Be afraid, be very afraid – especially of the clowns...

Reviewers and braved the launch of Freak Week, returning to the Hop Farm today (Wednesday, October 22) with the promise of being bigger, better and more terrifying than ever before... Wendy AtkinsDebbie Edwards

Sufferers of coulrophobia - that’s a fear of clowns in case you were wondering - those of a nervous disposition or those just afraid of the dark may want to take someone to hold onto when visiting the Freak Week Resurrection.

Held at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, the scare fest consists of five new attractions ‘that will test even the hardened scare freak’. And considering the owners have had only a matter of weeks to put it all in place, it certainly looking like it will live up to its billing when it opens to the public on Wednesday, October 22.

For launch night only visitors got an extra bit of entertainment as we waited in the bar – not the safe haven we expected as suddenly we were told to keep away from the windows as a group of screaming zombies banged on the glass panes smashing one in the process!

This was just a small taste of the fun to come.

The first attraction was Mississippi Madness. Locals have been mysteriously disappearing and the only clues lead to a maze of blood-soaked tunnels to navigate with a few unwelcome visitors along the way.

Next up, and one of Wendy’s favourites, was The Creep. Where have all the children gone? You will never listen to nursery rhymes in the same way again! Anyone with dodgy knees may want to give this one a miss as you have to crawl on your hands and knees through tunnels.

After this was The Fun House, where the clowns are certainly not there to make you laugh. Big Top fun it isn’t!

Now it was on to Wendy and Debbie’s favourite: The Infected. This is described as ‘the first multi-theme interactive maze’. Not wanting to spoil too much of the fun, it’s safe to say that in the first part you require a blindfold and in the second you don’t! Wendy’s own blood made a temporary appearance here after an over-enthusiastic member of The Infected skidded into her, causing her to bite her lip! But it just added to the night’s fun, especially when the blood-soaked mad man started apologising before moving onto his next victim to scare. (Note from Debbie: I am watching Wendy very carefully for any unusual behaviour.)

Last on the agenda was The Asylum. “We’re saving the best till last,” they say! And they certainly throw it all at you in this one. The ‘inmates’ are relentless in their pursuit of those who pass through. Although we did get our own back when Debbie ran ahead intending to scare Wendy, and instead scared the life out of one of the actors. Pay back!

And it’s not just the attractions trying to frighten you. Zombies, mad men, chainsaw-wielding maniacs, asylum escapees and, of course, the demented clowns are just a few of the fantastic crew members wandering around that are all part of the entertainment. The crew really do put in a great performance and make the experience truly creepy. Only a handful of them are actors and the rest volunteers. And with all the screaming, shouting and howling, I do wonder if they will still have their voices for the next night.

For launch night we were guided round, but when it opens to the public tonight (Wednesday, Oct 22) you can visit the attractions as often as you like and in any order.

So, if you fancy a howler of a halloween treat, get into the spirit of the season and don’t forget to check over your shoulder....

DETAILS

Freak Week Resurrection runs from Wednesday, October 22, to Friday, October 31. It is open from 6.30pm to 11pm, and 7pm until midnight on October 31, with last admissions at 9.30pm.

Tickets are priced from £22.25 online or on the gate from £25.

Guests aged between 12 and 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information visit www.hopfarmfreakweek.co.uk