by Metropol | May 27, 2026 8:33 am
Q. Tell us about your new escape room, Conspiracy?
A. Picture this. The Christchurch elections are weeks away and Leo Preston, founder of Ōtautahi News Network, has vanished. He was chasing a story that powerful people wanted buried – and Maia, his girlfriend, believes the truth is still hidden in his office. She needs your help to break in, find his files, and expose the cover-up before it’s too late.
Q. What does creativity look like for your role as chief fun guy at Serve Social?
A. I’m always on the lookout for fun activities we can either add or switch into our offerings! This could be anything from scouring Instagram to travelling to different cities and finding out what other venues are offering. One of the perks of the job is getting to travel, play and discover new things. There’s never a dull moment. There’s three of us constantly working on new inspiration for puzzles in our escape rooms, so we like to change these up every few years to give our community a fresh dose of fun.
Q. You’ve built a community by ‘serving’ up fresh games, and maintained it with interactive events that meet current trends. How do you always know what the people want?
A. To be honest, I don’t think we’ve always known what people want. What we do know is how to create a good time with a great atmosphere, and the people trust our creative instincts. But there was a time when I wasn’t so sure we had what it takes! When we first opened 10 years ago, I remember sitting in our original escape room on a Saturday, with two people booked for the day, wondering if this would work. We’ve grown a huge amount since then and been around for a decade now. We’re always trialling new event ideas and activities with the thought that if it doesn’t work we can rip it out and try something else.
Q. Famously, you have a game to suit everyone. What would you suggest for different personality types?
A. It’s a great place to come because there really is something for everyone – whatever the occasion. Our Game Show experience is perfect for team building, hen and stag parties, or any group that loves a bit of trash talk, really. The extroverts and showmen will thrive, but the format pulls everyone in.
Darts is a great equaliser thanks to our auto-scoring system, which handles all the maths and runs a whole range of games for every skill level, so it works just as well for a date night as it does for a family catch-up.
Ping pong is for the quick-witted and quick-reflexed – fast rallies, faster banter, and a guaranteed good time with mates. Shuffleboard and cornhole suit the cruisier crowd who would rather chat, sip, and slide – great for groups where not everyone has a killer competitive nature. Our escape rooms are brilliant for couples, friends, and workmates wanting to test how well they actually communicate under pressure.
Find the spot for entertainment where you can’t go wrong at Serve Social, 166 Saint Asaph St, or call 0210 291 0169.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/fun-favourite-serve-social/
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