What Clue HQ does

Clue HQ Ltd is a UK-based escape room operator founded in 2013 that designs, delivers, and franchises themed immersive puzzle experiences. The company runs a portfolio of 18 original escape room game designs (created 2014-2019) executed as 60-minute experiences for teams of 2-7 players across approximately 13-18 UK locations — including regional headquarters in Birmingham (4 games) and Warrington (5 games), with additional sites in Bedford, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Brentwood, Bristol, Harrogate, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Leicester, Malvern, Somerton, and Swindon. Its technology stack combines proprietary game-host software (real-time clue delivery via in-room TV, clue-usage tracking, fairness controls) with the Telescape 360-photo platform for online play, and signature technology features in flagship rooms such as Clueston (2,000 LED lights, smoke effects, padlock-free interactive progression).

The business operates four revenue streams: physical escape room tickets at tiered per-person pricing of £20-£32 (with group-size discounts up to 37%), franchise licensing and full game-design sales to operators internationally (Romania, Egypt, Greece), online game sales at £15 per team (Trapped on a Train, The Warp Core series), and gift vouchers from £10. Go-to-market is predominantly direct-to-consumer via the cluehq.co.uk website (online booking up to 10pm the night before, no walk-ins), supplemented by a phone hotline for corporate and large-group enquiries. Customer segments span families, corporate/enterprise team-building buyers, schools and youth groups, social-occasion parties (stag/hen, birthdays), and dedicated escape-room enthusiasts; secondary brand The Hideout operates a board game bar and cafe within the Birmingham site.

The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds, and operates on a franchise-heavy model in which the central Clue HQ entity retains IP, proprietary software, and brand control while site-level operations are largely executed by independent franchisees. Reported scale signals include 68 live games across 4 countries, over 6,000 five-star TripAdvisor reviews, and continued product development extending into online channels post-COVID.

Name

Clue HQ

Legal name

Clue HQ Ltd

Website

https://cluehq.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clue HQ is a UK-based escape room operator founded in 2013, designing and delivering themed physical and online puzzle experiences for consumers and corporate teams across 18 UK locations and international franchise sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Escape Room Entertainment

NAICS

Amusement Arcades (71312), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Escape Room Games & Mystery Puzzle Boxes Retail (CRALALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coin-Operated Entertainment (Pinball, Crane/Claw, Jukebox, Darts/Billiards) (MPAEAJAF), Board Game & Puzzle Specialty Retailers (CRALALAA)

Keywords

• Escape room games
• Live escape experiences
• Team building events
• Franchise game design
• Themed entertainment venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Physical Escape Room Tickets: Core revenue from selling tickets to in-person escape room experiences. Priced per player with tiered pricing based on group size (more players = lower per-person cost). Prices vary by location and day of week.
2. Online Escape Games: Sale of digital access to online escape room games at £15 per team. Includes 'Trapped on a Train' and 'The Warp Core' series (Parts 1-4). Purchased and played at any time.
3. Franchise Fees: Revenue from franchise operators who open Clue HQ branded escape rooms. Includes brand licensing, game designs, and operational support.
4. Game Design Sales: Selling escape game designs to existing escape room operators who want to use Clue HQ's original game concepts. Designs sold to international locations including Romania, Egypt, and Greece.
5. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers valid for 1 year from purchase. Valid for specific locations only. Starting from £10. Delivered via email within 20 minutes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clue HQ operates physical escape room venues across the UK where teams of 2-7 players solve themed puzzles within 60 minutes, alongside two online escape games (Trapped on a Train and The Warp Core) delivered via the Telescape 360-degree platform. The company also licenses 18 original game designs plus proprietary game-host software to independent franchise operators in the UK and internationally.

Product overview

Clue HQ is a UK-based escape room operator offering immersive in-person and online puzzle-solving experiences. The core offering consists of physical escape room venues across the UK with themed game rooms (2-7 players, 60 minutes each) and two online escape room games delivered via the Telescape platform. The franchise division sells game designs and proprietary software to third-party operators. The product portfolio spans 18 distinct escape game franchise designs across 68 live games in 18 locations in 4 countries, plus two online games (Trapped on a Train and The Warp Core). The company also operates The Hideout Board Game Bar & Cafe at its Birmingham location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Hideout: Board game bar and cafe located in Birmingham city centre, offering a wide selection of board games with beverages including handmade cocktails.

