Many years ago Kelly took a trip to visit family in Alabama USA. It was unseasonably wet and many of her plans were rained off. Her uncle suggested we try this “new thing called an escape room”. With no idea what to expect Kelly, accompanied by her Auntie, Uncle and three cousins visited Breakout Alabama…. The rest, as they say, is history!
On returning to the UK Kelly was keen to introduce her family and friends to Escape Rooms and we looked up the closest one to us, at the time this was Room Lockdown in Hornchurch and off we went. From this day on Rich was also hooked and with his specialist skill set it may be fair to say that he was more interested in the build and the mechanics behind the technology involved in creating escape rooms rather than the puzzles and Rich quickly floated the ambition of one day building his own.
Many, many more games followed and our regular team was forming. Of course we played with our family and friends who enjoyed themselves but not clearly as much as Kelly, Rich and Gem who would continue to play as a three whenever and wherever possible.
In November 2019 Kelly and Rich decided to take the plunge and rented a former gym in an industrial unit and they set about transforming it into what it is today and began designing and creating their very own unique escape rooms. Little did they know that a global pandemic was just around the corner which threw a rather large spanner in the works both in terms of building our rooms and also playing ourselves.
The global pandemic and numerous lockdowns and restrictions made playing in person rooms impossible for a while so attentions switched to online games before finally getting back out to play again when the restrictions were finally eased.
The Needs More Sharks team began with just Kelly, Rich and Gem but we are also often joined by EO Gamesmasters, Kodi, Lily and Sam too.
Kelly and Rich have now each played over 250 rooms. We have played some good games, many great games and some absolutely fantastic ones and we are often asked which is our favourite, so here it is….
How many have we played and which is our favourite?
Kel
games PLAYEd:
322
favourite game:
The great loudini – escapable, wakefield
rich
games PLAYEd:
289
favourite game: The great loudini – escapable, wakefield
kodi
games PLAYEd:
60
favourite game:
mia – paradox parlours, woking
lily
games PLAYEd:
37
favourite game: the rig – paradox parlours, woking
sam
games PLAYEd:
12
favourite game: mia – paradox parlours, woking
Our Team Photos
Here are just some of our photos we have collected over the years. Look closely… you may recognise some of the rooms we have played!
We are always happy to recommend games that we have played and enjoyed and likewise are always looking for recommendations of must play games from you too!
Megabite – CluetCracker, Tonbridge Wells Pushed for Time – Escape Plan, Shoreditch Gates of Hell – No Escape, VictoriaThe Grunch – Keylock Games, Wickford Spellbound – The Escape House, St NeotsAll Alone – Unsolved Mysteries, Fort AmherstRaiders of the Lost Galleon – Mythologic, GillinghamMIA – Paradox Parlours, WokingThe RIG – Paradox Parlours, WokingThe Wizard’s Enigma – Paradox Parlours, WokingDr Duplicate’s Clonemaggedon – Cluetopia, IpswichThe Curse of the Lost Temple – Cluetopia, BraintreeThe Morgue – Hourglass Escapes, Downham MarketThe War of the Roses – Principal Escape Rooms, ElySnowy Sleighs – – Principal Escape Rooms, ElyThe Morgue – Hourglass Escapes, Downham MarketVENUS – Paradox Parlours, GuildfordThe Recording Studio – Paradox Parlours, GuildfordThe Case of the Missing Gun – Paradox Parlours, GuildfordThe Egyptian Tomb & Secret Agent – Lockhouse, Cambridge Crazy Cat Lady – Sudbury Escape Rooms, Sudbury North Pole Hotel – Cluetopia, WaltonTrick or Treat – Keylock Games, WickfordEscape The Seven Seas – EscapeJoey’s Christmas Cracker – EO Escape Rooms, Sudbury Blackmail – Escape Brum, BirminghamThe Mystic’s Cabin – Escape Brum, BirminghamLabyrinth Lord Barrington’s Folly – Escape Brum, BirminghamThe Temple of Shadows – Escape Nation, Stafford Survival – Hysteria, ChathamElf Academy – Cluetopia, HarwichQuartz – The Escapement, BroadstairsAtlantis – The Escapement, BroadstairsQuik e Mart – Ctrl Alt Esc, MargateYe Olde Lock In – Ctrl Alt Esc, MargateDetention – Ctrl Alt Esc, MargateThe Magicians Apprentice, JM’s Office and The Coal Mine – Escape Coalville, CoalvilleYellow Beard’s Treasure – One Way Out, OakhamThe Toy Shop – One Way Out, OakhamDr Duplicate’s Clonemaggeddon – Cluetopia, IpswichFramed & Forgetton – Escape, IpswichWitchcraft and Wizardry -Escape Walton Pier, WaltonRaisers of The Stormy Seas – Cluetopia, IpswichBackstage – EO Escape Rooms, Sudbury (LeeStock Music Festival 2024)Lockbuster – Cluetopia, Ipswich Mystery at the Museum – Principal Escape Rooms, ElyThe Rhyming Room – One Way Out, OakhamFramed – One Way Out, OakhamGas Alert – One Way Out, OakhamThe Great Toy Rescue – Beverley Breakout, BeverleyOperation Hideout – Beverley Breakout, BeverleySanta Paws and the Christmas Chaos – Beverley Breakout, BeverleyThe Goblins of Toadsmead – Beverley Breakout, BeverleyThe Great EggScape – EO Escape Rooms, Sudbury Alice In Wonderland – Puzzlez, OngarMr Copplestone’s Curiousity Shoppe – EscapeQuest, MacclesfieldUnsolved, The Crimson Lake Motel, The Vault & Frankenstein – Breakout, ManchesterTitanic, The Unsinkable Ship – Escapable, WakefieldAvast! – Escapable, WakefieldThe Great Loudini – Escapable, WakefieldOuttatime – Escapable, WakefieldThe Night Before Christmas, Operation Snowflake – Escape Rooms Suffolk, Bury St EdmundsEscape the Knight – Agent Brains, LetchworthMobbery! – Agent Brains, LetchworthAladdin the Lamp of Wonders – Mythologic, GillinghamThe Basement – Unsolved Mysteries, Fort AmherstThe Library of Enchantment – Z-Arts, ManchesterThe Hidden Relics – Room Lockdown, HornchurchGrinch on the Run – Cluetopia, Harwich8 Years Later – Escape Colchester, Colchester Escape From The Room – Crypt of the Cursed, Aviary of Spies, The Lady Vanishes, Chambers of Champions, Return of Old Maid Milly and The Mixed up mind of Mr CrabhealNational Elf Service – Keylock Games, WickfordThe Jungle – Escape Rooms Suffolk, Bury St EdmundsGrinch on the Run – Cluetopia, HarwichJoey’s Revenge – EO Escape Rooms, SudburyJoey’s Revenge – EO Escape Rooms, SudburyBomb Squad- Room Lockdown, HornchurchSanta’s Time Machine- Room Lockdown, HornchurchVecna Returns- Room Lockdown, HornchurchPirates of the Stormy Seas – Escape Kent, CanterburyKidnapped – Escape Kent, CanterburyThe Haunting – Escape Kent, CanterburyThe Asylum – Escape Kent, CanterburyJail Break – Escape Kent, CanterburyThe Exorcist -Dark Escapes, AlicantePhantom of the Light Opera – Cryptx Escape Rooms, KnapwellThe Mayflower Dagger – Pressure Point, Ashford Moonlit Wild – Pressure Point, Ashford The Keyper’s Secret – EO Escape Rooms, SudburyTwilight Manor – Cluetopia, IpswichRob the Bank 2 – Sudbury Escape Rooms, SudburyChapter 4 : The Forest – Suffolk Escape Academy, Barrow– Hourglass Escape Rooms, Downham MarketThe Great British Break Out – Hourglass Escape Rooms, Downham MarketThe Doctor will see you now – Hourglass Escape Rooms, Downham MarketThe Toy Shop – Hourglass Escape Rooms, Downham MarketMoriarty’s Academy – Cryptx Escape Rooms, KnapwellCrash Landing – Cluetopia, IpswichThe Time Machine – Deadlocked, ReadingCritical Mass – Doomsday, Colchester Nobody Loves Robot – Keylock Games, Wickford The Mayan Temple – Lockhouse Escape Games, CambridgeThe Curse of the Golden Lion – Wirral Escape Rooms, WirralPudding Lane – Time Trap, Reading Station X – Time Trap, Reading The Vampire Slayers, Blown Away – Escape ReadingAge of Magic – Escape ReadingKidnapped – Escape ReadingRam Raid (100% loot!) – Escape ReadingExplorers Diary – Hounds Escape Experiences, Crawley The Curious Cabin – Knockout Escape Rooms, Reading 9-5 Assassin – Knockout Escape Rooms, Reading The Mad Scientist – Knockout Escape Rooms, Reading The Last Vikings – Escape Hunt, Reading Curiouser and Curiouser – Time Trap, Reading Prohibition – Escape Chelmsford, Chelmsford The Lab : Something in the Water – Agent Brains, LetchworthJungle Jailbreak – Agent Brains, LetchworthBack to the Future : Escape the 80’s – Agent Brains, LetchworthSouthern Dis-Comfort – Hounds Escape Experiences, Crawley Questionable Ethics – Hounds Escape Experiences, Crawley CSI Mafia Murders – The Panic Room, HarlowStrikeforce – The Panic Room, HarlowThe Unfair Funfair – Keylock Games, WickfordClue Did It? – Keylock Games, Wickford The Magic Emporium – Escape Chelmsford, Chelmsford Taken 2 – Escape Chelmsford, Chelmsford Magpie Mystery – Escape Live, SouthendPirate Plunder- Escape Live, SouthendRoom 13 – Escape Live, SouthendThe Box – EO Escape Rooms, SudburySherlock Holmes – The Panic Room, HarlowReturn to the Tomb- The Panic Room, HarlowForbidden Idol – Eltham Escape RoomsShamleys – DarkmasterOne Wing Airlines – DarkmasterInto the Reliquary – DarkmasterCarnival of Curiosities – Escape SouthendThe Magic Prison of Alcatraz – Escape SouthendAladdin and The Magic Vault – Escape Hunt, Norwich Prison Escape – Clued Up!, NorwichCasino Escapade – Clued Up!, NorwichThe Bank Heist – Clued Up!, NorwichNightmare on Ripper Street – Eltham Escape RoomsReturn to Neverland – Eltham Escape RoomsThe Cabin – Unsolved Mysteries, Fort Amherst, ChathamBuried Alive – Unsolved Mysteries, Fort Amherst, ChathamCartel – Trapp’d, CorbyReanimation – Trapp’d, CorbyThe Tormentor – Trapp’d, CorbyOur Finest Hour – Escape Hunt, Norwich A Christmas Catastrophe – Cluetopia, ClactonWhen Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney – Sudbury Escape Rooms, SudburyChristmas Chaos – Hysteria, ChathamCitizen Erased – Hysteria, ChathamAftermath – Hysteria, ChathamAdvent Alley – Unsolved Mysteries, Fort Amherst, ChathamThe Greatest Heist – Mythologic, Gillingham (£47,459,505 looted – 100%)! Diamond Dogs – Clue Cracker, Tonbridge WellsTemple Quest – Clue Cracker, Tonbridge WellsThe Curse of Captain Kraken – PerpleXed, SohamThe Grand Heist at Escape Modern – PerpleXed, SohamThe Night Before Christmas. You’re Hired – Escape Rooms Suffolk, Kenny Hill Prison Blues – Suffolk Escape Academy, BarrowLetters to Santa – EO Escape Rooms, Sudbury Prison Break – Escape Walton Pier, WaltonThe Magic Emporium – Escape Walton Pier, WaltonThe Arcade – Escape Walton Pier, WaltonThe Game – Mythologic, GillinghamTower of Sorcery – Hackers, BillericayThe Last Testament – Know Escape, Chelmsford Escape Rooms, Chelmsford Wild Wild Quest – Cluetopia, Ipswich Loop – The Panic Room, Gravesend Hell House – The Panic Room, Gravesend Old Father Time – The Panic Room, Gravesend Murder on the Dance Floor – Cluetopia, Ipswich Exposed – Know Escape, Witham Escape Rooms, WithamThe Big Hangover – Know Escape, Witham Escape Rooms , WithamPolice Custody – Room Lockdown – RomfordBlood over Baker Street – Hakers, BillericayThe Tomb of the Wandering king – Hackers, BillericayThe Witch’s Lair – Prestige Escape Rooms, LowestoftSaving Wonderland – Prestige Escape Rooms, LowestoftThe Z Files – Prestige Escape Rooms, LowestoftAmnesia – Prestige Escape Rooms, LowestoftJungle Escape – Prestige Escape Rooms, LowestoftThe Cursed Ninja – Who Dini, South Woodham FerrersChaos at Calamity Mine – Cluetopia , ClactonSausage Surprise – Know Escape, Witham Escape Rooms, WithamEscape the Wild West – Escape Hunt, Lakeside Alice in Puzzleland – Escape Hunt, LakesideBlackbeard’s Treasure – Escape Hunt, LakesideJourney to Atlantis- Escape Hunt, LakesideHowitz – Escapologic, Nottingham (39:48)Contraption – Escapologic, Nottingham (34:32)Escape from Alcatraz – Houdini’s, NottinghamRobin of Lockskey – Escapologic, Nottingham (29:23)E.P.I Centre – Escapologic, Nottingham (48:41)The Future Room – The Evidence Room, Bury St EdmundsAir Raid – Suffolk Escape Room, SaxmundhamMonuments – Cave Escape – NottinghamCarfax – Cave Escape, NottinghamR.M.S. Titanic – Houdini’s, NottinghamPoppa Plock’s Wonky Workshop – Houdini’s, NottinghamCurio – Escapologic, Nottingham (46:56)Needlenose, The Copycat Killer – Mythologic Escape Rooms, GillinghamThe Christmas Caper- Mythologic Escape Rooms, GillinghamMr Todds – Mythologic Escape Rooms, GillinghamCSI : Times Up – Mythologic Escape Rooms, GillinghamWanted Dead or Alive – Room Lockdown, HornchurchSuperbugs – Suffolk Escape Room, SaxmundhamDodge City – Tulleys Escape Rooms, CrawleyThe Outfitters – Tulleys Escape Rooms, CrawleyDaylight Robbery – Cryptology, Nottingham (54:33 £1,673,198.47)Cypherdene v1.5 – Cryptology, Nottingham (46:27)Rameseize – Cryptology, Nottingham (50:31 3 Relics)Dreamscape – Cryptology, Nottingham (49:18 17 dream keys)The Conspiracist – Want to Escape, RushdenPsycopath’s Den and Hangover Deja Brew – AIM Escape, LondonThe Adventure Begins – Escape Plan, LondonNethercott Manor – Tulleys Escape Rooms, CrawleySpellcraft – Tulleys Escape Rooms, CrawleyMutiny – Tulleys Escape Rooms, CrawleyKeep Escaping – Hedingham Castle, EssexThe Diva – Who Dini, South Woodham FerrersThe Crazy Chef – Who Dini, South Woodham FerrersTeacher’s Revenge – Want to Escape, RushdenThe Guardian of the Gallery – Want to Escape, RushdenShimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop – Want to Escape, RushdenFearstival – Room Lockdown, RomfordCaptured B – Breakout, ManchesterWhite Witch – Escape, BasildonBroken – Pier Pressure, BrightonPavillion Perplex – Pier Pressure, BrightonRaver Quest – Pier Pressure, BrightonModrophenia – Pier Pressure, BrightonDr Duplicate’s Evil Lab – Cluetopia, HarwichCasino Heist – Escape, IpswichThe Collector – Enigma, SkegnessHigh Noon – Enigma, SkegnessThe Posessed Doll – Room Lockdown, Hornchurch The Grand Portobello Hotel Heist – Cluetopia, WaltonThe Next Great Detective – Suffolk Escape Academy, BarrowCaptured – Room Lockdown, RomfordThe Job Interview – Room Lockdown, RomfordCinescream – Room Lockdown, RomfordDanger on the Dancefloor – Exciting Escapes, PortsmouthBunker 38 – Clue HQ, BrentwoodSacrifice- Clue HQ, BrentwoodThe Dungeon of Doom – Clue HQ, BrentwoodPanic Room, Conspiracy Detective Misson – The Panic Room, Harlow Carnevil – The Panic Room, HarlowThe Search for the Holy Grail – Ipswich Escape Rooms, IpswichHaunted Mines of Crisson – Room Lockdown, HornchurchLoot the Lanes- Pier Pressure, BrightonPrisoner X – Cluetopia, HarwichBoudicca’s Uprising & Eight Years Later – Escape, ColchesterMillenium Meltdown – Exciting Escapes, PortsmouthPathogen – Doomsday, ColchesterRob the Bank – Know Escape, Maldon Escape Rooms, MaldonDeep Trouble -Know Escape, Maldon Escape Rooms, MaldonSword in the Throne & Star Quest – Escape Live, Chelmsford The Illusionist – Escape, Basildon– Ipswich Escape Rooms, IpswichSolitary