Prison Island to open in Leeds city centre at the Merrion Centre this Christmas

# What's opening Prison Island, an international multi-activity games and entertainment concept, is set to open a new venue in Leeds city centre. The site will be located at the Merrion Centre on Merrion Street and is scheduled to open in time for Christmas.

# What the venue will include The Leeds location will span 11,000 sq ft over two floors. Its central attraction is the Prison Island experience: immersive team challenges made up of themed cells that test physical ability, skill, teamwork and problem-solving. Teams of up to five people can tackle a selection of challenges, and the layout is designed to offer different experiences on repeat visits, rather than a single fixed puzzle sequence.

Alongside the themed cells, the venue will offer additional competitive activities including interactive darts and interactive golf, giving visitors multiple options for social and competitive play during a single visit.

Prison Island emphasises multiple, varied challenges that teams can take on in any order. That means visits can be shorter or longer depending on how many cells and activities groups want to try. The concept focuses on repeatability and a range of physical and skill-based tasks rather than the single linear storyline that many escape rooms use.

# Local and operator comments Ryan Lyttle, director of Prison Island Leeds, said the Merrion Centre "felt like a natural fit" due to its transport links, footfall and mix of leisure and hospitality operators. He noted the brand's success in Belfast and its broad appeal across different audiences.

Charles Newman, asset management director at Town Centre Securities PLC, owner of the Merrion Centre, welcomed Prison Island as a new leisure tenant that will add interactive experiences to the centre's offering and attract visitors who live, work, study and visit the city.

# Network and placement Leeds will be the first Prison Island venue in northern England and the fourth in the UK, joining sites in Belfast, Maidstone and Camden. Globally, the concept operates in more than 110 locations.

# Jobs and local impact The new venue is expected to create around 18 full- and part-time jobs. The operator and centre owners expect the interactive nature of the attraction to complement existing leisure and hospitality businesses in the Merrion Centre.

# What to expect when it opens Prison Island Leeds aims to open for the Christmas period. Visitors should expect a venue aimed at groups and social outings with a mix of physical challenges, puzzles and competitive digital games suitable for a broad audience.

# Quick practical points

• Location: Merrion Centre, Merrion Street, Leeds city centre.
• Size: 11,000 sq ft across two floors.
• Jobs: About 18 full- and part-time positions.
• Activities: Prison Island themed cells, interactive darts, interactive golf.
• Opening window: Expected in time for Christmas.