AFTER months of hard work, a fun-loving Brierley Hill couple have launched a brand new venture for escapologists to test out their skills post-Covid.

Jessica and Jake Harley-Arliss have opened a new family-friendly escape room in Stourbridge High Street in a two-storey annexe building at the back of the old Chemistry Café premises (formerly Murray's Pharmacy).

The couple, who have a two-year-old daughter Sophie and a dog named Hunter, put in many late nights and early starts to get the venture, known as Courtyard Escapes, ready for people to enjoy once Covid restrictions were lifted...and on Monday July 26 they finally opened their doors to adventurers.

Jessica, a project manager at Network Rail, and Jake, operations manager at Petford Tools, decided to create their own venture after developing a passion for escape rooms which challenge participants to solve clues and riddles in a race against time.

Courtyard Escapes director Jess said: “If you’re an expert escapologist or brand new to escape rooms, we’ve got you covered.

"We’re ready to immerse you and your friends into some exhilarating, family-friendly fun, and after Covid - that’s exactly what we need."

Courtyard Escapes has two games on offer for teams of two to six. The first, Archibald’s Legacy, is a classic escape room where teammates must try to retrieve a stolen fabled diamond. The second, Chocolate Fix, is a family-friendly fun game where participants must work together to locate missing ingredients to fix the chocolate factory malfunction.

The venture, which is accessed down an alleyway off the High Street, was granted planning permission last September by Dudley Council planners.

To find out more about Courtyard Escapes go to courtyardescapes.co.uk