I’ve got a new skill to add to my CV. “Expert Torch Holder”.
This is part of an occasional series called ‘Cwmbran Life on Tour’. The latest trip saw me travel to the Rhondda Escape Rooms in Tonypandy– a 31-mile/45-minute drive from Cwmbran.
What is an escape room? The name sounds like it’s going to be a scary, nightmare experience but it’s the opposite. Yes, you get ‘locked’ in a room and yes, you have to ‘escape.’ Escape Rooms are a team game, so we went in as a group of six, four adults and two children. The two adults and two children were our friends from Billericay in Essex.
‘Teamwork’
Once the clock starts, it’s down to teamwork to work out the next step in the game. You’re not allowed to take photos or videos to avoid any spoilers for future game players.
There are all sorts of games at each stage, and you must figure out the order and what’s next to get you one step closer to ‘freedom’. It’s full of surprises and laughs as well as loud cheers, clapping and fist-pumping fun as you get through each stage.
Luckily for me, I was with five people who had quizzical and logical minds to look at things differently. This led to my chosen role as ‘torch pointer’ where I made sure my teammates had enough light to play the games, put the numbers in the padlocks correctly, and had time to concentrate without my unhelpful comments. Yes, I was a vital cog.
The Escape Room owners are just a shout-out away. You can call out if you need help (maybe a clue or a little nudge if you’re a bit stuck 😉 ) and a helpful voice will answer your question.
‘Family-run business’
Rhondda Escape Rooms is a family-run business – the customer service, welcome and post-game chat was 10/10. It was so friendly and a great advert for Wales for our Essex guests. In fact, when the owner found out they were from Billericay, he called his wife to come and meet them as she’s a Gavin and Stacey fan. He said: “To meet someone from Billericay, she’ll laugh her head off now.”
“Superb so good” and “Great fun” were some of the comments we made when we were “free” and stood in the reception area chatting to the owners. Our friends had played escape rooms in Derbyshire and Essex, and both of them said this was the best one they’d completed.
We paid £20 per person. There are four different types of ‘rooms’ to choose to play. We completed ‘Strangest Things’, a room inspired by the Netflix series Stranger Things.
Find out more on Rhondda Escape Rooms’ website.