Open House - Escape Room

“We have to commend ScreamWorks on creating such a fun and immersive experience. All in, we loved the crazy ingenuity of the show and the very diverse (and sometimes quite frankly bizarre) tasks we had to complete.” ScareTour, 2024 (Click here to read the full review)

Are you ready for the most thrilling house hunt of your life?

East London’s most haunted house is up for sale and seasoned ‘escape agent’ Jason Shepherd has teamed up with ScreamWorks to present one of the most innovative house-hunting events of the season: Open House – the immersive escape game.

What better way to explore and experience the highlights of this unique property than to be locked inside, with a delicious drink from our brand sponsor (if you can crack the code!) and a host of fun games and challenges to complete?

This enormous Victorian mansion is dripping in history, full of characters and the perfect forever home for a young couple or family looking to take their lives to the next stage.

With a bathroom to die for and a suite of bedrooms that will guarantee you rest in peace, this captivating property won’t cost you an arm and a leg! While the house has a guide price of £666k, the current vendors are keen for a quick sale and are willing to accept any offers whatsoever.

FEATURES

Duration: 60 minute or 90 minute versions available
Private? Your group will not be joined by other members of the public.
No. of players: 2 – 21*
Live actors? You will be met and given a tour of the property by estate agent Jason Shepherd.
Difficulty level: 60 Minute Game: 3/5 | 90 Minute Game: 4/5
Scare level: 60 Minute Game: 1/5 | 90 Minute Game: 3/5
Physical requirements: The ’60 Minute’ game takes place on one level, with no climbing or crawling, and is suitable for pregnant persons. The ’90 Minute’ game takes place over two floors and requires guests to climb and crawl, and is therefore less accessible and not suitable for pregnant persons.
Location: 2 mins from Bethnal Green tube station on the Central Line.
Extras: Free drink and various prizes for successful completion of games.
Digital content (beta): Get post-show access to the ScreamWorks Attendee Dashboard, where you can see digital copies of any photos and videos taken during key moments of your experience! This system is in beta testing mode and is delivered as a gesture of goodwill without any warranty.

IMPORTANT INFO

We do not offer refunds for cancellations or no-shows. We are like a train – If you miss it, it’s gone. See terms and conditions.
Please arrive at the venue exactly 10 minutes before the start time of your booking. Don’t arrive too early or you could spoil the experience for yourselves. And don’t bang on our door, ever – that’s just rude.
If you are more than 5 minutes late, then you will be denied entry and will not receive a refund. Make sure you read and accept our terms and conditions before booking.
There is a bathroom inside the event, but this will only be accessible after your game has started, so please try to use bathroom facilities in advance of your arrival.

PRICING TABLE

No. of Players	Price per Player	Ticket Type
2 – 21*	£35.00	60 Minute Game – Less Scary – Age 13+
2 – 7*	£45.00	90 Minute Game – More Scary – Age 18+

* For bookings of two players, you will be charged a surcharge of £35.00 (for the 60 Minute Game) and £45.00 (for the 90 Minute Game).

INDUSTRY AWARDS

F.A.Q.s

Will I still enjoy this even though I am not a horror fan?

ScreamWorks’ productions are popular among both horror fans and non horror fans.

There are two versions of Open House, a 60 Minute game which is less scary (Scare Factor: 1/5) and more accessible (no climbing or crawling, suitable for pregnant persons and young persons 13+) and a 90 Minute game which is more scary (Scare Factor: 3/5) and more immersive (climbing and crawling required, not suitable for pregnant persons and Adult Only 18+).

Almost everyone who comes to one of our shows, whether they eagerly booked the tickets or were dragged along by a horror fan, end up having a lot of fun and leaving us 5* reviews. Take a leap of faith. You are among friends and we will protect you – after all, we want you to be a repeat customer so there is no sense in killing you 😉

Is Open House a traditional escape room?

ScreamWorks’ productions are unique, so don’t expect Open House to be like a traditional escape room or anything you have done before. Some customers describe it as an escape room inside an immersive experience. The games and puzzles are more fun than intellectually challenging.

The vast majority of our customers are respectful and courteous but we reserve the right to ask your whole group to leave if anyone within your group is acting in a way which causes distress to our staff or damage to our set. We will not offer you a refund under these circumstances. Escape rooms can be frustrating at times, and that’s ok, but its not ok to direct your frustration (at your own inability to solve a game or puzzle) towards a third party. The puzzles and games have all been tested with hundreds of customers and they work; if you think that the puzzle is broken, there is a 99.9% chance that your strategy is flawed. Most groups will not win all games, however experienced you are; just enjoy taking part.

What can I expect from Open House?

Open House is both an escape room and an immersive experience. You will have fun games and challenges to complete while being fully immersed inside an engaging story. The 60 Minute version is more focused on games than story and not scary (Scare Factor: 1/5). The 90 Minute version is more immersive and scarier (Scare Factor: 3/5).

What is the age restriction for Open House?

For the ’60 Minute’ game, the age restriction is 13+, but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult and alcoholic drinks will be substituted with soft drinks for that whole group if any member is underneath the age of 18.

For the ’90 Minute’ game, the age restriction is 18+. You will need to bring a photo ID to check in. We will not admit any person who cannot verify their age.

What is the difference between the 60 Minute game and the 90 Minute game?

The 60 Minute game comprises up to six game rooms with a duration of approximately 10 minutes each. This shorter experience is more focused on the games and puzzles than the story of the house and is therefore less scary (Scare Rating: 1/5). It takes place on the ground floor of the house, so is more accessible; it does not require climbing or crawling and is suitable for pregnant persons.

