29 Oct 2025
Customers, bar staff, operations management, production team, maze managers, actors, and even Herts County Showground are all owed money following the sudden closure of the inaugural Halloween Haunt Fest.
The event kicked off at the showground, near Redbourn, on Thursday October 16, and was due to run right up until November 1.
It featured four brand new hair-raising immersive scare mazes, including one based on horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, alongside terrifying fairground rides, sinister street theatre and a live DJ.
But earlier today, The Scenes Ltd, the company behind Halloween Haunt Fest, announced that it had ceased trading and entered into voluntary insolvency, bringing the event to a premature close.
Chief executive Nick Doherty said: “Despite the team’s best efforts to deliver this year’s event successfully, unforeseen financial challenges have made it impossible for the company to continue operating sustainably. All company operations have now ceased, and the event site is closed. We kindly ask that no one attends the venue, as all activity has stopped and access to the site is no longer permitted.
“A licensed insolvency practitioner is being appointed to oversee the company’s affairs and will contact all affected parties, including ticket holders in due course.
“We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported and contributed to Halloween Haunt Fest — from our talented cast and crew to our incredible audience. Your enthusiasm and creativity have meant so much to everyone involved.”
But there are unanswered questions about salaries for staff working the site, as well as customers who spent hundreds of pounds on advance tickets.
One of the team left out of pocket is Phoebe Shergold-Willis, founder of SASA School of Performing Arts, who was a crazy old lady walking the site.
She explained: “I wanted to support a new local venture and bring my experience from running a professional performance school to the table. We work with young performers and professionals alike, so getting involved felt like a great way to contribute to the local creative scene, it’s just such a shame it’s ended like this.
“I think the first night for press was tough as we all know, but each night just got better and better! The maze managers, management team and actors were all so invested. I even created and brought my own costume and props to bring my character, Ethel, to life.
“Like many others, I gave up valuable time, money and expertise on an event that clearly wasn’t going to make that money back. Obviously, they haven’t delivered on expectations now that they’ve gone insolvent with no communication to actors or any clue about whether we’ll be paid or not.”
To compound issues, staff only found out about the event closing via a post on social media.
Phoebe revealed: “Jack, the performance manager, has been incredible. He’s been working on this project for over a year and is in the same boat as us, left completely in the dark and owed a lot of money. He’s been the only member of management who’s stayed in touch since this happened late last night, and he’s actively seeking legal advice and guidance from Equity, the performers’ union, to support and fight for us as performers.
“Communication from the CEO Nick Doherty and his wife and general manager Abbie Doherty has been non-existent. They left Herts County Showground late last night, and we’ve heard nothing from them. They posted on social media before telling any actors, and now, Wednesday afternoon, we still haven’t had any communication about whether we’re supposed to turn up to our shift tonight.
“I actually ran the Halloween Haunt Fest auditions back in September through SASA, and still haven’t been paid for that work, let alone my acting across the past three weeks.
“Right now, we’re completely left in the dark. We haven’t been told who the insolvency company is or how we’ll get paid, if at all.
“It’s heartbreaking, especially for so many talented local performers and creatives who gave their all. I just hope something good can come from this experience, perhaps a stronger sense of community and a reminder of how important it is to value creative professionals properly.”
Meanwhile, customers have taken to the event’s Facebook page to complain about being left out of pocket.
One said: “Absolutely shocking! My husband and I were due to come here on Friday and paid for the ‘VIP experience’ totalling £147. Looking at the way they’ve been with their staff is absolutely appalling, if I had known I would not have spent so much money but thankfully I put in a dispute this morning with my bank and got my money back.”
Another posted: “We were due to attend this event tonight and we brought three VIP tickets that totalled £235.50!! We are gutted that this has happened and looks like it’s going to be a nightmare to try and get a refund!!”
