Families looking for some screen-free fun can now try new activity rooms unveiled at a Cannock entertainment centre.
F.A Entertainment – The Puzzle Room has invested in the region of £12,000 in new paint splatter, smash and gel blasting rooms as well as adding new arcade machines. A further £6,000 is being spent on updating its four escape rooms.
Paint splatter rooms offer an immersive experience where participants can throw paint onto canvases, the walls and each other. The Puzzle Room’s is thought to be one of the first places in Staffordshire to offer the activity.
The smash rooms provide a controlled indoor environment for over 13s to destroy whatever is inside – usually glass bottles and crockery – over the duration of their session.
And gel blasting is a less intensive version of paintballing suitable for eight-year-olds and over, where water-based gel balls are shot at targets and people.
Darren Espley-Atkins, who began running escape rooms five years ago but now runs The Puzzle Room as a community interest company, said: “Families are our biggest demographic. Our place is all about bringing families together, getting them away from the usual screens and having fun. There is no technology involved in our activities.
“At the same time, we are about offering entertainment that is affordable to everyone. We have tried to make the paint splatter room as cheap as possible, but obviously there are some costs involved for us with the paint and PPE.”
The smash and paint splatter rooms opened in time for the February half term holidays and the gel blasting room is set to launch on 1 March.
Darren added: “The paint splatter room is incredibly popular already.
“We also work closely with behavioural and SEN schools, who are making use of the smash room.”
