A woman has spoken out against a sexually explicit Halloween experience at a Liverpool scream park, saying it felt like a "simulation of sexual degradation, and sexual violation."
Experience at Hellfire Club
Robyn Doughty, 33, attended the adults-only Hellfire Club, an optional experience at Newsham Scream Park in Liverpool's Newsham Park & Garden, with a group of friends last week. She was asked to sign a waiver before entering the over-18s area and expected "fun scares" in the section "centred around a sinister secret society."
The tattoo artist said the event, which describes itself as an "award-winning Halloween Experience," felt like a "simulation of... sexual degradation, and sexual violation."
Graphic Content and Warning Concerns
Ms Doughty recounted the experience in a post on TikTok, saying the attraction should "explicitly warn people" about the experience, which she described as "sickening." The scream park is set inside a Victorian-era building transformed into an immersive horror experience every Halloween.
It includes live-action horror mazes, scare zones and what the park describes as "twisted theatrical experiences" acted out by "scare actors" who promise to "bring your nightmares to life." Among the sets featured are "haunted wards" and "deranged experiments."
But Ms Doughty said these went too far, with graphic references to sex acts and incest. She said it "felt like a simulation of sexual assault, sexual degradation, sexual violation."
Park Response
She added: "Before you go in you are asked to sign a waiver and you are given a safe word but that's in a busy queue where you're surrounded by your mates and there's loud music. Their website lists be aware of PTSD and anxiety but nowhere does it say graphically sexual."
The park states that its terms and conditions reflect its nature, including its themes, the physical interaction and "sensory effects" employed in the experience. Newsham Scream Park said in a statement: "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 much 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 extensive CCTV coverage is constantly monitored and the entire team is always in contact via radio, with production in all attractions and immediately halting any of the attractions if there are any issues."
