Escape Hunt

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Escape Hunt
Public company
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2013 in Bangkok, Thailand
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Richard Harpham, CEO
Number of employees
130
Websitehttps://escapehunt.com/

Escape Hunt is an escape room company that first started in 2013 in Bangkok[1]. Inspired by puzzle games such as Myst[1], it aims on bringing truly immersive experiences to the customer, whilst providing an adrenaline-filled activity to complete. Escape Hunt have venues in 15 countries[2] as well as offering both digital and print & play experiences for players to complete in the comfort of their own home. The company manages its United Kingdom branches in-house and is run by Franchising throughout the rest of the world.

On July 8, 2016, Escape Hunt was made a public limited company and thus became listed on the stock exchange[3].

In January 2019, Escape Hunt teamed up with BBC Studios and launched an escape room based on the popular science fiction TV series, Doctor Who[4].

History

Escape Hunt was originally founded by Paul Bartosik in 2013[5] in Bangkok, Thailand. Bartosik originally started the company due to a lack of competition focusing on global perspective[6]. He initially ran the business as well as global marketing and Franchising|franchisee relations - as well as leading the global game design in Bangkok[6]. In 2017, Escape Hunt became the first escape room company to sit on the London Stock Exchange, through a reverse takeover by investment holding company Dorcaster[5]. After the takeover was complete, Richard Harpham, former head of strategy at Pret a Manger, was appointed as CEO upon the company's admission to the market.

Operations

Head Office

Escape Hunt previously had its head office located in Waterloo, London. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has switched to remote working[7].

Markets

Locations

With 11 locations currently open in the United Kingdom[1], this is the country with the most locations, along with France - which also has 11[1]. The company also has franchised branches in Argentina, United States, Australia, Singapore, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates[1]. The numbers in both the UK and USA are set to increase in 2021[8].

It was announced on 22nd February 2021 that Escape Hunt acquired French and Belgian master franchise partner, BGP Escape[9].

Products

A poster depicting a Cyberman, the villain from one of Escape Hunt's escape room experiences.

In-Venue

In the UK, Escape Hunt offers 9 different live escape rooms[10] and 4 different Virtual reality|VR games[11]. The themes of these experiences vary, with varying design and age range, starting from ages 8 and up. Two of their escape rooms are produced with BBC Studios and are themed around the popular science fiction TV show, Doctor Who. These games are Worlds Collide and A Dalek Awakens[12]. A lot of their rooms take inspiration from popular culture, with themes including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Blackbeard[10].

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Escape Hunt made four of their UK escape rooms playable from home[13]. This is done by the player controlling a staff member situated in the escape room and directing them using Zoom (software).

At-Home

Escape Hunt also produces in-house games to be played at home. These are offered to be played digitally with or without a host as well as games that can be printed and played. The company has self-produced over 9 print & play[14] and 2 digital games[15]. Similar to their live escape rooms, these range in design and are recommended for players aged 8 and over. The themes take inspiration from both history and popular culture including: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the Day of the Dead, Space Invaders, Cluedo, Harry Potter and Alan Turing[14]. These games range in their play style, with some including elements requiring email and social media and others requiring the use of household objects such as scissors and a mirror[16].

Teambuilding

Escape Hunt also produces and hosts games for corporate clients, with an aim of creating an engaging team building experience[17]. This offering includes their in-venue games and 4 remote escape rooms, as well as 5 digital experiences that can be completed virtually[18].

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "See what the buzz is all about - Escape Hunt - Live Escape Rooms". Escape Hunt. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  2. "Welcome To A World Of Unlimited Excitement - Escape Hunt - Live Escape Rooms". Escape Hunt. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  3. "📉 ESCAPE HUNT Share Price - ESC Share Price". Stockopedia. Retrieved 2021-02-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "BBC Studios teams up with Escape Hunt for second Doctor Who game". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "'Escape room' gaming group set to float on Aim". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2021-03-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Interview with Paul Bart, CEO and Founder of The Escape Hunt Experience | Exit Games UK". Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  7. "Change of Registered Office Address". Companies House. 2021-03-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. Harpham, Richard (2021-02-11). "Escape hunt well positioned for the future with eyes on the states interview". Directors Talk Interviews. Retrieved 2021-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "Escape Hunt completes French acquisition of BGP Escape - DirectorsTalk Interviews". Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Choose Your Adventure". UK. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  11. "Choose Your Adventure". UK. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  12. "Take on a Dalek in a new Doctor Who escape room!". Doctor Who. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  13. "Zoom into the room | Corporate Events | Escape Hunt UK". UK. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  14. 14.0 14.1 "Choose Your Adventure". UK. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  15. "Choose Your Adventure". UK. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  16. "A CURIOUS TEA PARTY". Escape Hunt UK. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  17. "Escape Hunt has launched virtual team building experiences perfect for Christmas parties". PA Life. 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  18. "Remote Digital Adventures | Corporate Events | Escape Hunt UK". UK. Retrieved 2021-03-15.

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