ESC.L Share News (ESC)

(Sharecast News) - Escape Hunt announced on Thursday that all eight of its venues in England will reopen on 11 July, following their closure on 24 March as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.
The AIM-traded firm said it was expecting to reopen its Edinburgh site in the coming weeks, pending an announcement from the Scottish Government.

It said it was accepting bookings online ahead of the reopening.

The company said it had restarted work in Norwich and Basingstoke - its two new sites which were put on hold as a result of the lockdown.

Both sites were expected to open in the coming months, bringing the number of Escape Hunt-branded locations in the UK to 11.

The firm also noted the benefits it would enjoy as a result of the Chancellor's summer Budget announcement on Wednesday, including a reduction of VAT from 20% to 5% from 15 July to 12 January, and a Job Retention Scheme bonus of £1,000 for each worker brought back from furlough and employed until the end of January 2021.

Escape Hunt said "comprehensive measures" were being put in place to allow it to "meet and exceed" the social distancing and hygiene standards required as it reopened.

"We are delighted to be unlocking the doors to our five-star experiences across England and can't wait for our customers to begin enjoying our escape rooms and outdoor adventures again," said chief executive officer Richard Harpham.

"For any customers still unable to travel to our venues, we are pleased to announce that we will be expanding the availability of our remote escape room experiences over the coming weeks."

At 0931 BST, shares in Escape Hunt were up 0.35% at 7.15p.