Products and services

• Live Escape Room Games 60-minute themed escape room experiences for teams of 2-7 players across 12+ UK venues, featuring 18+ original game designs with unique themes, puzzles, and storylines. Games accommodate groups of 2-7 players with per-person tiered pricing.
• Trapped on a Train (Online Escape Game) Online escape room game priced at £15 per team where players are trapped on a runaway train and must solve puzzles to escape within 60 minutes. Delivered via the Telescape platform with 360-degree photo environments, real-time multiplayer cursors, and interactive drag-and-drop items.
• The Warp Core (Online Escape Game) Online escape room game series priced at £15 per team, spanning four time-travel parts including Chernobyl 1986, Camelot dungeons, and Salem Witch Trials. Delivered via the Telescape platform with real-time team coordination.
• Escape Game Franchise Franchise program offering 18 original themed game designs with proprietary game-host software, brand licensing, and operational support to independent operators. Franchisees operate Clue HQ-branded venues in the UK and internationally.
• Game Design Only Escape game design packages sold to existing escape room operators without requiring full franchise affiliation, allowing them to use Clue HQ's original game concepts.
• The Hideout Board Game Bar & Cafe Board game bar and cafe located at the Birmingham venue, offering a wide selection of board games plus beverages including handmade cocktails.
• Corporate Team Building Events Corporate team building experiences for groups of 2-27+ players designed to improve communication, collaboration, and team interaction skills. Includes event planning assistance for corporate bookings and Christmas parties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6000 5-star TripAdvisor reviews across the UK locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Linwood BarclayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2020Literary partnership for escape room collaboration. From February 22 to March 7, 2020, Clue HQ Birmingham partnered with Linwood Barclay's 'Elevator Pitch' to bring a special themed experience combining The Hellevator with the author's thriller novel.
• TelescapecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider for online escape room games. Clue HQ's online games 'Trapped on a Train' and 'The Warp Core' are provided through the Telescape platform, enabling 360-degree interactive online escape room experiences.
• MerseyrailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilming partnership for authenticity. Clue HQ booked themselves into a train driver cabin on Merseyrail trains from Southport to Liverpool Lime Street to acquire footage of rolling scenery used in the 'End of the Line' escape room game set on a train.
• Clue TubeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReality TV show partnership referenced in The Hellevator game theme. Clue HQ teamed up with Clue Tube to bring a reality TV-themed escape room experience with a twist, featuring Professor Errol Tepet and Dr. Psik.
• Clue HQ International FranchiseescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational franchise partners operating Clue HQ branded escape rooms. Game designs have been sold to locations in Romania, Egypt and Greece. Multiple franchise locations operating across UK.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pier Pressure: UK-based escape-room and immersive experience operator offering themed games for groups and corporate clients. A direct UK peer to Clue HQ in terms of customer segments, ticket pricing model and themed-room product format.
• Puzzle Break: US escape-room operator offering live, themed escape experiences for teams and corporates. Comparable to Clue HQ on core product (team-based puzzle rooms) and on corporate team-building as a meaningful customer segment.
• 60out Escape Rooms: US escape-room operator running multiple themed rooms with a focus on immersive set design and puzzles. Comparable to Clue HQ's Clueston-style technology-forward, highly themed approach to in-person escape experiences.
• All In Adventures: US-based escape-room franchise with multiple themed rooms per location. Highly relevant peer because of the franchise structure, group/corporate targeting, and shared focus on repeatable themed content — analogous to Clue HQ's franchise model.
• HintHunt: European escape-room brand with multiple sites offering themed 60-minute escape experiences for groups and corporate clients. Closely aligned with Clue HQ on product format (lock-in room, team play) and target customers (leisure groups, corporates).
• Breakout Games: US escape-room chain with multiple locations offering themed 60-minute escape experiences for friends, families and corporate groups. A direct functional peer to Clue HQ on product, customer segments and venue-based operating model.
• Escape Hunt plc: UK-headquartered escape-room franchise operator listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. Directly comparable to Clue HQ in offering franchised themed escape-room experiences to consumers and corporates, though it has a wider international footprint.
• Red Door Escape Room: US escape-room chain providing themed 60-minute experiences for groups, families and corporate team-building. A direct peer on service offering, group sizing and corporate-event positioning versus Clue HQ.
• The Escape Game: Large US-based escape-room chain operating themed rooms in multiple cities. A direct functional peer on the core product (in-person themed escape experiences for groups and corporates), differing mainly by geography and scale.

Broad incumbents

• Madame Tussauds / Merlin Entertainments: Global attractions operator that runs escape-room experiences within its broader portfolio of theme parks and branded attractions. A broad incumbent peer — overlapping on the team-based experience market and corporate group bookings, but not specialised in escape rooms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cluehq
• Facebookfacebook.com/cluehq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clue-hq-blackpool

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clue HQ