The Curse at Alton Manor Opening Day - The Curse at Alton Manor, Alton Towers

Getting ready to welcome guests inside

The Curse at Alton Manor opened to the public on Saturday 18 March 2023, which was the first day of the 2023 season at Alton Towers.

Prior to opening, Alton Towers' marketing team had run an advertising campaign which included adverts across social media, a press event featuring a pop-up haunted doll'shouse in London, and a large mural appearing on a wall in Manchester.

Opening Day itself began rather overcast with rain showers at times. That of course did not put off the enthusiast community who attended in their hundreds. They were let in early but by 10am, the official opening time of the park, the queue for The Curse stretched back to Pizza Pasta in Katanga Canyon.

Roaming actors could be found in Gloomy Wood and were interacting with the large crowd that had gathered in front of the Manor in anticipation of some kind of opening ceremony.

An official opening time was never confirmed, but as the Towers marketing team appeared and both John Burton and John Wardley were spotted having their photographs taken outside the ride, it was clearly imminent.

Just before 11am, one of the roaming actors was given the honour of announcing the opening, calling out from the top of the steps to the Manor's front door: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the house is ready to be viewed. I declare The Curse at Alton Manor to be open!"