Family horror escape room opens at Contained on Derby Road 2026

Key Points

• Within Contained, the horror escape room located on Derby Road in Bootle, they have introduced a new kid-friendly game called Vampire Hunters.
• There are currently two experiences that take place within the escape room which have very high scare levels and come with a scary disclaimer.
• The new Vampire Hunters game is rated one out of five when it comes to scare level, the minimum age is 8+, and it takes 60 minutes to play.
• According to Co-founder Sean Porter of Contained, he revealed to Liverpool Echo that their new escape room game was created to meet the demands of younger families and those adults who enjoy a spooky experience.
• Since its opening, 41% of the groups gave up on playing the game Snatched at an average time of 24 minutes in a 60-minute play.

Bootle (Liverpool standard) September 01, 2026 – Contained, the horror-themed escape room operator on Derby Road in Bootle, has introduced a family-friendly experience alongside its existing high-intensity attractions, marking a strategic expansion aimed at broader audiences. The development follows years of strong customer demand and a reputation built on immersive, fear-focused gameplay that has at times alarmed passers-by.

What is the new family-friendly experience at Contained Bootle?

Contained has launched Vampire Hunters, a 60-minute escape room experience with a minimum age of 8+, designed to deliver a spooky narrative without the intense scares associated with the venue’s other rooms. According to co-founder Sean Porter, the experience is rated “one out of five for scare levels”, positioning it as a “family-friendly adventure” within the attraction’s portfolio.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the storyline takes participants to an ancient castle where they must uncover its secrets and destroy the vampire living inside. Along the way, players learn about five vampire hunters who previously attempted to kill the vampire, building toward what the venue describes as the “ultimate finale”. The design intent is to retain the atmospheric, genre-specific appeal of horror while reducing psychological tension and jump-scare intensity.

How does Vampire Hunters differ from Contained’s other rooms?

Contained currently operates three distinct experiences, each calibrated to different tolerance levels for fear and immersion. Vampire Hunters sits at the low end of the scare spectrum, while The Exorcist and Snatched occupy the high-intensity tier.

• Vampire Hunters: 8+ age guidance, 60 minutes, scare rating 1/5, family-friendly adventure.
• The Exorcist: a live escape room experience following the story of missing Father Daniels, last located in the home of a 12-year-old girl believed to be possessed by a demon; participants search the child’s room to piece together events and discover the truth about the possession.
• Snatched: features a live actor, carries a scare rating of 5/5, and includes a “chilling disclaimer” acknowledging that the experience is “deliberately designed to provoke fear, discomfort and psychological tension”.

Sean Porter told the Liverpool Echo that 41% of teams have quit Snatched since it opened, with the average quit time at 24 minutes into the hour-long session. He cited a recent example of players who travelled from Kettering pressing the emergency stop at 30 minutes and 40 seconds due to fear, adding: “That kind of thing happens all the time. But that’s what people pay for, they want to be scared.”

Why did Contained add a family option now?

The decision to introduce a lower-scare experience responds directly to customer enquiries and booking patterns, according to the venue’s leadership. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Sean Porter said:

“We find that a lot of people who have sent enquires in the past want to do something in the horror field, but don’t necessarily want to be scared.” He added:

“That’s younger families, and even some adults don’t like to be scared, but like the spooky feel. We now have something for everyone.”

This positioning allows Contained to capture a wider demographic without diluting the intensity that has defined its brand. The venue’s Google rating of 4.9 out of five stars indicates strong satisfaction among existing customers, suggesting the new offering is an extension of an already well-received product rather than a pivot away from core strengths.

What is the background to Contained’s reputation in Bootle?

Contained’s profile in Bootle has been shaped by both its immersive design and its physical location. The ECHO previously reported in 2023 that concerned commuters were getting out of their cars after hearing screams of terror coming from the building, underscoring the realism and intensity of the experiences on offer. That incident highlighted how effectively the attraction’s sound design and live elements can project beyond its walls, contributing to local awareness of the venue.

The attraction’s two flagship experiences—The Exorcist and Snatched—have cemented its identity as a destination for thrill-seekers. Snatched’s live actor component and 5/5 scare rating, combined with its formal disclaimer, signal a high threshold for psychological tension. The Exorcist, while not featuring a live actor in the same capacity, leans into narrative horror centred on possession and investigation, requiring participants to reconstruct events in a child’s room to solve the mystery of a missing priest.

What are the practical details for visitors?

Contained is located on Derby Road in Bootle. Vampire Hunters runs for 60 minutes and is suitable for players aged 8 and above. The Exorcist and Snatched are designed for teenagers and adults, with Snatched carrying the highest intensity rating and a formal acknowledgement of fear-inducing design.

Booking information and further details are available on Contained’s website, as noted by the Liverpool Echo. Given the venue’s popularity and the high quit rates recorded for Snatched, prospective visitors are advised to review age guidance, scare ratings, and content advisories before selecting an experience.

Background: how did this development come about?

Contained’s expansion into family-friendly horror follows a period of sustained demand and strong customer feedback. The venue’s 4.9 out of five star Google rating reflects consistent satisfaction, while the 2023 reports of commuters reacting to screams from the building illustrate the immersive intensity that drew attention locally. Internal booking data showing a 41% quit rate for Snatched, with an average exit at 24 minutes, provided empirical evidence of the high-scare model’s impact and helped inform the decision to diversify.

According to Sean Porter, repeated enquiries from younger families and adults seeking a spooky atmosphere without intense fear created a clear market gap. Vampire Hunters was developed to address that gap, offering a narrative-driven, 60-minute experience with a 1/5 scare rating and an 8+ age threshold. The addition allows Contained to serve multiple audience segments under one roof while preserving the high-intensity experiences that established its reputation.

Prediction: how could this affect families and local audiences?

The introduction of a family-friendly horror experience is likely to broaden Contained’s audience base in Bootle and across the Liverpool city region, drawing in parents seeking age-appropriate thrills and groups that previously avoided the venue due to high scare levels. For families, the 8+ rating and low scare intensity reduce the risk of overwhelming younger participants, while still delivering a themed, immersive activity that aligns with seasonal interests in spooky entertainment.

For local audiences, the development may increase footfall on Derby Road and reinforce Bootle’s emerging profile as a destination for immersive entertainment. By offering a tiered portfolio—from 1/5 to 5/5 scare ratings—Contained can accommodate mixed groups, potentially boosting repeat visits as customers progress from Vampire Hunters to more intense rooms. The venue’s existing high satisfaction scores suggest the new experience could sustain positive word-of-mouth, provided the family room maintains clear age guidance and consistent production quality.