Shropshire Star

Crystal Maze fans rejoice! Escape rooms craze heading to Shropshire

It is a fast-growing new craze that sees members of the public locked in a room and asked to find their way out by solving a series of clues.

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And now a version of the adventure centre could be coming to Shropshire.

Just like is a real-life Crystal Maze, Escape rooms, which see groups of two to six people work out the solution to puzzles in order to escape, are becoming increasingly popular.

Players usually have an hour in which to solve the challenges and win the game, and games are already taking place in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.

Now a new company, called Xscape Now Limited, has been formed in Telford, and a planning application has been put forward to start an escape room in the town.

The centre would occupy two units on Ketley Business Park, and would also create jobs for around seven new people, including three full-time positions.

In an application to Telford & Wrekin Council, the company said: "Escape rooms are a leisure activity which is seeing increased popularity across the UK.

"Participants are locked in a room in groups of two to six and have to solve a series of clues to facilitate their 'escape' from the room. It is a fun activity which involves logic, problem solving and teamwork.

"Groups that take part typically comprise families, friends and work colleagues."

The application added that the room will be the first of its type in Shropshire, and could draw customers from across the county and even Wolverhampton, for whom the nearest alternative venue is in Birmingham.

"As the activity is carried out in small groups there is not expected to be any significant disruption in terms of noise or traffic," the company added.

"The Escape Room activity lasts for one hour and there is a period of briefing and resetting the puzzles before and after the game so there will not be a constant stream of traffic."

The game will operate in evenings and weekends, including some bank holidays, as well as during normal working hours.

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