Having just submitted our nominations for this year’s TERPECA awards, it was a good time to reflect on some of the games that we’ve played on last year’s top 100 list. Many of these amazing rooms were based overseas, where space is cheaper and the market different, but there was a commonality: safety.

It’s hard to recall a time when any of us felt unsafe playing games in the UK. That’s not always been the case when we’ve played in some mainland European rooms. Whilst 95% of them have felt safe, a few have felt a little too edgy – we’ve had close calls within dimly lit stairways, overly physical actors, and sharp unprotected edges on props and spaces.

Coming away with a few scratches might be considered part of the experience, but it only requires a bit of bad luck for that minor accident to become more serious. Unfortunately, when people see headlines like the tragic fire at a Polish escape room venue, it’s understandable that alarms are raised.

Yet for UK operators of escape rooms and immersive attractions, the widely applied perception that all such venues are inherently high risk simply isn’t true – and it doesn’t reflect the regulatory reality or day-to-day safe practice on this side of the Channel.

UK regulation and safe practice – what sets UK venues apart

In the UK, the overarching duties for health and safety are clearly laid out under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA). This places a duty on persons in control of premises to ensure the health, safety and welfare of visitors and staff. In addition, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, as well as fire safety risk assessment guidance for small and medium places of assembly, further reinforce steps to manage escape routes, lighting, signage and evacuation.

Ultimately, UK escape rooms are subject to robust fire safety and building regulations, and the local regulatory authority (usually the council) acts as the enforcing body.

On top of that, many UK venues clearly emphasise that guests are not truly locked in. David Middleton, owner of renowned venue Bewilder Box and spokesperson for the Escape Room Industry Conference, pointed out that it’s illegal in the UK for a business to lock people in a room where they can’t leave without assistance.

That distinction is critical, because some of the overseas incidents that raise alarm feature genuinely locked-in conditions, poor access/egress, or unclear safety controls. Whilst this remains rare, with changes having been made in the majority of venues on the continent, there seem to be pockets where things are still lagging.

Why insurers and the public should recognise the difference

Because UK venues operate under the HSWA and fire/assembly regulations, they’re arguably less likely to fall into the “poorly managed” category that gives the whole industry a bad name. That matters for two reasons:

1. Claims defensibility – Where the UK venue has documented evacuation routes, clear exits, participant briefing, game monitoring and supervision, it will be in a much stronger position to defend itself if something does go wrong
2. Reputation fairness – It’s unfair for UK escape room and immersive attraction operators to be treated the same as overseas venues whose regulatory and building standards may differ or whose oversight is weaker

The UK sector deserves recognition for the steps it takes to manage risks whilst delivering immersive and thrilling experiences.

Key things UK operators get right (and others might not)

Alongside the regulations UK escape rooms have to adhere to, there are several practices that set them apart from other venues:

Clear briefing

In the UK, it’s common to actively tell participants what to expect – whether that’s strobe lighting, darkness, crawl spaces or physical elements – so that they know ahead of time. Whilst “warm start” rooms might be more exciting, beginning the immersion earlier, that only really works when effective briefing has been done prior to the experience.

Immediate exit ability

UK venues often make sure any “lock-in” is only thematic; participants can leave at any time. Whilst most European rooms are now the same, we still hear from the community of examples where the doors are genuinely locked, and the handcuffs are real.

Fire and escape route standards

Fire guidance in the UK emphasises that there should be at least two escape routes for many assembly spaces, as well as clear exits, doors that open in the direction of travel, escape lighting, and other measures. Failure to adhere to this can lead to prosecution.

Regular risk assessments and supervision

UK operators are similar to those in North America, where they have mountains of red tape to go through to be able to simply open their doors. Building regulations, fire risk assessments, and health and safety duties all need tackling before any bookings can be taken.

We believe in fair recognition

It’s understandable that the dramatic stories from overseas create caution. But for UK escape rooms and immersive attractions, the blanket label of “high risk” is unfair. It’s also damaging – influencing the lazier insurers, who are reluctant to provide fair quotations for these businesses.

When standard UK regulations apply, when venues follow best practice, when players are briefed and always able to leave, the actual risk profile is much lower than some headlines suggest. At No Spoilers, we recognise the professionalism of the country’s sector and would encourage insurers, regulators and the public to give UK-based operators the benefit of that recognition.

If you’d like support in reviewing your escape room’s insurance cover to reflect your actual practices (and protect you from unfair comparisons), drop us a line.

Photo by Magda Ehlers