Into the Gates of Hell: A Spooky Night at Purgatory Bar

A rather unusual host awaits!

There's something rather wonderful about this time of year. The nights draw in, pumpkins start appearing on doorsteps and suddenly it's perfectly acceptable to spend an evening being chased by demons while drinking cocktails.

Last week we found ourselves at Purgatory Bar in Victoria for a preview of The Gates of Hell, one of the experiences that forms part of No Escape's Halloween takeover of London. And whilst our visit was only a 15-minute taster of the full event, it was more than enough to leave us wanting to return for the whole thing.

These were fabulous cocktails

From the moment we stepped inside, Purgatory delivered exactly what its name promises. The bar itself feels delightfully wicked, all dramatic décor, eerie lighting and expertly crafted cocktails. The drinks deserve a mention in their own right. Beautifully presented and cleverly themed, they looked almost too good to drink. Almost.

During the evening we had a chance to meet some of the team behind the experience, including one of the creators. Unsurprisingly, we wanted to know where these wonderfully dark ideas come from. The answer was both amusing and reassuring. Designing escape rooms, it seems, is often a process of getting drunk, coming up with gloriously ambitious concepts and then eliminating anything that would either be impossible to build... or might accidentally injure or kill the players. Probably a sensible approach.

What really stood out throughout the evening was the passion of the staff. Everyone was completely immersed in their characters and clearly enjoying every minute of it. They weren't simply there to check tickets or point people in the right direction. They were part of the story, chatting to guests, maintaining the illusion and adding little touches of mischief wherever possible.

When it came time to enter The Gates of Hell, we were ushered through in a small group. The full experience accommodates groups of between two and six players and lasts 60 minutes, but our preview offered a concentrated sample of what visitors can expect.

Did we solve it??

The premise is wonderfully simple. You're tasked with solving a series of puzzles and challenges in order to appease a demon before things go very, very wrong.

There were definitely moments when we jumped. Properly jumped. The sort of involuntary leap accompanied by noises you'd never willingly make in public. But what surprised me most was just how much we laughed. Yes, there are scares. Yes, there is genuine tension. But there's also a huge amount of fun as your group attempts to work together, make sense of clues and avoid embarrassing yourselves in front of complete strangers.

For Halloween 2026, No Escape has gone all out, with nine horror-themed experiences running across four London venues between 23 October and 1 November. Tickets are priced from £45 per person.

Alongside The Gates of Hell at Victoria, visitors can also take on:

• The Dentist and The Demon Barber at Oxford Street (51 Oxford Street, W1D 2EF)

• The Haunted Toy Store, The Butcher, The Orphanage and The Witch's Curse in Aldgate (69 Commercial Street, E1 6BD)

• The Killer and The Darkest Hour in Holloway (Unit 38, 10 Hornsey Street, N7 8EL)

The whole event feels less like a traditional escape room and more like an immersive Halloween night out. Come for the cocktails, stay for the demons, and leave with a collection of stories about the moment you absolutely, definitely did not scream.

Whether you're a seasoned escape room enthusiast or simply looking for something different to do this October, Purgatory and The Gates of Hell make a highly entertaining evening. Just don't expect to keep your dignity intact once the lights go out.