A launch message from Tom
Hello. If you're reading this, you're probably someone I know, or someone they value. This is what I'm building and why, and asking for a bit of help.
I've done the homework, and there's a special opportunity here
I've now done 96 escape rooms, plus dozens of immersive experiences and theme parks around the world. The more I research, the more I see, the more I think there's something special to build here in the UK, and that now is the time.
We're losing our quality time together
We're spending more and more of our lives on phones and screens, and real time together is getting scarce. I see the same pattern at DeskLodge with teams wanting quality time getting to know their colleagues, as well as with friends, and with the people we love. I want to build something that lets people enjoy amazing time together.
UK escape rooms sit at the fringes, and they shouldn't
Escape rooms are not as popular in the UK as elsewhere. The UK scene is mostly generic corporate chains, or passionate independents fighting brutal rents from back-street units. Brilliant in places, but it's never gone properly mainstream. In conversations, true fans love puzzles, but a lot of people don't. We're ranked low down globally (there are rankings!) which is odd, as we're world-class around this world. Actor-led (Punchdrunk, Secret Cinema, Phantom Peak) and IP-led immersive (Traitors, Crystal Maze, Monopoly Lifesized). There's a huge opportunity for something that leans on the best of each to create a high-end experience.
ThreeDoors is built to be the way in
So that's what I'm building. A gateway attraction with broad appeal. Learning from the best in the world and leaning on other industries. A room that gets far more people through the door and into this whole world of escape rooms and immersive experiences.
The next job is making it work
From studying the best, I know experiences live or die on testing, not on the idea. So that's the work now. Getting real teams through it, watching what lands and fixing what doesn't, again and again until it's right.
So, where you come in. Three ways to help, or just come and play.
1. You can be first through the doors
Booking isn't open yet, but the people on this list will be first in, before the public. I'd love you among the early teams. Fair warning, it'll still be a bit rough around the edges when you come, and that's the point. I want to know what works and what doesn't from people who'll tell me the truth.
Message the host on WhatsApp, or join by email, and we'll keep your name.
2. We're building the founding team
The prototype is nearly ready to test in our warehouse near Henley. The first two seats are open now. A brilliant game master to run real teams through the room, and an operations manager to help lead the growth. More full-time, part-time and contract roles will follow as we grow, plus a set of specialist briefs.
If someone you rate comes to mind, please send them our way.
3. We're raising, and I'd love the right people in
The numbers stack up for getting it right, with clear adjacent examples in the UK and globally.
We're raising a small pre-seed round to build the launch venue and get the doors open. It's SEIS-eligible, so the early money works hard for the right kind of investor. I'd love a handful of people who get why a room about decisions matters, and who want to help build something special.
If that sounds like you, or someone you know, there's a deck and a data room ready when you are. Especially people with experience of hospitality, leisure and multi-site property.
That's it. Thank you for reading this far, and for being someone I wanted to tell first. Please share with anyone you think would like to see this happen.
Tom