PLANS have been unveiled to create a second town centre escape room at building used as a fast food restaurant.

Philip Mowlam-Tett has applied to change the use of restaurant in Long Wyre Street, Colchester.

The planning application said: “We want to change the property from food outlet space to an interactive puzzle experience.

“This will work as a professional team building service in addition to being open to the public.

“It takes the form of a live escape game where teams have to perform a number of different mental and skill based challenges to successfully complete the room.

“Group sizes will range from minimum two to maximum six with up to three groups every 90 minutes.”

Mr Mowlam-Tett would like to operate the business seven days a week between 9am and 11pm.

The application said the plan was to open three interactive rooms initially and add a further two in the future.

It added the idea was the venue would return to having A3 use for a restaurant or café on surrender of the lease.

In 2017, Mr Mowlam-Tett was given permission to open an interactive puzzle experience - known as Escape Colchester - next door to the new application site.

The venture opened in the former home of Kathleen’s Kitchen.

The challenging puzzles are becoming increasingly popular across the UK and Escape Colchester runs four games themed on Sherlock Holmes, witchcraft and wizardry, pirates and a cabin in the woods.

Work has not yet started on the new building and Colchester Council will have the final say.