Devon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT/WHERE?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="791" height="791" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/lamp-8838470_1280.jpg" alt="lamp with magnifying glass" class="wp-image-73403" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/lamp-8838470_1280.jpg 791w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/lamp-8838470_1280-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/lamp-8838470_1280-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/lamp-8838470_1280-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s a rainy Friday night in Exmouth and I&#8217;ve brought together the greatest minds this side of Exeter (ie Mr Muddy, my daughter and her boyfriend and my in-laws) for our first go at <a href="https://excape.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Excape</a> in Exmouth. Only the teens have done an escape room before, the rest of us are escape room virgins.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5366-1000x750.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73406" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5366-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5366-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5366-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5366.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We&#8217;re on Rolle Street for our 6.30pm booking, and &#8211; oh dear &#8211; we&#8217;ve fallen at the first hurdle. We can&#8217;t find Excape, and having to ask the friendly locals for clues. But there&#8217;s the door! Tucked away on a side street, with the black Excape sign above the door. A press of the buzzer and we&#8217;re up the marble staircase to be greeted by Helen (above right) &#8211; Excape&#8217;s co-owner and the brain behind all the games, which are bespoke and you can play only here. Helen&#8217;s husband and co-owner Dan is a builder, and has built the rooms for the games, making them the perfect partnership. The pair are games aficionados, and have studied what makes for a fun challenge, playing hundreds of games themselves and interviewing other escape room owners around the UK.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5365.jpg" alt="Excape Exmouth Muddy Stilettos review " class="wp-image-73408" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5365.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5365-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5365-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5365-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Number 11 Rolle Street is the town&#8217;s former NatWest bank, now transformed into the scene sets for three escape rooms, including <a href="https://excape.co.uk/product/the-games-afoot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Game&#8217;s Afoot</a>, the one we&#8217;re to play; The Vault, a bank heist game where you have to break in to the bank and steal as much as you can; and E+MC Scared, where you play schoolchildren who’ve been captured by a mad scientist and you have to escape from the science lab.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/01/Jeremy-Vine-and-family-Excaped-1000x750.jpg" alt="Jeremy Vine at Excape Exmouth Escape Rooms" class="wp-image-72805" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/01/Jeremy-Vine-and-family-Excaped-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/01/Jeremy-Vine-and-family-Excaped-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/01/Jeremy-Vine-and-family-Excaped-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/01/Jeremy-Vine-and-family-Excaped.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Fun fact: The entrance lobby is covered in encouraging floor-to-ceiling photos of celebratory players brandishing their winning times. BBC presenter Jeremy Vine takes pride of place on the wall as was one of the first people to play when they opened. Apparently, he turned up with his family quite unannounced and loved it so much he recommended to his Radio 2 listeners. Even six years later, people arrive saying they heard about Excape on the radio. Jez and co played The Game&#8217;s Afoot, the same game we are to play in 55 minutes &#8211; the number to beat.</p>



<p>Helen takes us into a room with coat hooks and locker where we can leave our stuff, and gives us an intro the game with a bit of advice on how to play. Then we&#8217;re led through a black door, labelled 221B, the door closes and the clock&#8217;s ticking &#8211; we have 60 minutes to foil Moriarty&#8217;s devilish plans!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-game">THE GAME</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5364.jpg" alt="The Game's Afoot Escape Escape Rooms Exmouth review " class="wp-image-73414" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5364.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5364-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5364-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5364-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Game&#8217;s Afoot is a Sherlock Holmes-inspired two-piper which involves saving the MI5 from being blown up by working out who the mole is. No spoilers, but it&#8217;s basically a process of elimination, using case files, along with a series of clues which gradually evolve as the game progresses. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1097" height="794" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_53771.jpg" alt="Excape Escape Rooms Exmouth Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-73417" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_53771.jpg 1097w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_53771-800x579.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_53771-1000x724.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_53771-768x556.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1097px) 100vw, 1097px" /></figure>



