The Panic Room,
7 Berkley Crescent
Gravesend,
Kent, DA12 2AH
(please note this escape room currently has 3 Gravesend Room locations)
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Tel; 01474 340255
Email; dontpanic@thepanicroom.net
Website; https://thepanicroom.net
Knowing where to start to review this huge Escape Room company is a challenge in itself! Currently based in 3 separate locations within Gravesend, there is certainly an experience for all whether your a newcomer or an experienced escape room aficionado!
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Their "main" location is based at the St Georges Centre just off Gravesend High Street. Its large glass frontage and strong branding sets the scene for a highly professional, yet still personal, experience to follow.
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Walking through the door, not only are you greeted by a member of their friendly team, but also a HUGE dinosaur! The large waiting area is filled with puzzles to keep you occupied and an escape pod, which, for a small charge, you can spend your waiting time trying to get your brain in gear for what is to follow!
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A member of the reception team will get you signed on their touchscreen tablets before you take a seat, have a drink and wait for your experience to begin - you can even buy some Panic Room merchandise to commemorate your day! When businesses grow as rapidly as The Panic Room has, they often lose touch with their customer service - This business is the complete opposite - It is clearly evident that Alex, Monique and their team strive for excellence so that their customers have an experience that they will never forget.
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Your game host will then come to collect you from reception (the game host will likely also be already in character!) and take you through to the briefing room. Having a facility of this size has given the Panic Room the opportunity to provide a large scale briefing room, which I wont spoil, but really provides an entertaining start to your game!
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For an up-to-date list of all their rooms, I would suggest visiting https://thepanicroom.net/ as this is a real fast paced business which, at time of writing have 21 experiences!
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Please check out below the experiences that I have had the pleasure of taking part in;
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RESURGENCY
Back in 2016, the Panic Room pulled together a crack team of bomb disposal experts in their Urgency escape room. This time, its just a training exercise... or is it?!​
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This is a fantastic room which pulls together a simple theme and some clever use of technology. There are quite a volume of puzzles within the room and when you first walk it, it is very evident of what you will likely be required to do. Solving them and the order in which you have to do them is a very different proposition!
It is clear to see why people can get frustrated in this room. A cool booming soundtrack, lots of flashing lights etc are there to take you off your game, and it works wonderfully!
What I particularly like about this room, is that it isn't a "copy and paste insert escape room here" scenario! There are very few padlocks and much of the puzzles are based around the bomb. If there is one thing that The Panic Room do better than most, its keeping the puzzles as closely linked to the game as possible - and this room is a standout example of this.
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The pace of the game sits perfectly, with some of the puzzles also adding to the pace with limited time allowed on some and the potential for the bomb to explode at any moment if you fail! This small, yet perfectly formed escape room is great fun and a fantastic example of how simplistic ideas can turn into an hours-worth of excitement.
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Would I recommend this room?​
Yes - great use of technology, with a simple, easy-to-follow theme.
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Who would I recommend it to?
I would recommend to all. This game is perfect for newcomers and experienced players alike.
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How many players would I recommend?
4 is a perfect size team for this room. Any fewer and you may struggle, any more and you may feel crowded
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Suitable for Children?
Yes! My son is 9 and come with me to play this room. Amazingly, the level of technology within the room, plays into the older child/teenagers hands perfectly!
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Star Ratings;
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Enjoyment; 4.5
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Puzzles; 4.5
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Difficulty; 3.5
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Theme; 4.5
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Interested in booking this room?
Visit - https://thepanicroom.net/
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THE DOLLHOUSE
So, you have been kidnapped by the murdered who likes to skin his victims and attach them to dolls! Want to be part of his ever growing collection?! - I think not! This is a game that I was nervous to play - but in the right way!
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I absolutely love this room! It really hits the nail on the head. There are obviously a few rooms out there where you have been kidnapped and you must escape before the killer returns - however this has a real creepy sadistic feel that makes it the perfect balance of fear and excitement. With horror rooms I worry that you spend more time being scarred than actually doing the puzzles but that is not the case here - the balance works brilliantly.
