by Breakin' Escape Rooms (website)
89 Holloway Road, N7 8LT
3-6 players
60 minutes
Dr. Vladimir Knifesblade, your friendly university professor seemed like a really nice person. You and your friends always enjoyed his lectures on human anatomy so when he invited you all to his house for a dinner party you never hesitated and accepted the invitation.
Once you arrived at his house, though, the door was open so you went it. Nobody seemed to be home so you went down into the basement hearing some weird noises…
The door slammed shut behind you and there was no way to move but forward…into the Doctor’s secret laboratory, where it looks like your group might be on the menu…
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Overall rating
based on ratings from 9 users
combined with 4 pro reviews
Your review
Player reviews
RR_Duo+ experienced rated this:
Played: 2020-12-01 00:00:00 Team size: 2 Time taken: 60 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
Ben Franklin rated this:
Played: 16 Oct 2021 Team size: 5 Time taken: 1hr Outcome: Successful escape!
poor hosting
We booked Butcher’s Lair and Wizarding School, and our group of 12 was split into 2 in order to do them.
Though we had a good report from the team that played the Wizarding School (who really enjoyed their experience) unfortunately our room hadn’t been reset in any capacity. So after a few moments of being in there, our host came in and started trying to quickly reset everything.
We offered to leave whilst he did it, but the surprises in the room had largely been spoilt at that point. There were other minor issues once we did finally get up and running (e.g. the radio being on the wrong channel so we were randomly chatting to someone else not in the building!) but largely it was okay after that initial screw-up.
Fortunately, after submitting a complaint about the room not being reset, we were kindly offered the chance to do another room for free, if we wanted to return.
Butcher’s Lair itself is not a great escape room regardless. For a horror room, which should be laden with atmosphere; it was the most well lit space you could imagine and it was very light on the horror and scares. Having done other horror-themed escape rooms we’d say it was probably the least favourite we’ve done out of all of them. In fact, probably among the top 3 worst rooms we've done in all.
Though we had a good report from the team that played the Wizarding School (who really enjoyed their experience) unfortunately our room hadn’t been reset in any capacity. So after a few moments of being in there, our host came in and started trying to quickly reset everything.
We offered to leave whilst he did it, but the surprises in the room had largely been spoilt at that point. There were other minor issues once we did finally get up and running (e.g. the radio being on the wrong channel so we were randomly chatting to someone else not in the building!) but largely it was okay after that initial screw-up.
Fortunately, after submitting a complaint about the room not being reset, we were kindly offered the chance to do another room for free, if we wanted to return.
Butcher’s Lair itself is not a great escape room regardless. For a horror room, which should be laden with atmosphere; it was the most well lit space you could imagine and it was very light on the horror and scares. Having done other horror-themed escape rooms we’d say it was probably the least favourite we’ve done out of all of them. In fact, probably among the top 3 worst rooms we've done in all.
kman expert rated this:
Played: 22 Apr 2017 Team size: 6 Time taken: 33m 46s Outcome: Successful escape!
Simon (The Overthinkers) expert rated this:
Played: 7 May 2019 Team size: 3 Time taken: 35:41 Outcome: Successful escape!
#97
Flutter.dumplin experienced rated this:
Played: 23/09/18 Team size: 4 Time taken: 43 ish mins Outcome: Successful escape!
Reviews by escape room review sites
Many games have a horror / psycho theme, and typically they go for darkness, dirt, and gruesome props. While Butcher has plenty of blood and bits, it's a surprisingly cerebral game. Self-contained in a brightly lit room with a clinical feel, this game is all about the puzzles.
As with the other Breakin' games, the puzzles fit the theme and help build on it, with a few more abstract ones mixed in. It doesn't have a major skill-based puzzle in the way that most of their other rooms do. Puzzles ma...
A fairly standard escape room which in other venues would look fine but here felt like a poorer cousin in comparison to some of their other offerings. Solid, logical puzzles will keep you engaged but I worry that it's a little bit on the easy side.
The first of the Breakin' rooms in Highbury & Islington that we try out. Will it be a cut above the rest?
