Plans for escape room in Ballincollig get green light 

An international leisure group has received the green light to build its first Irish escape room complex, at Castlewest in Ballincollig in Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane.

An international leisure group has received the green light to build its first Irish escape room complex, in Ballincollig in Cork.

EBP Ventures, trading as Game Over Cork, will create the escape rooms facility at Castlewest Shopping Centre. The new entertainment and leisure facility will transform two units - one on the ground floor which is currently vacant and a second floor office.

The new facility has received planning approval from Cork City Council. The escape room in Cork will operate as a supervised indoor facility, with customers attending in pre-booked groups for schedules sessions in one of four escape room scenarios.

Each escape room scenario will accommodate a maximum of six participants per session, operating on an hourly basis.

The development in Cork is part of the global Game Over brand and franchise network, operating in 142 cities in 33 countries around the world. More than 7m people have used their facilities, with over 700 escape rooms built, detailing 37 scenarios with themes like mystery, adventure, horror, and mythology.  

The Cork development will include the four escape rooms, reception, control room, circulation space, sanitary facilities, and ancillary accommodation.