Big Plans for The Great Big Escape Owners in Brewery Square

Just over a year on from opening the first ever escape room in Dorchester in February 2022, it is fair to say that The Great Big Escape has had quite the impact on the community. The exhilarating attraction quickly settled into its new home at Brewery Square, with many visitors leaving with rave reviews after their escapes and more people visiting the town to get involved!

Although their name pays homage to the 1963 Steve McQueen classic featuring that motorbike jump, is it clear that The Great Big Escape lives very much with their eyes set on the future, with new experiences and business ideas in the pipeline.

We recently caught up with Bradley Butterworth, Director and Co-owner of The Great Big Escape, to ask him a little more about the unique attraction, and his plans for the future:

Can you explain how and why you started The Great Big Escape?

The Great Big Escape was started because we saw an opportunity to bring something unique and exciting to our community in Dorchester. We are not a franchise, but rather an independent business that was founded on our passion for escape rooms and our desire to create a one-of-a-kind experience for our customers.

As the owners, we wanted to build a business that reflected our own personal values and allowed us to connect with our community in a meaningful way. We believe that escape rooms are a fantastic way to bring people together, challenge their minds, and have fun in the process.

So, we set out to create a space that was both immersive and challenging, and we’re proud to say that The Great Big Escape has become a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.

What experiences do you have? And can anyone take part?

At our escape room in Brewery Square, Dorchester, we offer two immersive escape room experiences: The Hop House Homicide and The Barber of Pope Street.

The Hop House Homicide takes place in Hop House at Brewery Square and challenges players to solve the murder of Scott Linden. Meanwhile, The Barber of Pope Street is our latest room where we have teamed up with Seventh Seal at Brewery Square. In this room you play the role of Brewery Square Security and uncover something not quite right!

Both of our experiences are designed to be enjoyed by everyone. We welcome all players, from beginners to seasoned escape room enthusiasts. Our rooms are fully accessible and can be adapted to meet the needs of all players.

Our experiences are perfect for team-building events, family outings, date nights, or just a fun day out with friends.

Who came up with idea for the experiences? Was it challenging creating the puzzles and putting them into action?

Amie is the brains behind the stories of our rooms. All of our rooms are written with Dorchester in mind, it just gives the locals that visit a bit of a “warm hug” when they see and hear things in the rooms that are familiar to them.

Amie has some great ideas for our next set of rooms, with a new one due to be completed in Q3 of this year.

What made you choose Dorchester’s Brewery Square as a place to open?

It’s has become the place to go for an evening’s entertainment in Dorchester! We feel that The Great Big Escape compliments the restaurants very well and gives everyone something a little different to do before or after eating at one of the many fantastic venues.

Do you have any exciting plans for the future?

We have recently taken on another unit at Brewery Square, 9 Pope Street which we are working on opening for the May Bank Holiday.

Debut Encore is an exciting new workplace café and podcast studio. This innovative space is designed to cater to the needs of freelancers, remote workers, and entrepreneurs who are looking for a flexible and inspiring work environment.

The café will serve up a range of delicious hot and cold beverages, snacks, and light meals to fuel your day, including a selection of vegan and gluten-free options. The bright and modern interior provides a comfortable and welcoming space to work, catch up with colleagues or friends, or simply relax and unwind.

What sets Debut Encore apart from other cafés is its state-of-the-art podcast studio, which will be available for hire to record, edit, and produce professional-quality podcasts. Equipped with high-quality microphones, mixers, and soundproofing, this studio provides everything you need to create a polished and engaging podcast. The team at Debut Encore can even help with scriptwriting, editing, and post-production if needed.

Debut Encore will also be an ideal venue for hosting events, workshops, and meetings. The café space can be transformed into a stylish and flexible event space. The team at Debut Encore can help you plan and execute your event, providing catering, AV equipment, and other support as needed.

Overall, Debut Encore promises to be an exciting new addition to the vibrant Brewery Square community. Whether you’re a podcasting pro, a freelancer looking for a change of scenery, or simply in need of a great cup of coffee, Debut Encore is sure to become your new favourite spot.

Can you describe The Great Big Escape in three words?

Exciting, Different, Unique.

To conclude our conversation, Bradley added:

We can’t take all the credit for The Great Big Escape. Although we are the owners it’s our amazing staff members that give everyone the experience not to forget. Without our team, The Great Big Escape wouldn’t be where it is today.”

The Great Big Escape has proved to to be one of the most exciting attractions in not just Dorchester, but the whole county! Whether you are looking for a family day out or activities for adults in Dorchester, this is sure to be the exhilarating brain workout that you need to liven up your day! The escape room is the perfect activity for a date night in Dorchester – best enjoyed before visiting a romantic restaurant in Dorset‘s county town!

We can’t wait to find out more about Debut Encore, and the new experience coming to the escape room later this year!

Find out more and book your experience on their website, and keep up with the escape artists on their Facebook!

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