You can click here to read the full interview with Bryn on UNREAL Rockstars!
A Bit About Me — From Bedford to Building Games and Adventures 🏡➡️🎉
I grew up in Bedford — but let’s be honest, that’s not the most thrilling start! So let me fast forward a bit…
My business partner Nick and I have been best mates since school, back in 1997. We shared a love for adventure and travel, especially after our stereotypical gap year in 2008. Post-university in 2011, we had a crazy idea: start a hostel made from shipping containers. Back then, this was super unusual — no one was doing it! We even won a Shell-LiveWire award and secured a government start-up loan. I cheekily got James Khan from Dragon’s Den to review our plan by hanging around his office and bribing his receptionist with chocolates.
In 2014, we launched the world’s first pop-up shipping container hostel in Edinburgh for the summer, and in 2017, we opened a beachside hotel/hostel in Myanmar. Summers were spent juggling between Edinburgh and Burma, running our businesses.
Alongside hospitality, we loved creating treasure hunts and scavenger games for guests and customers across the UK — all going well until 2020 hit...
The Covid Crash & The Pivot to Puzzle Games 🎲🔄
When Covid struck, hospitality shut down completely — and no furlough in Myanmar made things tough. I vividly remember cancellations flooding in, feeling utterly deflated. I spent days in my boxers, drinking cider, screaming at my video games (sorry to my partner, a solicitor, trying to work nearby!).
Then, inspiration struck: why not create puzzle board games? After some learning curves and mentoring, we launched Puzmat, an escape-room style game on a mat, which was a massive hit! We also taught ourselves how to run a proper e-commerce business.
What We Do & Why It Matters 🎯
We create treasure hunts, team building events, and puzzle board games that bring people together.
Got a free weekend or a bank holiday? Our outdoor treasure hunts are perfect for exploring new cities, learning history, and getting some fresh air — with a pub stop at the end, naturally! 🍺
Need a quirky gift or something fun for family game night? Puzmat gets everyone collaborating rather than competing — perfect for avoiding those Monopoly arguments!
Got a special venue like a castle, zoo or botanical garden? Our interactive treasure hunts make visits more fun and educational, encouraging visitors to explore hidden gems and share their experience on social media.
And for offices? Our team building treasure hunts are the ultimate ice breaker — mixing puzzles with pub stops and hilarious challenges.
What Inspired This Adventure? 🚀
After university, I ran pub crawls and hostels, always creating fun activities for guests. Nick’s design background helped us make clever games like Puzmat. Covid forced us to pivot, and everything just clicked. We’re now focused on spreading the fun beyond hostels into corporate and general markets.
What Makes Us Different? ✨
We’re all about fun, energy, and attention to detail. I honestly tell clients if our games aren’t the best fit for them — because their fun is the priority.
Planning team building can be a headache. That’s where I step in: making the process effortless and giving you everything needed to impress the bosses. Fancy silly photo challenges or serious brain teasers? Sorted.
Our goal? To help teams laugh, bond, and create unforgettable memories.
Biggest Challenge & Lessons Learned 💡
Covid was a brutal wake-up call. We had a big sales spike in late 2021 but got hit hard by the iOS 14 update killing our ads, cash flow dried up, and debts piled. We had to take loans, get part-time jobs, and even temporarily lost passion for the business.
But in summer 2023, things picked up again with team building events. Now we’re gearing up for a busy 2024 and an exciting 2025.
Key takeaways:
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Always have an emergency fund
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Diversify your marketing and clients
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Focus on product quality and customer experience — word of mouth is priceless!
Proud Moments & Future Goals 🏆
Nothing beats seeing customers say, “That was so much fun! I’ll tell all my friends.” Whether a family game night or a huge 200-person team event in Hyde Park, that’s why I love what I do.
Looking ahead, we’re expanding team building treasure hunts, pub crawl games, and interactive tours across the UK. Our dream is to partner with castles, zoos, and stately homes, offering visitors engaging, educational self-guided treasure hunts on their phones.
Advice for Entrepreneurs 🚀
Building a business is tougher and slower than you think. Here’s a paradox: youth brings time but little money; middle age brings money but little time; retirement brings both but often not health. Find your own way to break that cycle!
My practical tips:
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Deliver on your promises and build social proof with reviews
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Keep your website and materials professional and clear
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Create personalised videos to help organisers pitch your product internally
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Write everything down — details matter!
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Learn a bit of everything yourself, use YouTube and ChatGPT, and outsource wisely
If you enjoyed this honest, down-to-earth interview, check out the full article on UNREAL Rockstars [here]! 🎉