Escape the Vault – Presuming Ed’s, 114-115, London Road, Brighton BN1 4JG
Inside Presuming Ed’s coffee house in Brighton is the escape room, Escape the Vault. Set inside one of the city’s oldest bank vaults, this game gives you the chance to pull off a heist, cracking open the safe of the fictional arms dealer, Charles Fawkley.
It’s a compact but cleverly designed escape room that throws you straight into the action.
A friendly staff member greeted us, explained a few basic rules and set the scene. The experience starts before you even step inside with a short video from Terrace, your getaway driver, setting the mood for some criminal mischief. The first challenge is disabling the alarms and unlocking the vault door which was a great way to start.
Once inside, the theming is spot on. The vault feels authentic with lockers, boxes and hidden clues scattered around. The puzzles are all based on logic and led to cracking a range of different combination locks.
The 40-minute time limit keeps the pressure on, making every second count. It’s classed as an entry-level escape room so it’s a great choice for beginners or those looking for a shorter experience.
That said, even experienced players will enjoy the rush of cracking the final code. Nothing felt impossible but there was a moment or two when we had to stop and rethink our approach.
If you get stuck, help is at hand. You could message Terrence, your getaway driver, via WhatsApp for a nudge in the right direction.
There’s also the option to wave at the camera for assistance from the game host, keeping things running smoothly without breaking immersion.
We won’t spoil it, but we highly recommend pressing the big red button.
Once you’ve pulled off your escape, Presuming Ed’s is a nice place to celebrate to debrief over a drink. The quirky decor and relaxed atmosphere make it an ideal spot to celebrate (or commiserate) your criminal mastermind skills.
Escape the Vault Brighton review – 5 stars
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