The owners of the new Ipswich Escape Rooms which opened last week have said they are thrilled with the feedback it has had after soaring bookings have meant it is almost full for this month.

Ipswich Star: Gemma, Ross, Jason and Matt from the Ipswich Star and EADT took on the Ipswich Escape Room. Picture: ROSS HALLSGemma, Ross, Jason and Matt from the Ipswich Star and EADT took on the Ipswich Escape Room. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

The Ipswich Escape Rooms in White House Road opened on Wednesday last week, and features groups of between two and five putting their problem solving skills to the test.

Teams have just 60 minutes to crack the clues and solve the puzzles which will enable them to escape before being ‘locked’ in.

The business is owned and run by Newmarket couple Isaac and Stefanie Reed, who have already had success with the Cambridge Escape Rooms.

“It’s all going really well,” Stefanie Reed, 33, said.

“The feedback we have had from the teams has been really good and we have had quite a few escape, although only one without clues so it is definitely the right level of challenge.”

The couple’s passion for escape rooms first began in July 2014 when Isaac, now 36, first experienced one in Budapest.

“It was challenging, fun, and unlike anything else I had tried before,” he said.

“The adrenaline rush was immense and we were all talking about if for days afterwards.

Ipswich Star: Ipswich Escape Room wallIpswich Escape Room wall (Image: Archant)

“When I got back to England, I decided I had to open one myself. Two years later and Cambridge Escape Rooms was born.”

Having noticed from their customers in Cambridge that there was a demand for one in Suffolk, the couple have spent the last year working on the Ipswich edition, with plenty of bookings meaning August is almost filled.

The success of their ventures so far has meant that they are already expanding their Cambridge challenge to three different rooms, while Isaac and Stefanie have also announced plans to create a second room at their premises in Ipswich.

“We are looking to expand because once you have played it you have seen it, but it [the second room] is in the development stages.

“I’m not sure what it is [that attracts people] but they are just good fun.

“Isaac played one on a stag do and that’s what made him get into it, and as a couple we have played lots and think they are great fun.”

How we got on

As a group of novices, our team of four didn’t really know what to expect.

But what we found was a thrilling challenge pitting our logic, problem-solving, and teamwork skills to the test.

Without giving much away, the room is set around a 1930s theme, and requires teams to uncover clues and links to help them solve puzzles.

We soon got into our stride and found we were making good progress. But the real challenge comes when you find yourself stumped on a particular puzzle or clue, and after speaking to staff at the Escape Rooms it is clear different puzzles hinder different groups.

Even within our team some were able to spot the nub of a particular challenge where others couldn’t.

But regardless of your skills or expectations, the one thing you can expect is fun.

Our team may have been technically locked in (although given an extra 15 minutes to complete the whole challenge) but it didn’t detract from the enjoyment.