Storm Austen has delivered a heavy blow to a much-anticipated Halloween attraction in Plymouth after organisers announced "catastrophic damage" to their site, forcing the postponement of this weekend's opening.
Months of work destroyed by 50mph gusts
Scare Fest Plymouth was due to open on Friday, October 23, for nine nights of events just off Embankment Road. Instead, strong winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Austen left the team surveying the wreckage of three scare mazes, which organisers say were destroyed after gusts reached around 50mph.
In a statement, the organisers said they were "absolutely heart-broken" after watching "months of hard work, money, passion and dedication" be ruined hours before the planned grand opening. They added they had invested "thousands of pounds" into the production.
"To stand here and see months of hard work, money, passion and dedication destroyed just hours before our grand opening is absolutely heart-breaking."
Despite the scale of the damage, the team vowed they were "not giving up" and would work "tirelessly" in the coming days to restore the site where possible and reschedule the opening.
Practical steps for ticket-holders and the local area
Organisers have asked anyone who has already purchased tickets for the weekend (October 23-24) to email them to transfer bookings to another available date. No further dates were confirmed in the announcement, but ticket transfers were offered as the immediate remedy.
- Immediate action: Ticket-holders should email the organisers to arrange a transfer.
- Safety concerns: The Met Office had issued a yellow wind warning for the South West, with forecasts of heavy rain and strong winds during the afternoon.
- Local disruption: High winds also led to fallen trees across Plymouth, including a tree collapsing in the Home Bargains car park in Plympton.
The storm has caused wider disruption across the city. Local reports show falling trees damaging vehicles and narrowly missing others, while transport services have seen cancellations and delays as the Met Office warned of possible flying debris and a risk to life in affected areas.
Community reaction and the challenge ahead
For a city still accustomed to staging large-scale events around the waterfront and cultural quarter, the loss will be felt by more than just the few dozen staff who built the mazes. The organisers stressed the emotional as well as financial toll of losing significant investment so close to opening night.
While the statement acknowledged supportive messages from the people of Plymouth as a source of morale, the reality of rebuilding is likely to be time-consuming and costly. The focus now is on damage assessment, safety checks and rebuilding where possible before any new opening can be confirmed.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Scare Fest Plymouth (nine nights) |
| Originally due to open | Friday, 23 October |
| Damage | Three scare mazes destroyed; "catastrophic" |
| Weather | Storm Austen – yellow wind warning; gusts around 50mph reported locally |
Organisers are asking for patience from the public while they "pick up the pieces". For now, Plymouth residents who planned to visit this weekend should hold off travel plans until new dates or further updates are announced. The incident is also a reminder of how vulnerable temporary outdoor attractions can be to increasingly volatile autumn weather.
As the city clears fallen trees and councils and event teams assess damage, the priority remains public safety. The Scare Fest team say they will publish updates on ticket transfers and any revised opening dates as soon as decisions are reached.
Local people who witnessed the storm reported near-misses when trees fell near parked cars in Mainstone and other neighbourhoods. With further unsettled weather possible, authorities have urged caution and compliance with any travel or safety advice.
For those affected by the Scare Fest postponement, organisers have asked that ticket-holders email their support address to rebook and to keep an eye on the event's official channels for confirmation of any new dates.
