Alton Towers Resort has announced a new theatrical dining concept for its popular Scarefest event this year.
The initiative marks an expansion of the park’s Halloween event lineup, blending gastronomy with interactive entertainment as the resort seeks to offer new variations on traditional seasonal attractions.
Headlining the autumn roster is Dine with the Dead, an interactive meal positioned to place visitors directly within a spine-tingling narrative. Hosted by the sinister Lord Vincent and Lady Lucinda Vile to celebrate 300 years of toxic matrimony, the experience invites diners to what initially appears as an elegant dinner party. As the evening progresses, guests are introduced to the mysterious Vile family alongside a cast of peculiar acquaintances.
Rather than acting as onlookers, attendees will take on a central role in the unfolding story. The event structure comprises three distinct segments: a cocktail party, a three-course meal, and an afterparty, with each section designed to be more terrifying than the last. Specialist live entertainment and eerie encounters will take place continuously around the dinner tables, bringing the twisted performances to life. Tickets for the dining package start from £69 per person and run to a maximum of £249 per person. The event enforces a minimum age restriction of 14, with all under-18s requiring accompaniment by an adult aged 18 or older.
At the heart of the scares
Howard Ebison, Vice President of Alton Towers Resort, highlighted the interactive nature of the new offering: “Dine with the Dead will bring something completely different to the Scarefest 2026 line-up, immersing families in a spine-tingling story where they are not simply watching the spookiness unfold – they are right at the heart of it.”
In addition to the dining package, the Staffordshire-based resort is introducing VIP tours for guests seeking more exclusive thrills. A new scare attraction, Final Exhibit, launches on Saturday 26 September 2026, themed around a spectacular exhibition of newly discovered Alton Towers artefacts before visitors are lured into the hidden archive of a character named The Curator. The accompanying VIP tour provides a lights-on walkthrough, enabling guests aged 12 and above to experience a previously unseen view of the attraction. The tour includes exclusive talks detailing the storyline and creative process, alongside a solo ticket and a VIP pin badge, with prices starting from £55, or £44 for passholders.
The Grade II listed Towers will also host the returning Alton Towers Ghost Tour experience following reports of eerie ghost sightings by guests. The VIP ghost hunt equips brave participants with professional paranormal detection equipment for a 60-minute immersive guided investigation through the mysterious ruins. Access starts from £60, or £48 for passholders, for guests aged 12 and older on limited dates.
Scarefest 2026 is scheduled to run from 26 September until 1 November 2026. To encourage longer stays, the resort has launched a Second Day Free offer on short break packages booked by 14 September 2026 for stays up to 22 October 2026. The promotion bundles a wondrous overnight stay in themed accommodation with a delicious breakfast, a second day of theme park entry, evening entertainment, free car parking, and nine holes of Extraordinary Golf from £79 per person.
Howard Ebison added: “After a night of frights, with our Second Day Free offer, guests can take some time to recharge before enjoying a full extra day of thrills, fun and adventure at the Resort.”
Alton Towers Scarefest tickets are available to purchase online now*.
