Winchester’s ClueCapers has thrown open its doors—virtually—to celebrate a full decade in the business of puzzles. The city-centre studio, founded by Kate Surtees in 2016, is marking its 10th anniversary with an armchair treasure hunt that anyone can tackle from home.
The hunt, priced at £8 as a digital download or £12 for a printed version mailed to players, drops players into a self-contained mystery packed with riddles, visual puzzles and a final reveal. Surtees said the anniversary project was designed to be accessible, whether players are hardened escape-room veterans or newcomers testing their problem-solving skills for the first time.
Key Points
- ✅ First citywide armchair treasure hunt from ClueCapers
- ⚡ £8 digital download or £12 printed copy posted to players
- 💡 Features riddles, visual puzzles and a final answer to unravel
Since opening on Winchester’s The Broadway in 2016, ClueCapers has built a reputation for immersive escape rooms and seasonal pop-ups, including Christmas-themed games that have drawn thousands. The anniversary edition strips away the need for physical presence, letting players download the puzzle pack and solve it at their own pace over a weekend or across several evenings.
| Feature | Digital Download | Printed Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8 | £12 |
| Delivery | Instant download | Posted within 3 working days |
| Packaging | PDF plus image assets | Full-colour booklet plus answer sheet |
Surtees emphasised that the game rewards curiosity and teamwork, mirroring the core values of ClueCapers’ live escape rooms. “Puzzle hunts in the UK have always thrived on bringing people together,” she said. “We wanted to keep that spirit alive while letting players solve from the comfort of their living rooms.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 10 years — ClueCapers’ milestone since opening in 2016
- £12 — Price of the printed puzzle booklet, including postage
- 15,000 — Estimated players across all ClueCapers experiences since launch
- 48 hours — Average time most players take to complete a standard ClueCapers escape room
The puzzle pack includes a mix of cryptic clues, image-based steganography and layered riddles that escalate in difficulty. Players who get stuck can access a single hint for free, but additional guidance costs £2 per tip to preserve the challenge. Surtees confirmed that a prize draw for early solvers is baked into the event, with five £50 vouchers up for grabs among those who submit correct answers within the first week.
💡 Pro Tip
Start by printing the PDF if you prefer to scribble on clues—digital solves work fine, but paper lets you mark up visual puzzles without switching apps.
ClueCapers’ anniversary hunt runs for six weeks, closing on 31 August. Players can register online and download the game immediately, with printed copies dispatched within three working days. The studio has pledged to donate half of all proceeds to Winchester’s Age Concern charity, reinforcing its commitment to community engagement beyond the games themselves.
- Register — Sign up on ClueCapers’ website and choose digital or printed copy
- Download or wait — Digital arrives instantly; printed copies ship within three working days
- Solve — Crack the 60-minute mystery alone or with family and friends
- Submit — Enter the draw by emailing your final answer before the deadline
The anniversary edition caps a decade that has seen ClueCapers evolve from a single escape room into a multi-format puzzle provider. Surtees said the next milestone on the horizon is a permanent outdoor trail in Winchester’s historic core, set for early 2025.