LOCATION: London, England, United Kingdom Videos/ Photos property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Lost Passenger 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 13, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Spooky, Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £28/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY This escape room is located in the real abandoned South Kentish Town tube station. The lost passenger is based on a true story of Mr. Brackett’s disappearance shortly after the station has closed down in 1924. It seems like recently there’s been some paranormal activities going on in the station. Do you dare to enter for an investigation? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Unique location for an escape room. Utilized the location’s local history to recreate a relevant story. Set design was very immersive. It almost feels like a war-time bunker. Props used were very authentic and high quality. Game master was very on point with his intro. Love how it “begins”. Clever ways to utilize the space of the room so it felt bigger than it was and created fun ways for the players to maneuver through them. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Too many red herring props that did nothing. There was a puzzle at the beginning where we couldn’t do anything but wait for one party to complete a puzzle. If some additional puzzles could be added while that’s happening, it would make the room feel less linear especially with a larger group. At times we were not sure if we solved a puzzle or not as we had no idea what we triggered. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This was definitely one of the most unique escape room locations we’ve ever been to. We felt immersed before the game even started. If you love historical sites with a bit of eeriness, you will love this escape room. This room was not puzzle-heavy nor were the puzzles difficult.  Adventure seekers will enjoy finding the “right buttons” in this room. As some areas did feel quite crammed and linear, our recommended size for this room is 3 people. ℹ️  ADDITIONAL INFO Located in the basement (one flight down) Lockers available Waiting area with seats available If you are looking for a scary version of this room, sign up for "Fright Night" - every Friday from 7PM onwards (ages 18+). If you have a large group, they'll be able to accommodate 18 people playing in 3 different escape rooms at the same time. (If you do decide to try this room, please remember to let them know that "ESCAPETHEROOMers" sent you!) Disclosure: We thank Mission: Breakout! for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #escapetheroomers #etr #review #escaperoomreviews #escaperooms #escape #rooms #games #missionbreakout #thelostpassenger #london #england #unitedkingdom #uk

LOCATION: Reading, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Escape Reading Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Kidnapped 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 3, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Triller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £60-126 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You woke up in a dark room thinking this is probably just a dream but soon you've realized you've been kidnapped. Your only hope is to try to escape through that door... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The idea of not knowing why you've been kidnapped and the need to find out by searching for clues and solving the puzzles was intriguing. We enjoyed this backward scenario for a storyline. There were a couple of times in the game when the game designer created a sense of urgency and "terrifying" moments for the players by using light and sound. Although there was not much tech involved in this room, some traditional puzzles were presented in a unique way that was enjoyable to solve. There wasn't much reading involved but through the clues and props used in the room, the creator was able to clearly introduce the plot. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Maybe it's because we're not really good at "search and find" type of puzzles but we felt that there were a bit too many of this type of puzzle in this game. One of the sound triggers could have happened a couple of more times instead of just once to act as a countdown clock and also to add more intensity to the situation. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is one of the older rooms at Escape Reading. You'll see a huge improvement in the set design of the games at their Alden Street location. But we still enjoyed this game as the storyline was told through the puzzles and there were a ton of puzzles! Also, the theme might be more fitting for some players that enjoy a dark mystery. But if you are looking for a creepier experience, do check out their "The Vampire Slayers" room! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking lot available nearby Lobby area with seating Drinks available for purchase This game is located up one flight of stairs Portable games are available for rent Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Escape Reading for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeReading #Thriller #Reading #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Reading, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Escape Reading Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Vampire Slayers 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 3, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Horror, Vampire 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl (Ages 16+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £60-126 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY It's been thousands of years since the Vampire Lord's last feast. In order to stop him from destroying all of humanity, you must vanquish his heart in the next hour... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Although there were no live actors in this game (we got a VIP treatment though), the GM was able to utilize ways to enhance the scare from outside the room. At one point, Brandon was even hesitant to grab a clue! The lighting also created some exemplary moments for jump scares. The red color walls with the dark furniture were a perfect match for a vampire room. It also created some great hiding spots for obvious clues. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK A few puzzles and props didn't feel connected with the storyline. We were confused by the location where we found the weapon that was to be used to kill the vampire. At the same time, we were also puzzled by the placement of his heart. We thought the vampire would have considered the importance of these items and they should be placed in a more secure or secret place. We were not sure why one of the puzzles triggered when we haven't placed all the items in their position. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room had some impressive jump scares (mostly for me since I'm a scaredy-cat) that happened just at the right times. But not too much to the point where we couldn't solve puzzles. The props and set design of this room felt like they needed some updating. The owner did tell us that this is probably the next room that will either be swapped out or get a facelift. The current state still gives off a daunting feeling though. If you want to check out some amazing set designs, definitely visit their Alden Street location where we got to play "The Ram Raid" and "Age of Magic"! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking lot available nearby Lobby area with seating Drinks available for purchase This game is located down one flight of stairs Portable games are available for rent Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Escape Reading for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeReading #Vampires #Horror #Reading #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Reading, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Escape Reading Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Ram Raid 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 3, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Heist 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £60-126 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You've borrowed money from the wrong people. Now you must get them their million within the next hour by robbing a bank. Failure at your task might cost your life... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We love the entrance/exit of this room. It changes the perspective from the player's side in terms of the circumstance that they're in versus going through a regular door. The GM is great at being in character and introducing the storyline. For enthusiasts, you'll feel like you've entered puzzle heaven. The puzzles vary in terms of difficulty level. This gives more choices for different types of players to enjoy the room within their own comfort zone. If you like harder puzzles then go for those and if you're not into puzzles, there are plenty of other ways to be a part of the team. There is a really cool prop that immediately upgraded this room to feel like a real bank. The way we have to solve that puzzle is also true to a real-life experience. Everyone will probably say "WOW" or "OMG" at the same moment in this room. You will either be super excited or super "scared" depending on how much time you have left on the clock. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK I wish there were a bit more special effects that could be added to the entry area. It also felt like it could be utilized more in terms of puzzles. There was a tactile puzzle that we got stuck on for a pretty long time as it was quite difficult to maneuver. It could also just be us but there was no way to bypass it from our side. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We love this type of bank heist game where we get to accumulate more wealth by solving more puzzles. As a member of the team, you constantly feel great about yourself when you gather up more money. The great thing about this game is that even if you're not good at solving puzzles, you might just find money by being a good searcher. Everyone will leave the room feeling like they've contributed to the victory. The maximum you can get is 1 million dollars. We felt pretty good being able to steal $800,000 with just the two of us. This is a great game to pump up the team spirit and experience the fruit of teamwork together. To cool down just a bit after this game, check out their spectacular experience "Age of Magic"! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Street parking, please read signs for rules Lobby area with seating and locker Located up one flight of stairs Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Escape Reading for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeReading #Heist #Reading #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Reading, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Escape Reading Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Age of Magic 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 3, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy, Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £75-126 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Something strange is happening to the village that you've been living in your entire life. The only way to save the village is to create a potion to bring back a special light. The fate of the village lies in your hands... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The GM did a great job of getting into character right from the start of the game. The set design was simply beautiful. The game started off in a cave filled with mesmerizing crystals in all sorts of colors. The euphonic voice of the storyteller captured our attention right away. This was definitely Disney quality! The mystical music was the perfect choice to accompany this extraordinary set design to send the players on a magical journey. Everyone will be "wowed" by a centerpiece in this room. Words can't even describe how stunning it is. The puzzles revolved around a magical land where you'll feel like the props and clues you're using belongs only in a fairytale and not in this world. This room had some incredible tech that would make you wonder, how are they doing this? It also gave an entertaining but mind-blowing ending that every player desires. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some items were hidden too well and without clues, they were difficult to find. Perhaps there could be a few added pointers? There was a clue at the beginning of the game that we would suggest either replacing or making a permanent home for it in the room. Currently, it's difficult to read and understand, especially in dim lighting. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room impressed us from beginning to end. We were amazed by the designer's creativity and imagination in making his vision come true. All he wanted to do was to impress his little princess! I'm sure she was overwhelmed when she saw the finished product. Don't even worry about if you're good at solving puzzles or if you'll escape in time, this room is a must-play for kids and adults! Just come and visit this wonderland and I promise you it will be worth it! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Street parking, please read signs for rules Lobby area with seating and locker Located up one flight of stairs Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Escape Reading for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeReading #Fantasy #Magic #Reading #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Nottingham, England, United Kingdom Photos above are property of Cave Escape Nottingham Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (Lobby area) 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Carfax 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 29, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi, Vampires 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl (Ages 8+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £20-25/PP (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY No, this game is nothing to do with Cars, Fax Machines or Halifax :) It refers to Carfax Abbey, the fictional home of the legendary Count Dracula! You have been summoned by Dr Van Helsing, who tells you of a patient who is showing bizarre symptoms that have consumed her recently - seeming some unknown force is zapping her strength and causing visions and strange behaviours. Can you inspect the locations and find out what is going on? Video above is property of Cave Escape Nottingham 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE I was honestly blown away by this first room - the decor, the attention to detail - the props, even sound effects and lighting… It was like being on board the real thing. The puzzles here are incredibly well tied to the theme, of varying difficulty and a couple of more task-based progressions that seems bizarre but were great fun! For one, I was glad to have a taller person in the room :) As you progress the locations change, the puzzles adapt to fit the scene and there is again some very cleverly thought up tasks. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This room felt pretty solid to me. I have nothing to report in this section. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? When we arrived at Cave Escape, we had to buzz to enter, which gives you the feeling of arriving at a secret headquarters where you are there to accept your mission :) The lady in the lobby, Becky - was absolutely lovely, super friendly and happy to chat. The lobby itself is spectacular. A beautifully decorated large room adorned with the most amazing treasures and trinkets, you could spend a few hours just exploring up here, and we even relaxed here in between games! All this as well as the fact that their games are built into an actual cave system under the city makes this a very special venue indeed. Our GM, Chris, was in character and gave us our briefing upstairs, and then we descended some steep steps into the incredible cave rooms where our challenge lay waiting. We entered, and I was immediately blown away by the authentic feel and vintage paraphernalia in the room. We were given a few more instructions and then left alone to get cracking! Gothic, spooky theme and adventure fans will love this room especially - but it is not a scary room. The dim environment - especially near the end - is atmospheric but more creepy than terrifying! Definitely suitable for older children and teens. The effort gone to in both rooms at this venue by the team is top-notch. Highly recommended. We only received one hint and it was suitably delivered, and we completed our mission in 33:33! We were very pleased with that time not only because of our speed but due to it’s palindromic nature! 🔎 HINT My top tip for this room is to not to think too far outside the box - everything you have to do is clearly outlined or indicated. There’s not much reading to be done and things that are hidden aren’t THAT hidden so spend time working on the things you do find and not too much time hunting. Additional Info Lounge Area Parking lot within 2 min walk "The Dice Cup" (Board Game Cafe) is right across the road The Rooms are located below street level (not suitable for disabled people with mobility issues) Photos above are property of Cave Escape Nottingham We don't want to go into detail and ruin any surprises for you, but if you'd like more information on the room, feel free to email us. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Cave Escape Nottingham for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #SCIFI #Vampire #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Nottingham #UnitedKingdom #Carfax

LOCATION: Nottingham, England, United Kingdom Photos above are property of Cryptology UK 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Daylight robbery 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 29, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Heist 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £18-26/PP (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Your team is an elite gang of criminals, called upon to rob the bank vaults at Cypherdyne and relieve it of every last bit of its “swag” as possible. Break in, solve as many locks, puzzles and physical tasks as you can to collect the loot, stuff it in your swag bag and then get out of there before the cops arrive in a timely 1 hour from when you trigger the alarms. But whatever you do, don’t forget the Daylight Diamond, or “The Boss” who has hired you is not going to let you live it down. Or live, for that matter. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Set in an ACTUAL BANK VAULT! This is a brilliant “room” with many areas to explore, including an office, corridor of actual lasers, the vault itself and additional locked rooms off it. Everything is themed absolutely spot-on and some of the items you collect are very fun :) There is a fantastic mechanism to this game. Instead of just escaping, you are tasked to collect AS MUCH LOOT AS POSSIBLE within the hour, with the final ten minutes dedicated to solving puzzles in the final room in order to retrieve the priceless Daylight Diamond and get out of there! So everyone will get out - but you get a “score” based on how well you did”. You are given a computer system and handheld scanner. Every time you locate a piece of swag there is a barcode on it to scan and then add it to your bag. It really felt like we were looting bank security deposit boxes, immensely satisfying and great exercise, running back and forth for an hour! You also get some funky tools to use including a fancy camera and a mobile phone! There is a computer system in the room that keeps track of your total loot value, and a running commentary over a tannoy as well. The computer also contains other helpful information, and any hints or verbal information that you hear will be recorded on here too - so keep an eye on this. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We absolutely kicked ourselves over the fact that we missed just TWO ITEMS in the room! One was almost impossible to find - apparently only a few have actually managed to do so. So don’t worry about your final score so much, just enjoy the journey! Photos above are property of Cryptology UK 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This was a fantastic room, the action was non-stop, frantic and fun. This is not your typical linear escape room - this is PUZZLEMANIA! Our GM Mark, who is also a co-owner, was in character, and really seemed to enjoy his role and giving the briefings and hints. The room allows you to split up and work on different strengths, but also to team up into smaller groups or pairs to collaborate on puzzles. We certainly got our steps in this room - and whilst the space is open and bright, there are some doorways where you can clash, so just be mindful while you run about! This room will delight puzzle fans, those who love combination locks, fans of Heist movies such as Ocean’s 11, and those who have always wanted to go on a crime spree but would never want to break the law :) After the game, Mark was happy to fill us in on any missed puzzles and the amazing hidden secret - so much so that we were still in the room long past when we were due to leave! We came out as the 4th “richest” of all groups to have taken on the heist, and the top spot for a group of three, with £1,773,009.19 worth of loot (98% of all available items) - so we were absolutely thrilled. I wanted to go back in and do it all again!! There are SO many puzzles, locks, tasks and fun things in this room that even in a group of 8, all will get a chance to solve something. The technology behind some of them I had not seen before - and there is such variety in the room that I think even if you did revisit the room you could find puzzles you hadn’t solved the last time, and take those on between you. I do hope they make another game like this one - however for the sake of the sanity of whoever has to reset all the items we displaced - they may have other ideas! (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Cryptology UK for providing a media discount for this game. Although a discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Heist #CryptologyUK #Nottingham #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Nottingham, England, United Kingdom Photos above are property of Cryptology UK 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Dreamscape 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 30, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £20-24/PP (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY A prominent dream doctor, Dr Lucy Dee, has been testing out the possibilities of Lucid Dreaming, and has found herself trapped inside some very real dreams of her own! Can you and your team navigate 5 of her most recent dreams and help unlock the keys hidden within them, to locate Dr Lucy and help her wake up and escape? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Our GM Mark was dressed very - appropriately - for the game and was full of energy as he told us our mission and how everything was going to work. You move through 5 different rooms and in each room will reveal a series of objects that you carry with you through the game in a knapsack - fans of the 80s/90s TV series "Knightmare" will be very fond of this! Each room has plenty of puzzles to solve - our team of 3 were kept very busy both individually and together solving a variety of maths, word, physical and logical puzzles. There are some extremely fun puzzles and some a little random, but this means there is something for everyone, from young to newbie through to ER pro. The more puzzles you solve the more dream-keys you get. There are 20 unique keys to collect, 5 in each of the first 4 dreams/rooms, and then these can be used to make the final room easier, as they “unlock” the puzzles there meaning you have less to do to achieve your goal. Every room is very different and the puzzles tied in well to each theme, and hints come to you over a sound or screen system within the theme. In each of the first 4 rooms, collect an additional “pink” clue in each dream and take these with you to the end for a bonus. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Nothing! This experience is crazy, wacky and out-of-the-ordinary - if you embrace that and just enjoy, you will very much enjoy the experience! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This isn’t a typical, search every corner for items type of room. This is solve as many puzzles as you can in the time and get rewarded for those that you do solve type of challenge. This means that even if you don’t do so well at the beginning, you still have a chance to progress to the end and “escape”! Think of it as a Crystal Maze episode where you are all allowed to take on all the challenges in all four zones one after the other, where they open all the doors in each zone and the whole team just goes and works on all the puzzles simultaneously, obtains crystals (dreamkeys) for solving those puzzles, and then moves on to the next zone. The final zone (dream) is made easier the more puzzles you have solved, but you all get a chance to tackle it not matter how well you did. It is worth spending about 12 minutes in each room, to maximize your chances, but you can move on if you do manage to get all 5 keys from that room earlier than that. We collected 18 of the 20 keys and escaped in time, getting the second fastest time of any 3 person team to take on the Dreamscape! Puzzle fans will love this one. It really is like a test of your puzzling skills as a team, and for everyone’s individual strengths. We had a Math whizz in our team who solved the number based puzzles in record time. Similarly I whizzed through the wordy ones, and together we did the logic and physical challenges. Highly recommended for something a bit different, an immersive experience with a lot of laughs and clearly a room where the owners have thought outside the box and put a lot of time and effort into make something fantastical, varied and humorous that will have broad appeal. And they did just that! Photos above are property of Cryptology UK Additonal Info Parking lots in the area (quite pricy being in the center of town), cheapest one I found was on St James Street NCP (in the open, not up the ramp) where it is £1 an hour. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Cryptology UK for providing a media discount for this game. Although a discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Heist #CryptologyUK #Nottingham #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Gravesend, Kent, United Kingdom Photo above is property of The Panic Room Gravesend Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Wizard of Oz 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 16, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure, Family 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £16-28/PP (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY This is your chance to go and explore the magical land of Oz . Fly in a hot air balloon to find the yellow brick road leading to the Emerald City where the Wizard has gone away and the City is being looked after by The Tinman, The Scarecrow and The Lion. They need a bit of assistance as they are lacking Courage, Heart and Brains. You need to help them find those and then fly your hot air balloon back to the real world in 60mins. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This is a lovely themed room that does make you feel like you’re in Oz. It is magical and stays loyal to the classic story and has a very clear and relevant mission. For a room aimed at families there are still some quite challenging puzzles, and one that has multiple layers so brains are definitely required. You are given writing materials which we didn’t use very much but I always really appreciate having them to help keep on track. It is a well lit room with a few padlocks but the majority are physical puzzles to solve, it isn’t linear game play meaning that there is something for everyone to get involved with. The puzzles are mainly linked with the theme, some in a very quirky way that is delightful. Photos were done at the end from within the room and efficiently emailed through to us along with our escape time. They also appeared on social media within a few hours. Our Games Host clearly loved his job and is very proud of the room and what the company is achieving. After we had successfully completed our mission he spent time chatting through the puzzles with us pointing out where we had excelled… and where we hadn’t! It was so lovely to have a bit of extra time to appreciate the room and the attention to detail within it. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One puzzle didn’t work and the Games Host had to pop in to work his magic on it, it is a family room that I imagine is very popular and their props are most likely manhandled but that was the only one that needed a bit of love, the others, and the overall room is in great condition. Time cards weren’t given and it was explained that they are trying to reduce the need to handle anything that is passed between people due to Covid. Clues are delivered on a screen which is great but with the Games Host having such a great personality it would have been lovely to have had him chat with us to deliver the clues. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? I took 2 friends who had done The Panic Rooms Dead Man’s Chest which is a puzzle box so it was wonderful seeing them immerse themselves in a more traditional escape room and watch them be astounded as the journey through Oz developed. I have done a lot of escape rooms by The Panic Rooms and this is up there in my favourites of theirs. It is perfect for newbies, families and anyone with a love of the Wizard of Oz story - it has been created with courage, brains and heart and needs to be played to appreciate all those aspects! It has been inspiring to watch this company grow over the years, they deserve the success they have due to the effort they put in to meet demand and their ability to adapt. They produced a lot of online games during Covid and recently opened a gift store, and added axe throwing to their offerings. It seems there is no limit to their talents, bring on whatever they can think of next, I know it’ll be great! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There are car parks nearby and all their venues are within walking distance from Gravesend train station with regular trains from London. Do note that this company has multiple venues around Gravesend. This game is based within The Panic Room 2 (the second of their 4 locations around town), Milton Road, Gravesend, Kent. There is hand sanitizer to use on the way in and the Games Master was wearing a mask so it felt very Covid safe. We were also asked to wear masks for the initial briefing. They have a fancy waiting room with a water fountain and toilets available. Strangely they didn’t have any of their stock to sell within the venue but it is only 5 mins away to go to their shop where they sell a wide variety of puzzles and games. You check into the room using a QR code that allows you to fill in all your details and sign a waiver form. They use these details to send your victory photo through to. Every person playing needed to do this so they know how many people are in the building for health and safety. The room wouldn’t be accessible for wheelchair users but their website lists their rooms and experiences that are fully accessible. They cover accessibility for wheelchair users, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, those with epilepsy or light sensitivity and anyone with issues in low light or who have color blindness. There is a chair in the room if you do need a rest. There is a lot of information on their website (that also has a chatbot) so answers to anything else you need will be found on there. Photos above are property of The Panic Room Gravesend (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank The Panic Room Gravesend for offering us a media discount for our tickets to this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DawnBallard #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Fantasy #Adventure #ThePanicRoomGravesend #Kent #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Gravesend, Kent, United Kingdom Photo above is property of The Panic Room Gravesend 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Dead Man's Chest 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 16, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Pirate, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-4 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £40/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You and your shipmates are adventuring across the seven seas looking for treasure. You spot a ship, the Ti-Panic, which seems