The 90 Minute game comprises 9 rooms, some with timed games and others with a more ‘open world’ feel. This extended format provides a perfect balance between game and story, and will feel a bit more like an immersive experience than a traditional escape game. It is scarier (Scare Rating: 3/5), requires climbing and crawling and is not suitable for under 18s or pregnant persons.

Both experiences include light refreshments (if you can figure out how to get them!) and prizes.

Can I come on my own to Open House?

Presently all bookings for Open House are private bookings (i.e. you will not be joined by other members of the public) and our minimum booking quantity is 2 persons (although we do have a two-player surcharge for this event).

From time to time we will release Public timeslots where solo travellers or individuals can join together to form a group. Email us at info@screamworks.co.uk if this is of interest to you.

How long does Open House last?

The 60 Minute game lasts for 65 minutes (5 minutes briefing/ check-in time and 60 minutes of game time).

The 90 Minute game lasts for 95 minutes (5 minutes briefing/ check-in time and 90 minutes for the experience itself).

What is the difficulty level of Open House?

The games and challenges which have been set up by our ‘escape agent’ Jason Shepherd are suitable for players of all abilities. Puzzles are detailed and complex but still solvable for most people. The focus is on fun, interactivity and immersiveness.

The 60 Minute game is more physical than mental and there is a ten minute time limit in each room so everyone will experience all games, whatever their skill level. Therefore, we have given the 60 Minute game a Difficulty Rating of 3/5.

The 90 Minute game includes the same six rooms as the 60 Minute game but with an additional 3/4 rooms. These additional rooms are not subject to individual time limits; if you don’t manage to escape from these rooms, you will not progress any further (i.e. like a traditional escape room format). The challenges within these additional rooms are also more subtle and less ‘game-y’. With this in mind, we have given the 90 Minute game a Difficulty Rating of 4/5.

Are there live actors?

You will be met at the venue by our escape agent, Jason Shepherd, who will accompany you around the property in the flesh, acting as your gamemaster while also giving you a tour of this terrific family home. Jason designed each of the games himself, so listen carefully to what he tells you as there may be helpful hints and clues within his instructions.

Will I be touched?

No.

Do you have somewhere to leave my bags?

Yes. Your belongings will be stored in a locker and you will retain the key.

Do you have a bathroom?

As Open House takes place in a real house, there is only one toilet available for customer use and it is inside the experience, exactly 20 – 30 minutes into the property viewing. It is best to go to the bathroom before you arrive (as you would for any other property viewing). Our guests often go to Mother Kelly’s for a drink before they arrive at our experience, and this is a good place to use the bathroom before you commence Open House. Show them your tickets to Open House to receive a 10% discount on your bill!

Can each member of my group pay individually?

Our minium order price for Open House is £105.00 for the 60 Minute game and £135.00 for the 90 Minute game, which equates to three tickets. If you are organizing a private group booking but don’t want to pay up-front for all your friends, then purchase three tickets to secure the timeslot and your friends can join the booking using the secure link which we will email to you in your order confirmation email. There is no difference in price whether you book all tickets now, or some now and some later.

I have a physical disability, is this event suitable for me?

The 60 Minute game takes place on one level and customers do not need to climb or crawl. However, due to the nature of the experience, it is not wheelchair accessible.

The 90 Minute game takes place across two levels and guests are required to climb and crawl.

If you have a disability we will do our best to make The Open House accessible to you, which may include giving you a free carer ticket to assist you during the experience, but we ask you to email us at info@screamworks.co.uk in advance of making your booking so we can discuss your access requirements.

I am pregnant, is this event suitable for me?

The 60 Minute game is OK for guests who are pregnant as it takes place on one level and does not require you to climb or crawl. The 90 Minute game is not suitable for persons who are pregnant.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes with a good grip – trainers are perfect. Please avoid high heel shoes or any shoes which have a smooth leather bottom, like formal wear.

Where are you located?

We are located at 261 Paradise Row, E2 9LE. We are a two-minute walk from Bethnal Green underground station (Central Line) and a twelve-minute walk from Bethnal Green overground station. Click here to see a map which will assist you in finding the venue.

I am coming by car, where shall I park?

We do not have a customer parking facility. However, there are plenty of parking bays on adjacent streets. Click here to download our parking guide.

What rewards can we win?

Some of our games have been sponsored by household brands and for these game you will receive a small gift, if you manage to complete their challenge. You will also receive complementary drinks and snacks during the experience, but you will have to figure out how to unlock them!

Can we get clues if we are stuck?

The format of Open House will not permit you to get stuck for too long. You will have ten minutes to complete each of Jason’s games and win or lose you will be escorted through to the next room. The games and puzzles are logical; if you think something is not working, change up your strategy. If you are the kind of escape roomer who expects clues on demand, then this really is not the experience for you.

Can we buy a gift voucher for this experience?

Yes, absolutely. Click here to purchase a gift voucher, which will be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase for any ScreamWorks escape room or experience.

Is this event suitable for corporate bookings?

Absolutely. Open House is able to accommodate up to 21 simultaneous players, which makes us an ideal choice for corporate teambuilding events. Click here for more information.

HOW TO FIND US

The address of our venue is: ScreamWorks, 261 Paradise Row, E2 9LE. Our Main Entrance is underneath a railway arch, next to a BP petrol station. As you walk down Paradise Row from Bethnal Green underground station, you will pass a number of bars and restaurants on your left-hand side (Sagar and Wilde, Mother Kelly’s, Boom Bap Burger & Arepa). Continue on, until you come to a blue metal gate, which will be open. Walk through this gate, all the way down to the end, and you will find us.

We are a two-minute walk from Bethnal Green underground station (Central Line) and a ten-minute walk from Bethnal Green overground station.

If you are traveling by car, click here to download our Parking Guide.

We CANNOT accommodate late-comers, so if you are late you will be treated as a ‘no show’. Click here to read our terms and conditions.