It is a front garden like no other, come October 31. Andrew Hall fully enters into the spirit of Halloween with hundreds of people flocking to visit his scare maze.
“I’ve been holding this for the last three years, with all costs to myself, and it gets bigger and better every year,” said Andrew, of West Acridge, Barton upon Humber. “This year I’m trying to hold the event for charity – Scunthorpe hospital’s NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).”
Andrew’s new grandson, Arlo, was born four weeks early in July and under the NICU’s care for his first week – “he’s doing just grand now”. When his older brother Hugo (who is now two) was born he was also very early and in the NICU at Scunthorpe for a few days.
“As a family we are so grateful to the department. People were trying to give us money last year at our Halloween event, which we didn’t want, but this year we are making it about NICU and I’ll have a bucket for donations and even if we can make £50 it will be great.”
Andrew said his passion for Halloween first started about five years ago. “Me and my brother, Gaz, were just messing about and scaring the kids on Halloween. The year after that I got dressed up and it was from that basis we created the scare maze.”
Now it is the most sought-after address for miles around – “people come by car and I don’t know where from” – on All Hallows’ Eve. Andrew goes to town with animatronics, live actors, lots of decorations and lights – “it costs me a fortune” – and for 2025 has three 9x3m gazebos all linked up for his fright fest for people to walk through.
“We get so much great feedback from locals, with hundred coming, and it gets more every year,” said Andrew, who likes to look the part on the spookiest night of the year by dressing as creepy clown character Pennywise. “It’s a really good costume,” he said.
“We do absolutely love doing this,” said Andrew, name-checking his pals Mark, Steve, Jack and Gareth, who help to make it happen.
“My wife, Judy, gets involved too. She’s the one handing out all the sweets, we buy those by the bag-load.
“I usually do the Christmas lights but Halloween has taken over. I enjoy it more because of all the scares and you get to see all the reactions first-hand, unlike Christmas when you are inside.
“I want to thank my neighbours as well because they put up with a lot. They come and watch and never complain.”
The scare maze will be running on Friday, October 31, from 1pm until 3pm, with no live actors present, for young children to visit. In the darkness, from 5pm to 9pm, is “for the braver kids and parents”.
Andrew said: “As soon as you get to this street you will know where we are because you will see it all. I know someone who lives a few streets away and they’ve said they can hear the screaming.”
See the pictures below for a taste of Andrew Hall’s frighteningly good Halloween fun.