to be abandoned so you climb onboard and go and explore. Upon investigating a strange chest you hear the Captain's voice call to you and tell you of his discovery of an Aztec ruin, laden with gold and a totem of immortality. He confesses to keeping the totem for himself and hiding it from his crew in a chest only he could open. Unfortunately he realizes too late that the totem is cursed and has trapped him inside the chest. It is your mission to solve the puzzles in the chest, break the curse and set the Captain free. Video above is property of The Panic Room Gravesend 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This is an interesting concept as all the puzzles are contained within the chest so despite it being set in a lovely themed pirate ship you don’t need to go hunting around for anything, just focus on investigating the chest. I took two friends who have never played a room before and it was a lovely introduction for them as it is made up of linear puzzles and isn’t as overwhelming as walking into a more traditional escape room where there is usually so much to look at and you don’t know where to start. We did it as a team of 3 and I think that was perfect, I can imagine it being quite hard to have 4 people jostling to see certain bits at the same time. The clue system is from the Captain and you can just touch a skull to get a hint. We needed a few to get us through, we were also informed we could go and get a team member from the shop if we got really stuck. The Games Master did come in at the end (and again during the game) as we had completed it but not put back a final piece but that didn’t at all spoil the nice ‘hurrah’ ending. Photos were done at the end from within the room and efficiently emailed through to us along with our escape time, time cards weren’t given out unfortunately. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The Games Master had to come in at one point as a part of the chest didn’t open as expected and there was another part that got frustrating as we knew what to do but it wasn’t happening as slickly as we’d like so could possibly do with a new part. Eventually we were able to succeed. For players who likes time checks, there isn't one but due to it being linear and a contained chest of puzzles, we didn't feel the pressure as much. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Overall it is a lovely set of puzzles in a great pirate themed setting. The hosts were great and the shop is phenomenal and definitely worth a visit! I’ve been doing escape rooms at the Panic Room for a number of years and it’s been wonderful to see them grow as a company and put the lesser known town of Gravesend in Kent firmly on the map for escape rooms. They have a huge variety of physical escape rooms over multiple locations, mobile escape rooms that can come to you, the new gift shop and soooo many online games that can be purchased through them. Oh and they have now started offering axe throwing as yet another offering! I’m sure it won't stop there and I’ll continue to keep my eyes on them to see what they are going to come up with next! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO This room is located in the Don’t Panic – Gifts & Games store which is absolutely amazing with it’s huge range of games, puzzles, gift ideas and you do get a 10% off code after playing Dead Man's Chest which comes in very useful! There are car parks nearby and all their venues are within walking distance from Gravesend train station with regular trains from London. There is hand sanitizer to use on the way in and all the staff were wearing masks so it felt very Covid safe. Do note that this company has multiple venues around Gravesend. This game is based within their Don’t Panic – Gifts & Games store. In this one of their venues there is no reception or cafe but it is located within the shopping centre so there are plenty of places to get a caffeine fix before or afterwards. If you are there early you wouldn’t sit down even if there was a waiting area as the shop is too interesting not to be exploring it, be warned there are sooooo many things you’ll want to buy but get them after the game as you receive a 10% off voucher upon your escape! You are asked to check into the room using a QR code that allows you to fill in all your details and sign a waiver form. They use those details to send your victory photo through to. This game wouldn't be accessible for wheelchair users as the chest is up on a table (it does have a raised platform to stand on for shorter players and kids). It would be great for anyone who doesn’t want to have to crawl or climb through anything as all the puzzles are contained within the Dead Man’s Chest itself. The website lists their rooms and experiences that are fully accessible for wheelchair users, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, those with epilepsy or light sensitivity and anyone with issues in low light or who have color blindness. There is a lot of information on their website (that also has a chatbot) so answers to anything else you need will be found on there. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank The Panic Room Gravesend for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DawnBallard #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Pirate #Adventure #ThePanicRoomGravesend #Kent #UnitedKingdom

Photo above is property of Emergency Exit Escape Games Company: Emergency Exit Escape Games Game: The Studies of Dr. Becker Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Remote Escape Room 🗣 Genre: Horror Date Played: February 18, 2022 Difficulty (based on 7 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Up to 8 Connections (Ages 16+) Time: 90 Minutes Price: £80.00/ Group Check out our reviews on the other games from Emergency Exit Escape Games - "Exorcist" and "The Beast". 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 After the events of "The Exorcist" at Crowley Manor, the in:THEORY ghost team has gone missing. Working with Charlie, who continues to search for the rest of the team, he has found some suspicious activity at the Boleskine Lodge Practice, home of the famous Dr. Becker. Agreeing to help, you, with Charlie, are waiting in his study for the next appointment but be careful as we snoop around. We may not want to end up as one of his volunteers. 