A Halloween adventure at a Welsh attraction turned into a frustrating ordeal for a Neath couple, who were promised an accessible evening but faced numerous challenges. Nadine Morgan, an ambulatory wheelchair user, and her husband Lewis were excited to attend the Scream Time trail at Margam Park. Costumes were ready, and anticipation was high. They’d even checked with event organisers to ensure the venue was accessible. Yet, they soon found themselves grappling with steep hills, hidden obstacles, and insufficient staff support.
The evening began with a lengthy, unexpected queue despite instructions to arrive just ten minutes before their slot. Once inside, promised stewards were nowhere in sight, leaving the couple to struggle on their own. The trail, full of steep inclines and dark, uneven paths, was a test of endurance for Lewis, notwithstanding his physical fitness. Nadine’s specialist wheelchair made the trek possible, but it was anything but easy.
By the time they reached the Scare Village, they were exhausted, and the excitement had worn off. Attempts to navigate the space for food, drinks, and toilets were frustrated by poor signage and long waits. To cap it all, when they finally made it to the castle, the event’s highlight, it was unexpectedly closed, leaving them disappointed and feeling brushed aside.
The couple shared their concerns the next day, only to find the event’s timings unclear on the website. Despite contacting organisers in advance, Nadine felt the experience lacked the promised accessibility and left her embarrassed and drained. The £30 ticket promised a spooky adventure but ended in a struggle that overshadowed any fun.
The event organisers have acknowledged the couple’s complaints and offered to work with them to improve future experiences, aiming to create truly inclusive and accessible events. Meanwhile, Nadine and Lewis left feeling they’d paid merely for an uphill workout, not the Halloween fun they’d hoped for.