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As ever, no spoilers - but the start of the game is awesome. It will certainly put your team to the test. As you work your way through the game, the intensity certainly increases and you feel a bigger and bigger sense of urgency. The subtle hint of fear keeps biting and the occasional scare hits just at the right moments to keep you on your toes.
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The puzzles within the room are strong and varied. Sticking strictly to the theme of dolls must have been a tricky mission for the design team, however they have succeeded massively here. A great combination of physical and padlock games, you will find yourself scratching your head on a few occasions. The puzzles certainly have differing levels of difficulty within the dollhouse, however all are achievable. There are quite a number of challenges within the room so teamwork will make the dream work!
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This is a real must for horror fans and escape room enthusiasts alike, You will not be disappointed. Spend an hour of excitement and fear, just don't become his next victim!
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Would I recommend this room?​
Without doubt! An awesome combination of strong theme, scary story and brilliant puzzle make this a must.
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Who would I recommend it to?
I would recommend to all. Some of the games would prove tricky for newcomers, however work together and you will succeed.
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How many players would I recommend?
Between 3 and 5 is a great size for this room given its layout and volume of puzzles. There is however plenty of space for larger teams too.
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Suitable for Children?
In a word - no! As three grown men, we jumped out of our skin (pun intended) a few times so I would suggest the 16+ age would be perfect.
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Star Ratings;
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Enjoyment; 5
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Puzzles; 4
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Difficulty; 4
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Theme; 4.5
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Interested in booking this room?
Visit - https://thepanicroom.net/
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TEN FATHOMS DEEP
There is only one escape pod left in the submarine and you have one hour to access it before you are sleeping with the fishes!
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The concept and theme of this room is brilliant, plus it has the added bonus of also having the option to be a team battle where you go head to head with friends and family. We chose to do this boys vs girls and we all agreed this is one of our favourite rooms we have done as a group.
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The puzzles within the room are brilliantly themed and the setting is brilliant. You really do feel like you are in a submarine. There are some great twists in the story and the vs method means you have an added element that very few escape rooms can match - the way in which you get an insight into how your opponents are doing is also very clever. (Worth knowing you can also play this as single team).​
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Would I recommend this room?​
Yes, for sure. Brilliant, well themed with a great competitive edge.
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Who would I recommend it to?
Some of the puzzles are tricky however all achievable, so newcomers and experienced escapists will all love it.
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How many players would I recommend?
4 or six players would be perfect if doing a vs room, 2-3 players for a single team.
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Suitable for Children?
Yes, there is nothing that would cause any scares, however adults would possibly need to assist with many of the puzzles.
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Star Ratings;
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Enjoyment; 4.5
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Puzzles; 4
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Difficulty; 3.5
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Theme; 5
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Interested in booking this room?
Visit - https://thepanicroom.net/
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REVOLUTION OLE
This is a very different escape room with a complex yet massively enjoyable theme. You have stormed the office of El Presidinte in a bid to overthrow the government and create a revolution.
The room is well themed and quite simplistic - which in my experience often means that it is doing to be a difficult room to master - and my intuition was correct!
Your challenge is to understand the political views of 5 different individuals and create a plan to get them on your side to build the revolution. The pace of this game is quite something to behold so don't be lulled into a false sense of security - the puzzles come thick and fast and are a variety of fact finding, physical and riddle based challenges.
A brilliantly put together room, A real escape room challenge!
Would I recommend this room?
Yes, the pace and the puzzles make this a great challenge
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Who would I recommend it to?
Certainly more experienced escape room enthusiasts as the theme and some puzzle are complex
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How many players would I recommend?
5-6 players as there is a lot to be dealing with!
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Suitable for Children?
Not really. The complexity of the theme would be complicated for children to appreciate.
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Star Ratings;
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Enjoyment; 4
Puzzles; 4.5
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Difficulty; 5
Theme; 4
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Interested in booking this room?
