Escape Plan LIVE announces opening date for Jungle Bus escape room at Fenn Bell Conservation Project, Hoo

Escape room entrepreneurs have announced the opening date for their new experience on a double decker bus.

Owners of Escape Plan LIVE, Ross and Sandra Friday, were forced to close their site at Sun Pier House, Chatham, earlier this year after a significant drop of visitors following the pandemic.

The duo said they were due to renew the lease in March but needed trade to pick up before then so they could stay – which did not happened.

But despite time running out, the company revealed plans to open a new experience which will be their "most ambitious game yet" at Fenn Bell zoo in Hoo.

It was hoped the escape room within a double-decker bus would be open in May but it was pushed back due to time constraints.

Co-owner Ross said: "It is a relief. It was meant to open some time ago but it has taken longer to build as we have had to do this with no income.

"It has been so slow. We can do some things ourselves but others we need to bring in tradesman who we then needed to pay.

"It has taken longer than it was supposed to but it is a relief to finally have an opening date."

The attraction is one, large escape room that spans both floors of the bus. The idea is based around a team of explorers discovering an abandoned vehicle in the jungle.

On its website, the game description reads: "Could you have stumbled across the infamous bus that went missing deep in the jungle, but was never found?

"If so, this is a chance to discover who was using this seemingly innocent form of transport for illegal animal trading, and which species they had captured.

"Be careful though, it seems nature cannot be controlled, and that some of the creatures may still be here despite having managed to escape... can you?"

Ross added: "It is getting harder and harder to be unique. Everyone has got rooms like we did before so we thought we would do something different.

"We think it offers good value in a time when people are worrying about money and in a time where small businesses are worried with the rising cost of living and energy crisis.

"We so nearly did not do it but I hope it will do well. It is smaller than our previous games but in terms of customer experience, this is the best one yet. It is totally safe and family friendly.

"It will be nice to see some familiar faces who are hopefully pleased to hear from us again."

The unique experience is now taking bookings from October 5. Prices start from £15.50 per person which gives access to the zoo and the hour-long escape room.

The duo started the company seven years ago and was previously based at Fort Amherst in Chatham.

They started working with Fenn Bell zoo before the pandemic as they sponsored its critically endangered black and white ruffed lemur enclosure and have since been supporting one another.