s Monster was discovered frozen in the ice of a glacier, where he had hidden after his Hollywood success came to an end. Once thawed he meets a woman as tall and almost as monstrous as he, and together they forge a life together in a town that struggles to accept them. This provocative tale tells the story of their love, the painstaking process of acceptance in their small community, and their attempts to find their place in the world, both as individuals and as a larger-than-life couple.
Credit: Neil Harrison
The ensemble-of-four is powerful, with the hilarious and engaging narrators Chris Robinson and Vicky Allen keeping the momentum going the whole way through, and with the strong character and physical recreations of the Monster, Rhodri Lewis, and his wife, Nicky Harley. All four actors were perfectly in tune with one another, each bringing a different energy to the stage that flowed effortlessly with the others, and all creating this larger-than-life story full of comedic genius and beautiful storytelling.
Producing an all-encompassing experience, superb sound design by Garth McConaghie transports the audience into the realm of fantasy, with such a memorable score that indeed we continued humming the “theme” well into the evening. Although the set elements were minimal, this worked fabulously, with repurposed items folding seamlessly into the drama and lighting design that both surprises and delights, including a very clever piece of projection work.
Credit: Neil Harrison
Final Thoughts: It’s rare that you see a decent piece of theatre based around such a well-treated subject as Frankenstein. This production not only morphs the known themes of the genre into something entirely novel, but also makes you consider the wider issues surrounding the acceptance of the other, tolerance, and the fallibility of all human interactions. Ending in an incredibly moving manner, Frankenstein’s Monster is Drunk and the Sheep Have All Jumped the Fences is one of the best experiences we’ve had recently in a theatre that traverses the full emotional spectrum in all its beauty and horror.
For the past few years, Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights has been our number one scare attraction, so we were beyond excited to see what the haunt had in store for us this year. Dr. Fright’s is known for showcasing completely new mazes every single year, whether they are sequels to past ideas or novel concepts. But perhaps our best memory of this attraction is the perfect mixture of scare and fun they bring to the table – from dancing and laughing with Killer Clowns on a Spaceship, and being absolutely petrified at last year’s Yokai Temple. The actors at Dr. Fright’s are all volunteers, which is ridiculously surprising as they are some of the best scare actors in the UK, and Dr. Fright’s really knows how to set up their talent in the best ways to thrill…and kill!
Credit: Storefront City
Dr. Fright’s has certainly grown a bit this year, and their signage and branding is off the charts, with new theming covering all four sides of the mostly-covered event, a large branded map of the park, and a new merchandise stall selling shirts, keyrings, and even branded hot sauce. A hugely creepy nun followed us around, and various food and drink stalls peppered the space. They even have their themed horror bar where you can sit back and watch live scarecams, streaming the faces of terrified patrons from inside the mazes onto a large screen to add another layer of fun to the event. Whilst not as large as Hallowscream or Fear Avon, the level of thought and detail in the space and in each and every one of the haunts is second to none.
Credit: Dr. Frights Ltd
Grindhouse in Wonderland: A defunct fairytale village attraction deep in the Louisiana swamps, experience a blood soaked journey through a once magical land of enchantment. Welcome to your deadly never after!
As butchery is usually our least favourite concept, we went into Grindhouse in Wonderland first, and this is where the tongue-in-cheek fun started! Immediately in the queue and throughout the haunt we danced away to song after song of Disney-music-gone-wrong, and every which way we turned we had the most evil of fairytale creatures jumping out at us. These actors are not afraid to get right in your face, but they know exactly where they are in this horrific fairytale and aren’t afraid to have fun along the way.
Credit: Dr. Frights Ltd
Killer Clowns of the Caribbean:The notorious killer clowns have commandeered a popular pirate themed attraction, transforming it into the perfect venue for their latest killing contest!
We always leave the clown attraction for the last, as it’s usually the best on offer. Unfortunately, we got stuck behind a large group of slower guests during this maze, so missed out on a majority of the scares, but we still thoroughly enjoyed all of the crazed pirates here. There was even a short segment of the maze which must have had at least five or six clowns coming at us from above, below, and pretty much everywhere one after the other – such good shock values, and all to the tune of ridiculous pirate shanties.
Credit: Storefront City
Monsters and Madmen: A reclusive millionaire has spent years building up a collection of live exhibits for his museum. Prepare to come face to face with the worlds most feared killers, creatures and demons that lurk around every corner!