Confinement – Room Lockdown, Hornchurch The Cabin – Room Escape, SouthendContagion – Escape, IpswichTaken – Escape, IpswichThe Davinci Room – Escape, IpswichSub Zero – Escape, IpswichThe Church – Escape Rooms Suffolk, Mildenhall The Cage- Know Escape, Maldon Escape RoomsDark Deeds & Groceries and Murder at the Movies – Exciting Escapes, PortsmouthPrison Break Solitary Confinement – Room Lockdown, HornchurchStrange Things : The Elevator- Room Lockdown, HornchurchPirates – Room Lockdown, HornchurchThe Bomb – Cambridge Escape Rooms, CambridgePirates of Polaris – The Escapement, MargateEgyptian Exodus – The Escapement, MargateThe Pit- The Escapement, MargateThe Kidnapping – Breakout Mobile, Alabama USAThe Dollhouse- Escape Rooms Suffolk, Mildenhall The Crazy Cat Lady – Know Escape, Bishops Stortford Escape Rooms, Bishops StortfordEerie Motel California – Know Escape, Bishops Stortford Escape Rooms, Bishops StortfordMagic & Mystery – Cluetopia, ClactonRunaway Rudolph- Cluetopia, ClactonUnhappily Ever After – Cluetopia, WaltonHeaven & Hell – Cambridge Escape Rooms, CambridgeThe Governor – Know Escape, Chelmsford Escape Rooms, ChelmsfordThe Damned – Cluetopia, ClactonRace Against Time – – Cluetopia, ClactonThe Voices We Hear – Exciting Escapes, PortsmouthEscape The Seven Seas, Magic & Mystery & 221B Baker Street – Escape, ColchesterEscape the Jungle – Escape Live, Chelmsford Roots of Evil- Room Lockdown, RomfordThe Locked Inn- Escape, IpswichThe Vault – Escape Rooms Suffolk, Mildenhall Death Row – Escape Rooms Suffolk, Mildenhall The Gedding Room – The Evidence Room, Bury St EdmundsThe Aztec Room – The Evidence Room, Bury St Edmunds
Our ‘Milestone’ Photos
Kel’s room 100
Guardian of the Gallery
Want to Escape
Rushden
Rich’s room 100
Dreamscape
Cryptology
Nottingham
Gem’s room 100
Blood over Baker Street
Hackers
Billericay
Kel’s room 150
Diamond Dogs
Clue Cracker
Tonbridge Wells
Rich’s room 150
The Tormentor
Trapp’d
Corby
Gem’s room 150
TBC
Kel’s room 200
Rich’s room 200
Gem’s room 200
Pudding Lane
Time Trap
Reading
The Mayan Temple
LockHouse Escape Games
Cambridge
Kel’s room 250
The Basement
Unsolved Mysteries
Fort Amherst
Rich’s room 250
The Great Loudini
Escapable
Wakefield
Kel’ Room 300
The Temple of Shadows
Escape Nation
Stafford
Why “Needs more Sharks”?
For a long time we played under the name EO Escape Rooms and we decided that it was time to be different and sometimes it is nice to go and play a game as an enthusiast and not an owner. After all just because we own an escape room doesn’t mean we are actually any good at playing them!
After several suggestions we couldn’t agree until Rich mentioned a common suggestion he left on feedback forms at the end of his holidays when asked “what would improve your holiday?” The answer was always the same. It didn’t matter if Rich was on his honeymoon in the Maldives, skiing in Lapland or a city break in Europe his suggestion would always be the same, “needs more sharks”! And so we decided to go with it!
The Little Sharks
Because it is never too early for Little E and Little O to enter into the world of playing escape rooms. Richard’s daughter Emily (6 years old) and Kelly’s daughter Olivia (5 years old) are loving joining us in playing the odd game here and there. Even Joey (Richard’s 3 year old) has joined us a couple of times too!
We are always on the look out for games that are suitable for us to take them to so any recommendations you have would be most welcome!
Their first game they played with us was Sausage Surprise and both Little E and Little O absolutely loved it, even if they do think that all we do for a job is lock people up and look for sausages!
