Escape room business expands south of the border to launch new venue in York

Breakout Games, the escape room business, is set to create 12 new jobs in York with the opening of a brand new a venue.

The Aberdeen-based business has converted premises on Tower Street – its first location south of the border - to provide a range of rooms in which participants race against the clock to crack puzzles and codes and escape.

Branded ‘Mindlock York’, the new venture will feature a Viking Valhalla room in which two teams of up to six people compete against each other.

Breakout Games has invested more than £50k in the Mindlock York premises and taken a five-year lease on the building.

The company was advised on the lease by Langleys Solicitors.

Hollie Kelly, whi runs the business with her husband Gilan, said: “York is a great tourism destination with the right customer demographic for our entertainment-based business.

“We also see Mindlock York appealing to companies and organisations because of the team building experiences we can offer through our escape games.”

James Bradley, senior associate in the commercial property team at Langleys Solicitors, added: “We are pleased to support Hollie and Gilan in bringing their escape games concept to York, expanding their successful business and creating valuable jobs.”

Breakout Games launched its first venue in Aberdeen three years ago. It has since gone on to open escape rooms in Inverness and Dundee, employing more than 40 people.