Monopoly Events is a Manchester-based event management company founded by Andy Kleek in 2015. The company’s first event was the Star Wars-themed convention For the Love of Force, which combined elements of a standard fan convention and a movie theme park with prop and set replicas. The event was a success, and the following year, the organizers expanded its focus and renamed the convention For the Love of Sci-Fi.
Inspired by the success of his first event, Kleek decided to launch a horror-themed convention after identifying a gap in the market. To create For the Love of Horror, he combined a traditional fan convention with elements of a haunted attraction. The inaugural event, held in October 2018, attracted approximately 5,000 attendees over two days. Since then, attendance has grown to surpass 16,000 people.
Since its inception, the convention has been held every year except in 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the SAG-AFTRA strike, the 2023 edition went ahead with guidelines in place to accommodate union rules. In 2025, the organizers announced the first spring edition of For the Love of Horror, to be held in April 2026.
For the Love of Horror celebrates the horror genre in all its forms, including fiction, comics, films, television shows, and video games. It features classic horror franchises such as Candyman, Child’s Play, Friday the 13th, Halloween, The Lost Boys, Saw, The Walking Dead, and others.
Stage panels, Q&As, autograph sessions, and photo ops with celebrity guests are some of the main attractions at the convention. Past guests have included David Arquette, Barry Bostwick, Nick Castle, Michael Cudlitz, Tim Curry, Matthew Lillard, Bill Moseley, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Taylor, Danny Trejo, and Skeet Ulrich, and other actors known for their roles in popular horror media.
In addition to meeting celebrity guests, visitors can take photos with horror-themed props and set pieces, enjoy a ride on the outdoor ghost train, and explore the wide range of unique merchandise in the trader and artist areas. Many attendees arrive in cosplay, showcasing impressive and imaginative costumes inspired by classic and modern horror films and franchises.
For the Love of Horror also has three separate evening events. The Opening Party on Friday features screenings of two classic horror movies, with a live commentary provided by a convention guest. The After Party on Saturday features live music and DJ performances, Finally, the Closing Party on Sunday features the screening of one more classic horror movie with live commentary.
For the Love of Horror takes place at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Greater Manchester. This venue also hosts other conventions organized by Monopoly Events, including For the Love of Sci-Fi and Comic Con Manchester.
The event offers three types of tickets (Saturday, Sunday, and weekend) in three price categories: standard (ages 10+), concession (ages 5–9), and toddler (ages 1–4). Toddler tickets are free but must be “purchased” through the regular ticketing process for attendance management purposes. Separate tickets are required for parties, autograph sessions, and photo ops. Autograph and photograph tickets are not valid without an entry ticket.
Photo: Dan Burgess
