Leeds leisure scene prepares for The Great Escape

THE Great Escape, Sheffield’s first and biggest live escape room experience, is launching in Leeds this weekend targeting young professionals and corporate team-building clients.

Founded in Sheffield in January 2015 by former primary teacher Hannah Duraid and business partner Peter Lacole, The Great Escape is a Crystal Maze-style concept fusing scenarios from horror movies and detective dramas with the challenges of live theatre and video games.

The business brought in 27,000 visitors and attracted 15,000 facebook fans in its first year of trading.

Such immediate success in a rapidly growing new sector of the UK entertainment industry has inspired the Great Escape team to launch a sister branch in Leeds, where 16 jobs have been created initially, rising to 40 as more rooms are added.

Great Escape’s managing director Ms Duraid said: “This week sees the soft launch of our three amazing new games unique to the industry, which will bring the next level of immersive experience to Yorkshire. Created through hyper-realistic theming, these games take the puzzle room concept to a Hollywood level.

“Having studied games all over the UK, we believe we have created one of the most technologically advanced escape games in the country. The room hosts amongst our 16 fantastic new staff are excited to share their passion for these games with our customers.”

Marketing manager Aaron Giles said: “King Arthur’s Secret is a fun filled journey back in time, where players must unravel the secrets hidden deep inside King Arthur’s Castle. Expect magic, mystery and lots of surprises. Underworld takes you on an adventure where you must unearth the truth on a conspiracy spanning over 1,000 years. This one is a fast paced action thriller for those adrenaline junkies out there.

“Expect torments, traps and trickery in The Devil’s Playground, where you play the devil at his own game… a truly chilling game for those who dare.”

The Great Escape bar and corporate room will launch on October 20, with nine more games still to be unveiled.

Ms Duraid selected Atlas House on King Street in the city centre, 6,000 sq ft of former office space where the team aim to attract 50,000 visitors a year.

Ms Duraid and business partner Mr Lacole brought the exit room phenomenon, which evolved in Japan in 2007, to Sheffield after experiencing it while travelling in Asia two years ago.

Support came from the Enterprise Team at Sheffield Hallam University, where Ms Duraid studied.

Ms Duraid said: “We have come through our first year in profit, which is being ploughed back into the business, and our aim now is to expand. Leeds was the obvious choice as it already has two escape games and understands the concept, plus we are in the Leeds Entrepreneurial Spark hatchery- part of the globally-run free growth accelerator programme.”

Long-term, additional local expansion is planned with a third site in January under negotiation and franchising options are being explored, she added.