<p>Of course, my lips must remain sealed around my pipe as to what goes on behind closed escape room doors, but I&#8217;d say the game was the right mix of physical and cerebral, and it had some excellent surprises thrown in to the headless chickens (above). The suspense felt very real and it gathered pace, just like all the best mysteries, towards the denouement. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excape-exmouthreview.jpg" alt="Excape Escape Rooms Exmouth Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-73410" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excape-exmouthreview.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excape-exmouthreview-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excape-exmouthreview-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excape-exmouthreview-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If we were stuck or went off-beam, Helen was viewing us via CCTV from another room and gave us the odd clue via walky-talky to get us back on track.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5369.jpg" alt="vintage record player at Excape Exmouth Esacpe Rooms review " class="wp-image-73416" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5369.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5369-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5369-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/IMG_5369-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The decor totally nailed the 221B Baker Street vibe, with really-well sourced vintage pieces, including a wind-up record player, a suspenseful ticking grandfather clock and locked desk. Plus, dressing up in a cape and deerstalker added to the banter and general hilarity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anything-else">ANYTHING ELSE?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/Outdoor-game-2.jpg" alt="Excape Escape Rooms Exmouth Muddy Stilettos review outdoor game " class="wp-image-73424" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/Outdoor-game-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/Outdoor-game-2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/Outdoor-game-2-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/Outdoor-game-2-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>For those who need more than just food for the brain, they are rolling out a new immersive dining night around Devon, including the <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbankheistsocial.eventbrite.co.uk%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3DToCxXeFRgpKem8FNOAgnKYT1g7fJdpU4FetZVS_s0c3dbblAvtrjPkg_aem_d_THPBK3DZxgt9iG7IVyIw&amp;h=AT2XeXDNvYAkv8A3WzLBAKh5PTlDGQolY93HtD3GQHHKuEVssNPrZ4tFQshY2UzyIej1eSoINvIelIbQg4QmszHODDTZAybCg6JW5M3xlvnoBZG0EpR_OV94P11fahfmHa_b463wkjFYlHFwsVW2oV58MA&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2SeC8kYMpAN5FSooeQRnDXVcGvNAfngprbq_IUJGNRvBjYOreIgnw5-4gy-6YWwmh4OIhIZa_DQDSIzXtOmbifgq7_ZcBjOUNILDHVYUU2dghxALIJCEDiJ-B__fxOUMChNcAXWuYnSrPfVeQHv8YdpjaVFStr1S_ne9UNsuSRNviM9DkSUM0NurSw13A2dy5YozTnl9pcr6-Y8Zn621wDs0A" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bank Heist Social</a> at Exmouth’s Land &amp; Sea on 13 Feb 2025. What&#8217;s more, they can also host corporate events for up to 100 people. In summer, you can enjoy Excape al fresco thanks to an outdoor game you can do on your phone around&nbsp;Exmouth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="900" height="526" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/exmouth.jpeg" alt="Exmouth beach " class="wp-image-55342" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/exmouth.jpeg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/exmouth-800x468.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/exmouth-768x449.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/exmouth-898x525.jpeg 898w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<p>Options for a pre-and-post gaming include a walk or sunbathe on Exmouth&#8217;s golden beach, a spot of shopping or carry on to the National Trust&#8217;s <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/a-la-ronde" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A La Ronde</a>, a quirky 16-sided cottage full of 18th century collector&#8217;s memorabilia.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1201" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/08/Exterior-of-A-La-Ronde-Devon-©National-Trust-ImagesJaron-James.jpg" alt="Exterior of A La Ronde, Devon. A unique 16-sided house filled with the treasures from two women¬øs travels around Europe." class="wp-image-68710" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/08/Exterior-of-A-La-Ronde-Devon-©National-Trust-ImagesJaron-James.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/08/Exterior-of-A-La-Ronde-Devon-©National-Trust-ImagesJaron-James-800x641.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/08/Exterior-of-A-La-Ronde-Devon-©National-Trust-ImagesJaron-James-1000x801.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/08/Exterior-of-A-La-Ronde-Devon-©National-Trust-ImagesJaron-James-768x615.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A La Ronde credit National Trust/Jaron James  </figcaption></figure>



<p>All that thinking worked up an appetite, so we took our chances to try out the new <a href="https://www.heydaysdevon.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HeyDays</a> at Sideshore, a new indie-owned all day dining joint. We all liked the Oliver Bonas vibe and Korean chicken dishes very much. They also own the Rise Bakery next door which features in their crowd-pleasing burgers too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excapeexmouth-review.jpg" alt="Excape Escape Rooms Exmouth Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-73382" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excapeexmouth-review.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excapeexmouth-review-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excapeexmouth-review-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/02/excapeexmouth-review-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Elementary, my dear Watson! Actually it took a few nudges, but with help from Helen, we made it out in 59 minutes with one minute to spare. We loved it so much, we&#8217;re back with another member of the tribe to put our mind palaces to the test on the bank vaults, and on a mission to Jeremy Vine&#8217;s 55 minutes! Actually the number to beat is 38 minutes &#8211; but the couple who achieved it had done a whopping 800 games!</p>



<p><strong>Good for</strong>: family bonding or all ages; conversation starters for first dates &#8211; think of the post-game analysis!; clever clogs who love a challenge; photographic proof of your genius; birthday parties and surprise engagement (they&#8217;ll even hide the ring in the room for you); refreshingly alcohol-free fun.</p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: more than 8 players in a group and six is ideal; unattended under 14s; those who like to sit back &#8211; you need your wits about you. There&#8217;s no bar or foodie offering. People with poor mobility would struggle with the stairs &#8211; it&#8217;s on the second floor. Parking is in the town car parks. </p>



<p><strong>The damage</strong>: £22pp, £17.50 Blue Light Card holders; £14pp for under 14s.</p>



<p><strong><em>Excape, 11 Rolle Street Exmouth EX8 1HA; Tel&nbsp;07843 575113; Email:&nbsp;<a>info@excape.co.uk</a></em></strong></p>


The game’s afoot! Muddy reviews Excape Escape Rooms, Exmouth

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