The commercial property sector hasn’t had an easy ride in recent years, thanks to a combination of factors including inflation and high interest rates.
However, according to the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, CBRE, the market is now showing signs of recovery and increased activity. Colliers also noted there has been a mindset shift in recent months, and investors are moving beyond traditional prime assets to focus on value-add opportunities and flexible spaces.
With UK commercial property returns expected to reach 11 per cent this year, landlords should be considering how they can tap into this, scoping out who their tenants may be and which sectors they operate in. Escape rooms, for example, are a reliable, agile and low-risk tenant likely to fulfil the terms of their lease and create better opportunities for high returns.
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A growing sector
As a landlord, you’ll want to be confident that any tenant you take on is in a financial position to fulfil the terms of their contract and pay their rent each month. Businesses operating within thriving sectors are more likely to be in this position, and escape rooms are booming in popularity.
Research from real estate advisor Savills shows that the competitive socialising sector has grown at an unparalleled rate, with a 38 per cent increase in competitive socialising venues since 2018.
Equally, a recent report by hospitality research specialist, KAM Insight, found that nearly one in three UK adults have visited a competitive socialising venue in the last year, and 41 per cent are returning at least once a month, up from 35 per cent last year.
This boost doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon, so taking on an escape room tenant should be a safe bet to help your commercial property thrive.
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Wide appeal
The popularity of escape rooms – and competitive socialising in general – lies partly in the fact that these venues cater for and appeal to different demographics.
The wider the customer base, the more robust the business will hopefully be, and this can create a sense of confidence when taking on a new tenant in the commercial property world.
Recent research from KAM found that the most valuable customers to the competitive socialising sector currently are families, worth around £1,410 per annum, while friends and co-workers are worth £986 per annum.
Capturing the interest of both adults and children means escape rooms are ideal venues for a range of occasions, hopefully leading to returning customers and a reliable, successful tenancy.
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Added value
Not only do escape rooms offer activities, but lucrative opportunities to enhance the customer experience by providing food and drink, too.
Combining entertainment and hospitality for occasions including special celebrations or causal gatherings means escape room operators can increase their profits, making them a more reliable tenant.
Market intelligence specialist, Mintel, found in its UK Competitive Socialising Market Report 2025 that there is a growing interest in premium leisure experiences, and that many consumers are willing to spend more on quality food, drinks and entertainment.
By curating high-quality menus with crowd-pleasing options, escape room operators can entice more customers through the doors and boost their profits.
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Making use of space
Flexible and remote working are still proving to be popular with many businesses, and this means that office spaces across the country are being left empty.
Many are being redeveloped for retail and leisure purposes, including as competitive socialising venues, and this is a great way for landlords to tap into the potential of these underutilised spaces.
Equally, escape room chains may be willing to consider less conventional spaces and layouts when choosing a venue. For instance, properties with limited natural light can be a good fit for certain escape room themes but may be less appealing to other businesses.
Escape rooms can therefore make fantastic tenants for those landlords with spaces that may typically prove to be a tricky sell.
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Building long-term relationships
A lot of time, hard work and money goes into the process of setting up an escape room. Depending on the theme or number of rooms on offer, extensive refurbishments may be needed to get the space ready for customers. Due to the substantial up-front investment involved, escape room owners usually opt for longer leases to give themselves the best chance to earn that investment back.
This can help with building long-term relationships with tenants, and in the case of escape room chains, also provides an opportunity to build on this relationship with further venues.
The power of relationships shouldn’t be underestimated in the world of commercial property, and escape rooms offer the opportunity to build lasting tenant-landlord connections.
Final thoughts
In an unstable market, it’s crucial to invest in reliable, adaptable and resilient businesses and relationships, and this also goes for landlord/tenant relationships.
Escape rooms are growing in popularity, and it makes sense to take on a tenant that is only set to continue to thrive. The commercial property sector needs reliable tenants that will help the industry to fully recover, and escape rooms are a no-brainer.
Not only do they make use of spaces that may otherwise lay empty, but they are lucrative businesses that provide opportunities for long-term relationships. Taking on an escape room as a commercial property tenant is a smart decision, and the benefits are endless.
Written by Ellie McClaren, Co-Founder and CEO at The Escapologist Ltd