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Starting this game off, we jumped right into the story with an introduction video, which was the first of many high-quality videos throughout the game. There were many video cut scenes that were played throughout the game and each of them were seamlessly integrated that there were times we were not sure where they began and ended. The room itself looked superbly creepy. Charlie the host and Liam the cameraperson, both had a personality which really takes you through the game in an entertaining fashion. Their interactions with one another was a fun show to watch in itself. They helped ease the tension of the game at times with their humorous banter. The hosts were good at nudging us in the right direction if we were stuck but also listened to what we had to say. They would try any suggestions we had without any hesitation. Photos above are property of Emergency Exit Escape Games 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There was a great variety of puzzles which included searching for items and decoding ciphers. There were some common puzzles that you would recognize if you have done a lot of escape rooms but some of them had a nice twist to them to change it up. A key thing though was that all of the puzzles transitioned well to be played online. Never once did we feel idle or that we had to wait as we watched the GM solve the puzzle for us. Whenever there was information required, they were very quick to display it on the side or show us in a fashion that we were not guessing and what we were looking at. Photos above are property of Emergency Exit Escape Games 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The Studies of Dr. Becker was a fantastic game overall which had so many high points from the interactions of Charlie and Liam to the high-quality videos that integrated seamless into the story. The characters of Charlie and Liam also played off each other and us which brought some humor and fun as an added bonus. This game reminds me a lot of Simon Pegg’s “Shawn of the Dead” movie with the style of horror and dark humor. This game is offered in person at their location, which you should play if you ever get the chance. Otherwise, this is a great game to play as an online experience (plus you might only be able to enjoy a "nice view" of Liam through the remote version). Note: **This experience contains adult material, fake blood, moments of threat/violence and psychological torment** *** Call to book remote game. This game can also be played in-person. (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Emergency Exit Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #RemoteEscapeRooms #Horror #EmergencyExitEscapeGames #UK #Crowley #LiamsButt

LOCATION: Glasgow, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Riddle Rooms Glasgow Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Time Agent 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 10, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi, Time Travel 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £55-90 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You've been tracking a group of time bandits for a while now and today is going to be the day for you to travel back to 1889 to the Wild West and meet up with Butch Cassidy so you can catch them once and for all! Your mission is to bring back the objects that they left behind to attempt to change history. Time is of the essence and you only have one hour... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This is a unique "time travel" storyline that we haven't seen anywhere yet. The concept of time bandits leaving items in the past to try to alter the current world sounds like it can be made into a movie. We love the little humorous introduction the GM made at the beginning before we were sent off into the time machine. The items that they left behind also have some interesting history. If you are interested, ask the GM after the game. Although this is a single room and smaller in size in comparison to some of their other rooms, there are quite a few surprising reveals that we discovered throughout the game. The room has a good amount of puzzles that involve some tech but also traditional locks. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One of the puzzles involves some outside knowledge of a game. The ordering also wasn't as clear. Perhaps either adding the rules of the game in the room or simplifying the prop used for that puzzle would clear up the confusion. One of the clues given to inform a prop's location could be a bit more explicit. The finale could have had a more conclusive ending. Perhaps we can put the three items somewhere and send them back to headquarters for confirmation? 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? I'm sure with more budget and space, this game could incorporate a bit more elements of "time travel" in it but we are still impressed by the current condition considering everything was built in-house. The puzzles might be on the easier side for enthusiasts but for most players, you'll still be faced with some obstacles. Instead of a typical Western saloon escape room, I much preferred the "Time Agent". The twist in the story made the game more mysterious and amusing for the players. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Street Parking (metered) Lobby area with seating available (located on 2nd floor) Lockers available Party room available Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Riddle Rooms Glasgow for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #RiddleRoomsGlasgow #SciFi #TimeTravel #Glasgow #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Bust Out 360 Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Head Chef 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 28, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Cooking, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £15-25/PP (Mon-Thur), £18-28/PP (Fri-Sun) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY As spies from a rival business, you have been sent to work in the kitchen of the restaurant belonging to the rather angry Norman Ramsbottom, celebrity chef who is well-known for his outbursts! Rumour has it, he has a new recipe on the cards that is going to knock everyone else out of the competition. You have to get hold of it before he puts you under! Can you find what you need while he is out of the kitchen and get out without being noticed? You have just 60 minutes to try… 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Starts off as a rather small, sparse and oddly grim-looking kitchen space (not at all befitting of a celebrity chef - clearly the clientele know nothing of the chaos and never get to see behind the scenes! Check out their hygiene rating!) As per the theme, everything is locked tightly away, protected by padlocks, codes and technology which means you will have a job on your hands working out how to get what you need. The humorous introduction and hints are given by a very familiar voice in the room and there are some nods to some very unusual meals being served here! A vast range of relevant objects are hidden away and used to solve puzzles, plus you can find codes, logic puzzles and physical puzzles to solve and make progress. Soothing jazzy music playing in the background as you hunt, adding a lovely vibe to the experience. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There were a few slightly worn and roughy finished props in the room, but this is a newly taken over business and they have been revamping everything ready for opening, therefore these have been noted and will likely be polished up in due course. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? A great room full of puns, cleverly hidden information and fun activities all within the theme that gave us a challenge as well as making us giggle. We did really well to start, then slowed down a little halfway. But just when we thought we were totally stuck, a hint informed us that we had simply overlooked a connection with something we thought we had investigated thoroughly. Muppets!! Definitely requires good teamwork and communication, and produces some fantastic a-ha! moments which were very satisfying. A traditional type escape room which will please the padlock fans but also has a great mix of other puzzles. The venue has been revamped, rebranded and reworked by a family team who are passionate about making great experiences. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is plenty of parking in the area but the venue is in a pedestrian area. It is also a 20-minute easy walk from the train station. Photos above are property of Bust Out 360 *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Bust Out 360 for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Cooking #Adventure #BustOut360 #Essex #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Bust Out 360 Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Samurai 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 28, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Ninja, Japanese 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 9/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £15-25/PP (Mon-Thur), £18-28/PP (Fri-Sun) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You are on a quest to avenge your family’s honour and name after a samurai warrior ransacked your village, killing many and stealing from others. You have waited for just the right moment to break into the samurai’s home and steal the one thing that gives him his power and bravado. His ancestral sword. He will not be away for long, can you get in and out with the sword before he returns? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room begins in the samurai’s garden - an enchanting, atmospheric space with a very little obvious starting point until you begin to look closer :) Once you make it into the house itself, it has been very well represented with authentic furniture, props and decoration. As expected with a very precious object - it is not going to be easy to find or get to! There is much security in the way befitting the mind of a trained warrior. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK I’d love to have seen the plain white fittings in the room painted to seem older and more in keeping with the rest of the amazing decoration! Just a small thing but it did make me laugh to think that the Samurai shops at Ikea. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We loved this room despite finding it much more difficult than the others, and having to ask for hints. We appreciated the challenge and that sense of urgency that comes from not knowing your next move! I could have stayed in the Samurai’s garden for longer, it was such a lovely space! A great challenging room for those who enjoy Japanese/samurai culture and films, unusual themes and harder rooms! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is plenty of parking in the area but the venue is in a pedestrian area. It is also a 20-minute easy walk from the train station. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Bust Out 360 for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Ninja #Japanese #BustOut360 #Essex #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Bust Out 360 Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Rockstar 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 28, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Music, Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £15-25/PP (Mon-Thur), £18-28/PP (Fri-Sun) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Freddie Knox, legendary lead member of the latest rock band in town has been poisoned by a resentful member of the band! After the deed, perpetrator Kurt Davis ran to the dressing room where it is thought he hid the poison used. You have been tasked to search the dressing room and find the hidden substance, and time is running out. Doctors need to administer an antidote so they need to know what the poison was, and they think he only has about an hour to live. Hurry! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE A superbly themed room - with some very unique props and a great soundtrack! Super puzzles with a great mix of things to do, we were never stuck and made good fast progress as a team of two. The room is plenty big enough for larger teams! There is a very fun secret part of the room which we could have happily engaged with all day. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was a slight hiccup where the safe hadn’t quite closed properly when reset - but this was quickly rectified, and noted by the GM to be double-checked in future. It didn't affect our game though as I realised quickly it shouldn’t have been that easy to open! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Any music fans and those who like to dress up and get really into the theme during their games will love this room! A traditional type escape room which will please the padlock fans but also has a great mix of other puzzles. The venue has been revamped rebranded and reworked by a family team who are passionate about making great experiences. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is plenty of parking in the area but the venue is in a pedestrian area. It is also a 20-minute easy walk from the train station. Photos above are property of Bust Out 360 *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Bust Out 360 for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Music #Mystery #BustOut360 #Essex #UnitedKingdom