New Redcar Escape Room Pays Tribute to Local Legend ‘Pirate Pete’: ‘Redcar’s Needed This for a Long Time’

Escape room enthusiasts have a fresh challenge in Redcar: a locally inspired adventure that pays homage to one of the town’s former fishermen. A Place To Escape, located on West Terrace, opened in mid-September and has already received rave reviews from fans of the immersive experience. The project is a labor of love by the Rigg family from Marske—mum Lisa, along with her daughters Amelia, 18, and Chloe, 16—whose shared passion for escape rooms inspired them to create their own, via Teesside Live.

Initially, two rooms—Prison Break and The Cursed Hollywood Dressing Room—were available to challenge visitors. Now, a third room, The Pirate of Redcar, has opened, bringing a deeply personal touch to the attraction. Created by Chloe, a student at Prior Pursglove, this new room is themed around local legend “Pirate Pete,” a fictionalized version of her late grandfather, Pete Sinclair, a Redcar fisherman who passed away in June at the age of 79. The objective is to help “Pirate Pete” recover the missing “Heart of Redcar” within a 60-minute time limit. With the location just a short distance from the beach, the pirate theme couldn’t be more fitting.

The new escape room, located on the ground floor, is fully accessible, and two more rooms are in the works—a science lab scenario and a Sherlock Holmes Christmas mystery—ensuring fresh experiences for visitors. The attraction is supported by five part-time staff who manage the rooms and a cozy coffee shop downstairs. To ensure no one feels truly “stuck,” cameras allow the team to provide clues and assistance whenever players need a hint.

Lisa shared that bringing the escape rooms to life has been a community effort. The family invested around £60,000 into the venture, utilizing local businesses for renovations, including Iseton Maintenance Services, Graphic Solutions, and SPS Woodworks. Many materials have been repurposed, helping to keep costs down while reducing waste.

The positive reception has been encouraging for Lisa, who juggles managing the escape rooms with a full-time job at a charity. “Everyone is saying Redcar’s needed something like this for a long time,” she noted, pleased by the community’s warm response. The family’s venture has become a source of excitement for both locals and visitors, offering an engaging new way to experience Redcar’s history and creativity.

With a unique Redcar-inspired adventure and a strong local connection, A Place To Escape has quickly become a cherished addition to the town, capturing the hearts of escape room enthusiasts and honoring the memory of a beloved fisherman.