Now open in Preston: The Escape Room

Preston planning application excerptThe above diagram contains part of the planning application for the site under discussion today – though, obviously, it’s been clipped so any parts with potential spoilers are kept way out of view!

The Escape Room in Manchester has been open since mid-December and has become so popular that you often need to book ahead to play any of its five rooms. It has attracted several celebrity players; this site has referred to Manchester United’s number 17, Daley Blind, as its official footballer because he’s a regular there. Anyone can make a single appearance; to go back for a fourth game shows that he must be a big fan. (Wonder if he’s played any exit games anywhere else?)

This site recalls, but cannot immediately find, a Facebook post suggesting that The Escape Room plan to expand to six locations within the UK. The site’s Facebook offers a hint that the third will be in Birmingham, to be confirmed; however, the second site to open will definitely be in Preston. The first couple of team photos have already been posted, suggesting that a soft opening took place yesterday; excitingly, a launch party has been announced for Thursday evening. The Preston location sells food and drink and has a large communal area to enjoy, though doesn’t feature a licensed bar in the same style as the Manchester location.

Escape Room scareIn Preston, you can play five games in the business’s distinctive style that led to photos like the one above, one of this site’s favourite team photos of all time. Preston has the same The Mummy and Prison Break games as Manchester, but Manchester veterans have excellent reason to come back and enjoy three new games.

Gallery is a heist story. “A challenge has been sent out to international art thieves by the self-proclaimed ‘thief-proof’ gallery. You are a Master Art-Thief, and you have assembled a crew of criminal specialists with years of experience to aid you in breaking into this gallery, and your aim is for their most prized possession; the priceless painting being exhibited there for a one-day event. Security in the gallery has been set to its maximum level for this particular event, and you have chosen the very same day to execute your plans. You and your team only have 60 minutes to infiltrate the gallery, bypass the high-tech security system, steal the priceless painting, and escape before you are caught within the act.

The Vampire Chronicles is a supernatural tale without a sparkle in sight. “You hold the key to breaking the deadlock and potentially ending the 1000-year war between humans and vampires, and you have been marked for death by Ambrogio; the Vampire King. His vampire subordinates have killed your family and caught you and your comrades, whilst simultaneously holding you captive in his castle. You are given 60 minutes to navigate your way through his cursed lair to escape and bring an end the war and finally bring peace upon the land.

As for Taken, well, any excuse to link to this QMSM joke is not to be missed. “The boss’s daughter has been abducted and taken for ransom by a mob, consisting of internationally wanted criminals. The authorities have gathered the information needed to pinpoint the place where she is held captive, and you have been entrusted with her safe and immediate return. Now, with time running out, you find yourself in a life and death race against the clock as the abduction begins to spiral towards a terrifying and deadly conclusion. You have 60 minutes to utilize the tools and skills within your disposal to rescue the boss’s daughter and getaway before the kidnappers return.

All five games have 60-minute time limits; the pricing structure is similar to that of Manchester but a little more severe; teams of two and three will pay a shade more in Preston than in Manchester (£22/person and £20/person respectively), the price for teams of four is the same at £18/person and teams of five and six will pay a shade less in Preston (£16/person and £15/person respectively). There’s a 10% discount for booking online as well, at least for now.

Exit Games UK hopes that Preston proves to enjoy its facility just as much as the inhabitants of Manchester have done!

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