13 spooktacular Halloween events in Nottingham

When I was younger, Halloween was my favourite time of year. Some of my best memories involve trick or treating with my dad and sister, and (several years later) getting drunk at fancy dress parties with my friends.

Nowadays I still enjoy Halloween, but I prefer to embrace the spirit of the spooky season in ways that don’t involve knocking on strangers’ doors and asking for sweets (although if I could get away with it, I totally would!)

There’s lots of Halloween events for adults happening in Nottingham this year, from horror film screenings to ghost hunts and club nights, so why let the kids have all the fun? Here are 13 of my favourites.

Events

‘Hocus Pocus’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ outdoor film screenings

Date: Thursday 27th October and Friday 28th October
Location: Wollaton Park, Wollaton, Nottingham
Tickets: £14.50 (plus booking fee)

Who said Halloween films have to be scary? ‘Hocus Pocus’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ prove that guts and gore aren’t always needed to make a Halloween cult classic. Whether you’re in the mood for magic or doing the time warp, Adventure Cinema brings you an al fresco film experience, set in the stunning surroundings of Wollaton Park (a.k.a Batman’s estate).

‘Condemned: A Halloween Special’ at National Justice Museum

Date: Various dates from Saturday 22nd October to Monday 31st October
Location: National Justice Museum, High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HN
Tickets: £15 (includes drink on arrival)

Did you know the National Justice Museum has been named one of the most haunted buildings in the UK? This Halloween special event invites you to ‘walk in the steps of the condemned’ on a tour of the former prison and court, from the cells right through to the gallows, and discover true crime tales from Nottingham’s sinister past along the way.

The Labyrinth — Corn Evil & The Village

Date: Various dates from Friday 14th October to Sunday 30th October
Location: Notts Maze, Lime Lane Woods, Lime Lane, Nottingham, NG5 8PW
Tickets: £15

Notts Maze is upping the fear factor especially for Halloween. This October, the popular Nottingham attraction will transform into an immersive scare maze, formidably known as ‘The Labyrinth’. Your mission is simple: escape the maze — but beware, monsters and mayhem lie in wait behind every turn…

The Original Nottingham Ghost Walk

Date: Various dates from Saturday 22nd October to Monday 31st October
Location: Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, 1 Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham, NG1 6AD (tour start point)
Tickets: £9

It wouldn’t be Halloween without spine-chilling ghost stories. With an impressive 4.5 star rating on TripAdvisor, the Original Nottingham Ghost Walk is the city’s most popular walking tour, sharing gruesome stories from local history with tourists all year round. Tread carefully and stay close to your guide, as you will visit some of the most haunted locations in Notts.

Immersive cinema scare attraction experience

Date: Friday 29th October to Monday 31st October
Location: PRZYM, Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 3BB
Tickets: £28 (plus booking fee)

If you love horror films and scare attractions, you need to get tickets to PRYZM’s immersive cinema attraction. Prepare yourself for an intense evening spent on the edge of your seat, as scares on the silver screen combine with the added suspense of live horror actors for a truly immersive and memorable Halloween experience.

Ghost hunt

Date: 29th October, 8pm to 30th October, 1am
Location: Newstead Abbey, Newstead Village, Nottingham, NG15 8NA
Tickets: £49.50

Join Haunted Heritage for an after-dark paranormal investigation at Newstead Abbey, Lord Byron’s famous Nottingham residence. There have been countless reports of ghosts at this 800 year old stately home over the years and ghost hunters will be hoping for more supernatural sightings this Halloween.

Mayhem Film Festival

Date: Thursday 13th October to Sunday 16th October
Location: Broadway Cinema, 14-18 Broad Street, Nottingham, NG1 3AL
Tickets: Varies — £85 for access to the whole four-day event. See the Broadway website for individual ticket prices.

Horror film lovers won’t want to miss this frightful film fest at Broadway Cinema, showcasing some of the best horror, sci fi and cult flicks from across the world. The four-day cinematic event has a busy line-up with 15 films on the bill, including UK premieres and archived screenings, as well as special events.

John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ film screening

Date: Monday 31st October
Location: Savoy Cinema, 235 Derby Road, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 1QN
Tickets: £5 to £6.50

In the same year that E.T was released, there was another, not-quite-so-friendly extra terrestrial being terrifying audiences through cinema screens. Although it was a box office flop, Hollywood horror film ‘The Thing’ has since gained a cult following and now fans, new and old, can watch the sci-fi classic in Nottingham’s oldest cinema for one night only on Halloween.

‘The Butcher’ escape room

Date: Daily
Location: Escapologic, 2 Stanford Street, Nottingham, NG1 7AQ
Tickets: £25pp for two people, £20pp for four people

‘The Butcher’ at Escapologic isn’t for the faint-hearted, but if it’s a fear-filled Halloween you’re after, this horror themed escape room is a great choice. I attempted to defeat ‘The Butcher’ a few years ago and to this day it remains the most immersive scare attraction I’ve ever experienced — in fact, I was so terrified that I had to exit the room early, leaving my team to complete the challenge without me!

Bar & club nights

Rock City’s Halloween all-nighter club night

Date: Saturday 29th October
Location: Rock City, 8 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GG
Tickets: £10 to £12

Many bars and clubs in Nottingham host Halloween events but, for me, Rock City’s legendary all-nighter is where it all began! Think 3,000 people and 10 hours of non-stop partying with drink offers galore and costume prizes. Even if Rock City isn’t your usual vibe for a night out, it’s a fantastic place to celebrate Halloween.

Eighties Things: The Stranger Things 80s Halloween disco

Date: Sunday 30th October
Location: Rescue Rooms, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LB
Tickets: £3.50 to £5.50

The only thing better than a Halloween party is a Stranger Things themed Halloween party. Thanks to Rescue Rooms, you can spend All Hallows’ Eve in the Upside Down, dancing to 80s hits like Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ and other hit tracks from the series. Fancy dress of all varieties is encouraged, be it Stranger Things characters, 80s costumes or standard Halloween attire.

Detonate Halloween special

Date: Saturday 29th October
Location: Motorpoint Arena, Bolero Square, Nottingham, NG1 1LA
Tickets: £31.62 (last tickets on sale!)

Join Detonate for a drum and bass takeover of Motorpoint Arena this Halloween. With music from d&b icons like Chase & Status, Hybrid Minds, Holy Goof and Friction, it promises to be a party of epic proportions. If you like your music loud and your bass lines heavy, book your tickets fast because this is set to be a sell-out.

Bassline takeover rooftop terrace fancy dress party

Date: Friday 28th October
Location: SKYBAR, The Cornerhouse, Forman Street, Nottingham, NG1 4DB
Tickets: £22.50 to £27.50

Head to Nottingham’s newly opened SKYBAR (previously Alto) for a thrilling rooftop party. As well as an exciting line-up of artists and DJs from the house, garage and bassline scenes, there will be live fire dancers and magicians to entertain party-goers throughout the night. It’s strictly fancy dress and you’ll want to make an effort because there’s prizes to be won.

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