'Does your team have what it takes to escape?' we were asked as we decided to take on one of Greater Manchester's most popular escape rooms.
Looking round at our team of two mums and three teens, I wasn't exactly sure. Some of us had done a couple of such challenges before, others not at all.
Our room of choice was Kidnapped at Adrenaline Escape in Atherton, Wigan - one of three centres the company owns, along with sites at The Trafford Centre and in Wigan town centre.
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And judging by demand for this one, Saturdays generally get fully booked, we were lucky to get a slot.
There are six rooms at the Atherton one, which changed its name from Atherton Escape Rooms in October, and in this one we were told that we were 'the last hope of capturing the infamous kidnapper known only as The Ghost’.
"His victims have vanished without trace, some of whom have been found dead days later. Is this the night the kidnapper will finally be caught? Or will you be left begging for your lives," it said.
Set inside Victoria Mill, and after a somewhat creepy staircase walk to the attraction itself, we were given a warm welcome by staff who briefed us on what to expect - how to use some of the fiddly locks involved in our 'game' and most importantly to tell us we could ask for clues if necessary.
Suitably anxious by the time it got started, we were all too aware of the sole objective, to escape our room within 60 minutes.
After a bit of a slow start, with none of us really knowing what to do first, we were soon in the swing of it - finding the relevant objects we needed to put codes together for the various locks.
At times I was a hindrance more than a help - following a sequence for a directional padlock was certainly not my strong point - but it was great to work together and uncover all the necessary evidence and clues.
I won't go into detail about the room itself, as I don't want to spoil it for others, but there were plenty of surprises in store and the hour timeslot flew by.
Did we succeed? Sadly not, but our host assured us we weren't far off, before explaining what we needed to have done to reach the end and escape.
There's a certain frustration in not being able to complete a challenge you've invested your time in, but then it wouldn't be much of a challenge if everyone succeeded would it.
It was a lot of fun and perfect for those tweens and teens who can sometimes be a struggle to entertain.
The family owned business was set up by escape room enthusiasts Daniel Brooks and Stuart Barton in 2019.
It now has 10 escape room experiences across the three locations, with plans to open more over the next few years.
What you need to know about the rooms
How many people can play?
A minimum of two players and a maximum of six are allowed in the rooms. Should you wish to accommodate a larger party, call the centre to discuss different options.
Are there any age restrictions?
Whilst there are no age limits to playing the games, some of the puzzles and experiences may be too challenging for children under 10. Children under 16 can play as a team and must be accompanied by an adult, however the accompanying adult does not need to play the room with the group.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on the room. For Kidnapped it starts from £16 per person, with prices also dependent on how many people are playing.
How do you book?
You can call the relevant centre, or visit the websites here for Atherton, Wigan and Trafford.
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