House of Escapes - "Conspiracy"

Updated: Apr 24

LOCATION:  Nuneaton, United Kingdom

Photo above is property of House of Escapes and Salmon Crest Pictures

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Conspiracy
📅 DATE PLAYED: November 9, 2021
🎬 GENRE: Detective, Mystery, Immersive
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl (Recommend 4) (Ages 14+)
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: £20-30/PP (pending on the group size)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (45Min)

📖 THE STORY

You are a team of crack detectives who have arrived at this building to investigate a bomb threat. But one of the offices here belongs to Richard Bishop - the son of your very own police chief. Is it a hoax? Just a coincidence? Or a real threat at the heart of your force? You need to investigate and make sure that you uncover the source of the threat, and discover if there is indeed anything to be worried about!

Photo above is property of House of Escapes

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

There are two briefing videos. These took place in a separate room and made it feel like you were officially in the briefing room of a swanky police station! The first is a hilarious explainer video for what to do and what not to do in the room. The second is the official case briefing, in the form of a conversation between two officers.
Once you leave the briefing room, what next? Well, you listened carefully to the briefing, right?
On entering the main room, you may be forgiven for thinking you have accidentally wandered into one of the site’s regular offices, as it is perfectly set up as a modern office, not one padlock in sight, and everything looks totally in keeping with a regular workplace. Well, mostly ;)
There is most certainly a sense of urgency throughout the game, driven by various clever environmental and sensory stimuli.
It was always clear what we had to do at each stage, and there was plenty of information hunting, physical interactions, logic puzzles and cooperation to be done, which again made the game feel more like a real-life situation drama and less like a playground of combination locks.
The tech used in this room is mind-blowing, and, we learned, all made and programmed by the owners. So impressive.
No outside knowledge is needed, but there are some amazingly well woven in everyday concepts used in the gameplay that we hugely enjoyed.
There is a brilliant hint system that felt so natural and again made the whole experience incredibly immersive and as if you were actually dealing with real life.
Everything throughout the site is clean, neat and smart. Another testament to the hard work of the owners.
After the game we met our GM Hannah who had been mysteriously hidden away behind the scenes until now, and we chatted for a long time to both of them. They are both just lovely.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

I had watched the trailer pretty soon before attending the game and there was one action shown being completed in the room in it which I felt gave me an advantage when I got to that part as I knew exactly what to do rather than discovering it myself. I passed this note on to the owners so that they could take action and it was a very minor thing - it actually made me feel even more like a detective afterwards, as if somehow I’d gained some “insider info” but being such a clever element within the game it seems a shame to give it away ;)

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

There are very few times my jaw hangs open in response to anything - but this was one of those times (behind my facemask, obvs). From the unassuming entrance in a small arcade in a quiet Nuneaton street, you enter House of Escapes and ascend a grand purple carpeted stairway to THE most amazing space. High ceilings, wooden paneling, stained glass windows, a grand reception desk. Not to mention a large cupboard chock full of escape room and other board games which I was drawn to like a moth to a flame. Anyway, once you have stopped gawping at the majestic venue, you’ll be greeted warmly by one of the lucky team who run the place, and your experience begins. The Covid safety measures gone to by the team are top-notch. There are the usual sanitisers, facemasks etc, but if you can show your covid passport/vaccination card too and then you can go mask free. There are also Airsteril UV sterilisation units in the main public areas (games room and Escape Room itself) so straight away top marks for making sure it is a healthy and safe environment!

This site is worth a visit for the beautiful building and wonderful owner/host/GMs Hannah and David alone! But then the game is just fantastic and there is a part 2 to follow soon, along with other games in the other rooms. I can’t wait to see where they take it next. If you have time when you go, chat to David about his other talents, and check out his book. Also, ask if you can see the building’s amazing secret feature that made me gasp with delight!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

This is no ordinary sit in the lobby and then go to the room and begin experience either! We were taken to a large conference-style room and shown to a table, joined by our host, David. We were given the chance to purchase very reasonably priced drinks and cakes from a small menu, which was a lovely touch, and David took us through the vital information about what was going to happen. Part of this is a digital waiver form which is very easily done by beeping a QR code and filling in your details in a quick form. Payment for your experience and any tasty treats can then also be taken with a digital device. There are also free lockers and very grand toilets which you can use before you begin. A chance to ask questions, and then some final information and background to the room, and we were then given our official detective badges for the task at hand. Once armed with these, we were then officially on duty, and off to our next venue, the briefing room....

A large car park is very close by and free after 6pm. There is no lift in the building so two sets of stairs must be negotiated, but the room itself is all on one level and quite open. They have subtitles available on the briefing video should any of the team need it. They also check for any access needs and medical conditions before you begin to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience, so make sure to leave a good 2 hours for the whole experience. You will feel very looked after!

The company also runs corporate events, game and cafe sessions, escape room in a box sessions, custom events and more, so consider them for any of your game and experience needs - I fully intend to go back for a big games party with loads of friends!

Photos above are property of House of Escapes

*** We regret to inform this company has closed its doors ***

(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 House of Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.