Halloween attraction salvaged after firm goes bust

Phoebe, employed as a scare actor, is hoping to run a smaller-scale Halloween event next year using the salvaged sets

A creative producer is working with a charity to salvage the remains of a Halloween horror event that went bust, leaving hundreds of people unpaid.

Halloween Haunt Fest was supposed to run until 1 November at the Hertfordshire County Showground, but the company behind it ceased trading on 28 October.

Phoebe Shergold-Willis, who owns the SASA School of Performing Arts in St Albans and was hired as a scare actor, said the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society had paid for the mazes so they could be used again.

She said she planned to run a smaller event next year "to help provide jobs again in the local area for people who've missed out this Halloween".

Actors, security staff and event managers were owed tens of thousands of pounds after In the Scenes Limited entered into voluntary insolvency due to "unforeseen financial challenges".

The Hertfordshire Agricultural Society – a charity which runs the county showground – also said it "faced significant losses" financially and was "left with huge amounts of material on the showground".

Its chairman Stuart Roberts explained the Halloween sets could not be cleared because the company had not yet gone into liquidation.

"I made an offer of £1, not to buy it for ourselves, but so we could clear the site," he said.

The event consisted of several mazes, which covered 600 sq m (6,460 sq ft)

Mr Roberts said the mazes "became our assets, but we're an agricultural society, we're not into chainsaw massacres!"

"I met with Phoebe, who was very willing and able to take on two of the sets, and I wish her the very best of luck."

The remaining props and sets were offered to the local community.

"Lots of people have benefited. We had colleges, scout groups, schools, community groups," he added.

Ms Shergold-Willis is planning to use the sets for a new Halloween project in 2026.

She said details remained "under wraps" but the "thrilling experience" would be "on a much smaller scale".

"I hope this will benefit many in the local acting community who suffered in the same way I have, and I'm excited to bring something new to the area," she said.

Mr Roberts added: "We are delighted to have worked with Phoebe and other local organisations to create something positive from the ashes of this disaster."

The Haunt Fest site closed after the company went bust

In The Scenes's chief executive Nick Doherty previously 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.

"The company is consulting with a licensed insolvency practitioner, who will provide formal information and guidance to ticket holders, contractors, staff, and freelancers in due course."