This maze was by far the most heart-pounding scary maze we have attended this year, with the most petrifying of serial killers coming at us from all sides. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a werewolf in a haunted maze, and Dr. Fright’s not only brought a wolf, but also aliens from the X-Files, numerous characters from The Purge, and of course every single serial killer from every franchise you can think of. Another thing Dr Fright’s always does right is their ability to make you question what is real and what isn’t, and you’re never quite prepared for when the real killer comes out to get you! Hands down an amazing, terrifying maze that had our adrenaline spiked for the rest of the night.
Credit: Storefront City
House of Wax: Legend has it, the eccentric owner Madame La’trusse, owner of The House of Wax and condemned as a witch, still haunts the house, reanimating the twisted remains of her beloved wax works.
There is nothing more eerie and unsettling than that feeling one gets around waxworks. Lifelike, yet so totally dead, and yet…did we just see that finger move ever so slightly? This maze is packed with them, along with mannequins and dolls that do leave you wondering who’s going to attack you next (as is Dr. Fright’s speciality). Some brilliant effects meant we couldn’t be sure what was real (including simple objects like mirrors) and so fell prey to an array of scares that were cleverly hidden at first glance. And yes, we did scream!
Final Thoughts: Dr. Fright’s did not disappoint this year, and if the attraction had given us the opportunity to ‘top up’ and attend all the haunts twice, we certainly would have – we didn’t want to leave! We attended on a Sunday so the queues weren’t too bad, but fast track passes are always a great deal and a good idea. However, the ambience and soundtracks in the queues make the wait a ton of fun and worth it when you get to go into the attraction as individual groups, another exclusive element of Dr. Fright’s we really love. You’re guaranteed to experience the maze with you and your loved ones and friends and not with complete strangers, so it was just the two of us against these terrors, which made it all the more frightening. Dr. Fright’s is the best value for the best scares and laughs you’ll get, and we can’t recommend this place enough. It’s THE experience of the season!
As an accepted part of the holiday calendar Halloween still isn’t a universal phenomenon in the UK. Compared to the US, where many streets would be decked out in all their ghoulish finery, you’re unlikely to see intense theming of non-haunt attractions, places, and events. That’s why CaddO’Ween at Caddies Southend is such a spine-chillingly welcome surprise! Featuring two 9 hole courses of spooky fun, which you can both see and hear the spirit(s) of the season thanks to wackily crazy theming on literally every hole and a killer soundtrack, you’ll be well on your way to a gravely good time.
Credit: Storefront City
As soon as we walked into Caddies we were immediately transported to Halloweenland – with decor draped from every nook and cranny. Staff behind the bar poured drinks with painted faces, cobwebs hung from the ceiling, haunted paintings on the wall came to life, and terrifying dolls poked out from behind the register. While family friendly, the theming was spooky for all involved. We even took our cameras out to take a snap of the creepy serial killer mannequins, only to have them suddenly come to life and run at us – we had no idea they had roaming actors, and the Michael and Jason here proved to be perhaps the best roaming scare actors we’ve come across this Halloween season.
Credit: Storefront City
Taking our clubs and balls we then embarked on both courses at Caddies. Running side by side, each course has a slightly different difficulty and also has their own crazy and ridiculous shenanigans going on, from a celestial fortune-telling sausage (yup – you heard that right), to singing ghostly garbage bins, and perhaps the most laugh-attack inducing course in a chicken coop where all the chickens clucked in tune to popular Halloween songs. Trust us, there is nothing more ridiculous and memorable than trying to play putt-putt with chickens bawking away at an attempt at Thriller and Ghostbusters!
And this golf is truly crazy! Balls must be carefully meandered into place so that they activate the mysterious automatons within, including a Ferret Wheel, Imprisoned Zombies, and a pumping station that requires some quick thinking muscle power. What we truly appreciate here is that the theming is not an afterthought, it’s the main event and shows that Caddies goes above and beyond similar crazy golf venues.
Credit: Storefront City
Caddies has even more to offer to complement your adventurous golfing skills, including a treasure hunt and an eerie photo booth straight out of a horror film. One of our reviewers stepped inside the booth to snap a photo only to turn around and have the entrance completely blocked by Jason himself – who continued to harass us in the best way possible throughout the night, even miming for money after he gave us some golfing tips! Instead of forking over our wallets, we decided to treat ourselves to some creepy cocktails and themed food at the end of our adventure, including blood bag cocktails and some yummy pumpkin and cheese bites.
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: CaddO’Ween at Caddies is the perfect Halloween event for the whole spectrum of horror fans, whether fun or fright is your potion of choice. It’s also most welcomingly affordable, and when you throw in the fantastic spookiness of the entire course then you have yourself one of the funnest nights in town and unlike anything we’ve seen in the UK before.