Visit - https://thepanicroom.net/
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THE LOOP
A brilliantly executed masterpiece of an escape room! Pitched as a sci-fi mind bender, this room lives up to the moniker.
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You step in the laboratory of "Frontier Engineering", who are a company tackling the unknowns of science, your challenge is to look into the mysterious and powerful device known as "The Unit".
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The room is complex and certainly one of the harder rooms I have tried. There aren't a vast amount of puzzles inside however those that there are, are certainly enjoyable, if a little taxing!
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Some great twists and turns within this room, strong story line, simple looking room inside, however a brilliant room for escape room and sci-fi enthusiasts alike.
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You must do this room! The above review does not do it justice - I simply don't want to give any hint as to what to expect inside!
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Would I recommend this room?
Yes, certainly. A great room with some surprises along the way.
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Who would I recommend it to?
Lovers of escape rooms and/or sci-fi will love this one, its very different to anything I've done before. Probably not great for first timers.
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How many players would I recommend?
Around 4-5 would be perfect.
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Suitable for Children?
The Panic Room suggest 12+ and I would tend to agree as the puzzles are rather complex.
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Star Ratings;
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Enjoyment; 4
Puzzles; 4.5
Difficulty; 4.5
Theme; 4
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Interested in booking this room?
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Visit - https://thepanicroom.net/
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DINO LAND
The scale and effort that has gone into this "room" is phenomenal!
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The story line revolves around the fact that the dinosaurs have escaped and you have 75 minutes to secure the park. This monster of an escape room is packed with puzzles, fun, physical challenges, actors, effects, the lot!
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I simply cannot put into words how enjoyable this room is. The story line is strong, the puzzles are varied, the pace is breathtaking and the room design is really something to behold.
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It really feels like you are part of a blockbuster movie! There are some great surprises along the way which really keep you on your toes. The level of puzzles are well pitched, suiting all abilities and ages.
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This is a room not to be missed. Take 75 minutes out of your day and do it. There aren't many escape rooms that I would say I would do twice, however this is certainly one of them!
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Would I recommend this room?
Without doubt. Do it!
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Who would I recommend it to?
A brilliant experience which can be enjoyed by the whole family. Escape enthusiasts will love it too.
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How many players would I recommend?
I would suggest between 4-8 as the scale is HUGE and the puzzles are varied.
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Suitable for Children?
Yes, however would suggest over 8's
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Star Ratings;
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Enjoyment; 5
Puzzles; 4.5
Difficulty; 3.5
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Theme; 4.5
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Interested in booking this room?
Visit - https://thepanicroom.net/
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DEFECTIVE DETECTIVE
One of the first escape rooms I tried, this one helped me get the bug and Im sure it will you too!
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The room is based around the fact that a body has been found and the detective put on the case hasn't got the best track record. Your job is to uncover the mystery within the time before an innocent person is sent down for life.
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Simplicity is often the key to a successful escape room, and this is what you are met with when walking inside the murdered persons apartment. This turns it into a brilliant detective mission as nothing is very obvious - whereas other escape rooms usually have a very obvious "first clue" this is not the case and you can find yourself (as I did) losing track of what you should be looking for. With the aid of the police officer that met you at the front door, you should find yourself back on track!
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The puzzles in this room are basic and suitable for most abilities and there are some funny moments along the way. An enjoyable experience which will have you hooked!
Would I recommend this room?
Yes, certainly. The basic murder mystery theme with a hint of comedy makes this an enjoyable experience.
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Who would I recommend it to?
Although the puzzles aren't too difficult, the room is slightly more sporadic than most, so slightly more experienced players would suit this room.
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How many players would I recommend?
I would suggest around 4-6 players however you really need to communicate with each other!
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Suitable for Children?
The Panic Room suggest 12+ and I would tend to agree given the murder theme and the sporadic elements.
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Star Ratings;
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Enjoyment; 4
Puzzles; 3.5
Difficulty; 3.5
Theme; 3.5
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Interested in booking this room?
Visit - https://thepanicroom.net/
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