Ellie and Olly McClaren are the founders of The Escapologist – a bold and fast-growing escape room and cocktail bar concept that’s making waves across Yorkshire. Since launching in 2017, the husband-and-wife duo have combined immersive storytelling, steampunk-inspired interiors and a strong hospitality offering to create a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors.
Now operating three venues in Leeds, Castleford and Gateshead, The Escapologist has seen a 161% increase in revenue over the past year, with even more growth on the horizon. From handcrafted cocktails to cinematic escape rooms and mixology classes, the brand continues to raise the bar in the leisure industry.
In the following interview, Ellie and Olly share the story behind their success, the challenges and rewards of running a business together, and what’s next for this ambitious and imaginative venture.
Can you take us back to 2017 – what inspired you both to launch The Escapologist, and how did the concept evolve?
Ellie: We’ve both been in the world of leisure since we were teenagers, but we had a dream to work for ourselves. After playing an escape room together towards the end of 2016, we saw the potential to elevate the experience by blending rich storytelling with a truly immersive experience.
This combined with a passion for puzzles and customer experience, led to the creation of a quirky blend of escape rooms and steampunk-inspired bars in 2017, and The Escapologist was born.
Olly: At the time, no one was offering a bar or restaurant alongside an escape room, so this was a part of the industry we knew we could change and evolve. We spent a great deal of time looking at gaps within the escape room space and ensured we filled those gaps – and more. A few key areas for us were health and safety, inclusivity and accessibility.
As a husband and wife team, what’s it like running a fast-growing business together? How do your individual strengths complement each other?
Ellie: It’s hard work as you never switch off but it’s fun and we love working together. I’m all about where the money goes, and Olly is about where it’s coming in. I look after the marketing side of things, and Olly is more operational – we bring such varied backgrounds of knowledge and drive, which complement each other naturally.
Olly: We instantly found a great rhythm working together from day one as we have the ability to look at a scenario or opportunity from different angles. We both have an equal hunger and competitiveness to raise the bar which means it’s still fun and banterous along the way.
The Escapologist has seen an impressive 161% revenue increase in the last year and continues to expand rapidly. What do you attribute this success to?
A good team from the ground up. It’s about making sure we are all “singing off the same hymn sheet”. Exploring ideas together and always having one ear to the ground ensures we remain aware of any new and exciting developments which we can integrate into the business.
You’ve doubled your number of escape rooms and have bold growth targets for 2025. What’s next for The Escapologist, and are there plans for new locations?
We currently have developments at two existing sites, with one already overhauled, and we are in the process of revamping a number of rooms to create new adventures for all. We’re also in talks about one new flagship site, which will launch before the end of the year, with plans for more in 2026. However, we are ensuring that we don’t take too much on at once and focus on continued growth too, as we are only a small business and every decision and timing counts.
How do you ensure that each escape room delivers a “world-class, immersive and memorable” experience?
As part of our ongoing internal development, we’ve been collaborating with leading prop makers and cinema production companies to ensure each escape room offers a unique and distinctive experience, even when exploring similar themes. This helps us maintain the highest possible quality across all our games.
Why do you think experience-led venues like The Escapologist are resonating so strongly with people right now?
People love the unique blend of leisure and hospitality we offer, especially the freedom to walk in and play an escape room without needing to book in advance. Our venues turn heads before guests even step through the door, thanks to our striking steampunk and floral-inspired interiors. This signature aesthetic captures attention and sets the scene for the immersive experiences inside, giving us a serious ‘wow factor’ that sets us apart from traditional escape room venues.
What truly elevates the experience is the opportunity for guests to spend more dwell time with us. There’s far more to enjoy than just escape rooms, including creative mixology classes and our own handcrafted cocktails that bubble, smoke and glitter, opening the venues up to stag and hen parties, corporate events and teambuilding days. With even more competitive socialising options coming soon, it’s all about escaping the everyday and doing something truly different together. Our experiences bring multiple generations together for screen-free fun, giving them something to share, bond over, and talk about long after they leave.
Your venues are known for helping people “escape the everyday”. Why do you think that kind of escape is so important in today’s fast-paced world?
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever for people to switch off and take a break from everyday life. That’s why we’re passionate about creating immersive, screen-free experiences that offer something truly different – whether you’re aged 4 or 84! With a range of themes catering to different interests, our escape rooms transport guests into new realms and fantastical worlds, giving families, friends and colleagues a chance to connect, work together and enjoy meaningful time away from their screens.
Mental health is something we care deeply about, both within our team and in the experiences we create for our guests. Being able to offer a space where people can escape reality – even for just 60 minutes – and then continue that shared adventure over a drink is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s not just entertainment; it’s an opportunity to reconnect, recharge and create lasting memories across generations.
How does the combination of escape rooms and a steampunk-inspired cocktail bar enhance the overall guest experience?
We love giving people more than one reason to visit The Escapologist. It’s not just about the escape rooms – it’s about the full experience. Our bespoke cocktails are a huge part of that, designed to wow with smoking effects, glitter, unique glassware and ingredients you won’t find in your average drink. Every cocktail is exclusive to The Escapologist, crafted by our team to reflect the same creativity we put into our room themes and puzzles.
It also means guests don’t have to leave straight after their game – they can stick around, enjoy a drink and keep the atmosphere alive. It gives people something to talk about, something to bond over, and ultimately increases dwell time in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.
Ellie, you were named Businesswoman of the Year in 2024. What did that recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
I was really honoured. I’ve experienced personal struggles, including the loss of two key people in my life whilst running the business, so winning this award made me feel like I had achieved something that they would be proud of me for. It’s also something I can show my daughter what hard work and determination can give you. When you’re a business owner, there aren’t many people to talk to or get a “well done” from, so this was my well done!
Olly, you were nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year this year—how has that acknowledgement impacted your outlook or approach to business?
It was a very humbling nomination, and I suppose a welcome moment to stop and take note of what we’ve achieved. Ellie and I are blessed to be working with such a great team, and this nomination has only further motivated our dedication to take The Escapologist to the next level.
How do you stay ahead of hospitality and leisure trends, and what do you see as the biggest shifts coming in the industry over the next few years?
We make sure we not only keep up with new trends and films but also old classics too, and what has or hasn’t worked well with other escape rooms. When it comes to our bars, it’s all about the wow factor and staying ahead of the curve, whether it’s dry ice or sugar candy on top of our cocktails. We are constantly learning and developing our offering as a business and not thinking we know the road already.
If each of you had to pick a favourite escape room theme from your venues, which would it be and why?
Ellie: Mine is ‘Almost Alice’ – the wonderland feel combined with the colours and UV lights brings a different level of wow and makes me fall in love again every time I go in the room.
Olly: I have two for very different reasons – firstly, ‘Vertic Alley’, our Harry Potter-inspired room at Xscape Castleford as the game is based around 4 different rooms orientated in a very quirky space, with the aesthetic detail capturing the attention of even the youngest wizards. Secondly, ‘Incredible Creatures and How To Feed Them’ at our Metro Centre flagship venue, as the game brought about an opportunity to take a magical theme and transport our escapologists over more than one floor level.
Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to break into the hospitality or leisure industry?
Always remember that asking for help or advice from people you trust is a strength, not a weakness – it’s one of the smartest things you can do in business. Surround yourself with a strong, trustworthy team, because success is rarely a solo journey.
