Despite the shuttered shops and struggling businesses associated with so many of the nation’s high streets, one recent opening has taken Gravesend by storm and is now ranked as one of Kent’s best attractions.

The Panic Room arrived in January and was soon welcoming teams of friends, family and co-workers to Old Town Hall for an hour of puzzle-solving and teamwork.

Owners Alex and Monique Souter have enjoyed such success with their take on the “escape room” format that The Panic Room quickly outgrew the venue and now finds its home in Berkley Crescent.

It means they now have space to run three rooms at once – an updated take on the original Panic Room and two extra challenges dubbed The Witch House and The Lab.

Alex said: “Business has absolutely gone through the roof.

“Pretty much just after the Messenger did the piece and we did a big Facebook campaign, we had a massive boost and it was absolutely incredible.

“When we first started in Old Town Hall we did it on a month- by-month basis, so we were being a bit cautious, but it has completely taken off.

“As we are getting all these extra funds, we are reinvesting it so that we can do more marketing, get more props and add more stuff to the rooms.”

Alex, 25, and Monique, 27, had always planned to move into a bigger venue, but the relocation was accelerated after Kent County Council, which owns Old Town Hall, decided to dedicate more space to its coroner’s office.

“It’s about adding to the exper­ience because it is little things which can make a difference...” - Alex Souter

They moved out on March 13 and were set up and ready to go in Berkley Crescent in just two days. The Witch House is already open, alongside the new and improved Panic Room, with two-player room The Lab expected to be ready in June.

“We had the rolling monthly contract with KCC and would keep renewing it, but this venue is ours and we have complete control over it,” said Alex.

“There is a lounge that people can sit down in now and we offer free drinks while they’re waiting.

“It’s about adding to the exper­ience because it is little things which can make a difference.”

You can book your place in The Witch House or The Panic Room at thepanicroom.net.