Escape the Past, Escape Room: The Deacon’s Cabinet – 25 Nicolson Square

History, high stakes, and a heap of puzzles, Brodie’s neck isn’t going to save itself.

I’m standing in the cramped workshop of Edinburgh’s most notorious thief, Deacon William Brodie, with an hour to save him before the hangman comes calling. It’s my first escape room. My friend’s done a couple before, but neither of us is exactly Sherlock Holmes in a hurry.

Before we begin, the ever-vigilant assistant, Ronak, greets us and with a quick waiver to confirm that neither of us are wearing a pacemaker; jump scares and magnetism within the game are noted, we begin. Cloaked, lantern in hand, we are given a quick primer on Brodie’s life, gentleman by day, burglar by night. Then we’re off! The clock is ticking, and we aim to make the leader board!

The first task, which I don’t think gives too much away, is to piece together a large-format jigsaw puzzle. It looks deceptively simple, big pieces, bold images, but under pressure, it becomes an exercise in mild panic. For escape-room aficionados, this probably feels like a warm-up. For me, it’s a stark reminder that I may have peaked at primary-school jigsaws.

The Deacon’s Cabinet, as the name suggests, centres on a large, imposing cabinet bristling with drawers. Each is locked, and each demands its own puzzle to open. Pulleys clink, magnets snap, loaded dice land on the numbers required, letters shuffle into words, and the occasional hidden mechanism clicks satisfyingly into place. There’s pushing, pulling, twisting, decoding. Every surface in the room could be a clue, sometimes it’s above you, sometimes behind you, so you learn quickly to look everywhere.

The theming is spot-on, creaking wood, dusty ledgers, a faint whiff of intrigue. Everything feels authentic without tipping into pantomime. The puzzles are varied and well-integrated, each reveal feeding neatly into the next, making the whole thing feel cohesive and carefully curated. And when we stall, the cloaked assistant is there with a nudge, via the intercom, just enough to get us moving, never enough to spoil the fun.

Bumbling fools that we are, we don’t quite make it in time to save Brodie from the gallows, but it’s a great ride. And there’s more, the same venue offers The Anatomist, a Burke-and-Hare-inspired room full of Victorian medical intrigue. Then there’s a brand new walking treasure hunt through Edinburgh with no time limit. The latter sounds perfect for families or larger groups wanting to take it easy, and I can imagine it being a real hit with tourists keen to explore the city while solving clues.

Location-wise, it’s perfect, a few minutes from the Pleasance, just up the road from Summerhall. Stepping inside is like slipping out of the roar of the Fringe into a puzzle-filled oasis. You emerge an hour later, victorious or not, with your brain buzzing and a smile on your face.

As an added bonus the escape the past team have provided a 15% off single use code for the first reader to take up the challenge! Happy hunting!

RA-N64KQSW9 (use within 30 days)

Multiple times Daily

https://www.escapethepast.co.uk/book

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 9th August 2025

North West End UK Rating: