A Liverpool woman has raised concerns about an adults-only horror experience at Newsham Scream Park, describing her visit as “degrading, humiliating and quite disturbing”.
Robyn Clove, 33, from Liverpool city centre, visited the attraction on Thursday evening and said she was troubled by the sexualised themes and physical interactions she encountered inside the Hellfire Club.
Although Robyn signed a waiver before taking part, she has since questioned whether visitors receive enough information about what the experience involves before agreeing to enter.
Visitor speaks out over explicit scenes
Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, Robyn said she only began to appreciate the extent of the issue after hearing from other people who claimed to have had similar experiences.
“I don't think I fully realised the scale of it myself until all these other people started coming forward.
“I've had countless people in my DMs sharing similar stories, men and women, girlfriends and boyfriends, and the common denominator has been the same: it's degrading, humiliating and quite disturbing.
“I think it's more complicated than just a scare. It's not a fun, physical scare - it's psychological. Because it's presented in such a light-hearted setting, people aren't prepared for it. These young, impressionable kids and people who might have experienced past trauma aren't prepared for it, because it's in a light-hearted setting.”
Teenagers turned away from Hellfire Club
Robyn visited Newsham Scream Park with six other people, including two teenagers aged 15. After exploring other parts of the event, the group decided to try the Hellfire Club, an optional attraction reserved for adults.
She said staff checked the teenagers' identification and refused them entry. Robyn and another friend then bought tickets costing £9 each to experience the attraction.
While waiting to enter, Robyn said the group searched for signs explaining the nature of the experience and asked a member of staff why it was restricted to over-18s.
The tattoo artist recalled being told that the attraction involved sexual themes, but said the explanation did not convey how explicit or intense the experience would be.
“She said, ‘oh yeah, you know, it's a bit sexual and stuff.’ I thought it was going to be a bit cheeky, but there was no seriousness about it.”
Distressing encounters inside the attraction
Robyn claimed she did not see clear signage while queuing that adequately explained what she would encounter inside. She described a series of scenes involving sexually explicit language, references to incest, blindfolds and simulated physical contact.
During one scene, she said a performer tried to squirt liquid from a bottle into her mouth, which she declined. She then recalled another encounter in which performers directed sexually explicit insults at her and her friend.
Robyn said one of the most distressing moments came when she was blindfolded and a performer began simulating sexual contact.
“I had a bag over my head, so one part of my brain was telling me it was a simulation and wasn't real, but it felt real. In the moment, you kind of freeze because you're thinking to yourself; it's not real, but it feels real.”
She also described a separate scene in which she claimed her hand was guided over a hairy leg before her finger was placed into a prop designed to simulate a body part.
Robyn said the combination of darkness, physical sensations and sounds made the experience particularly unsettling.
Park defends attraction with safety measures
Robyn emphasised: “I'm not interested in kink-shaming anybody. What I'm angry about is how irresponsible and negligent it is. It catches people completely off guard.”
Her concerns centre on whether the attraction's descriptions and warnings adequately prepare visitors for its sexualised content and physical interactions, particularly those who may be vulnerable to distressing experiences.
A spokesperson for Newsham Scream Park told the ECHO that the Hellfire Club was an optional, immersive horror attraction intended exclusively for adults.
“The Hellfire Club is an optional, adults-only immersive horror attraction designed to deliver an intense experience. It is clearly identified as an 18+ attraction, with ID required for anyone under the age of 21.
“All guests must complete a digital waiver before entering and there is CCTV in place covering the entirety of this attraction and the full event to protect all participating guests and actors.
“Guest welfare is a priority throughout the attraction and our terms and conditions, which must be agreed to before entering the attraction, outline the nature of the experience, including its adult and horror themes, physical interaction and sensory effects.
“They also highlight that some elements may cause distress, identify circumstances in which the attraction may not be suitable, and explain that guests can end their participation immediately, at any time, using the safe word provided without explanation.”
The spokesperson added that CCTV was monitored throughout the event and that staff remained in contact by radio. They said the team could immediately stop an attraction if an issue arose.
“The Hellfire Club is designed to be immersive and for an adult-only audience. We encourage all guests to read the information provided and carefully consider whether the experience is right for them before choosing to enter.
“Importantly, guests who decide that the experience is not suitable for them after reading the T&Cs can decline entry and receive a refund.”
