Historian creates mystery tour guide book and turns Old Portsmouth into an outdoor escape room

Jack Wells, from Southsea, has designed three mystery adventure books – with one based in Old Portsmouth, and the others in Bath and London’s West End.

The books take people on a trail around the area, following a story with clues to find and puzzles to solve, similar to an escape room, as well as vouchers for discounts at local pubs.

The married dad-of-one, who is originally from Portsmouth, said he was inspired to create the adventures after falling back in love with Portsmouth when he moved back to the city after a 10 year stint working in China,

Jack, who studied history at the University of Sussex, said: ‘It has been really popular.

‘It brings lots of people to Old Portsmouth, lots of people who don’t really know that it’s there. It has got people out of the shopping areas and into the historic parts of the city.

‘And it’s encouraged more people to learn about the history of the city.

‘Gunwharf is great, it’s new, but there is so much more to Portsmouth than Gunwharf or the Dockyard.’

Jack said he’s seen a surge in orders brought about by lockdown, with people keen to undertake outdoor activities.

He said the books make great presents and they are a great way to learn about the area without taking a tour, which can often means being part of a group.

‘It is nice to have structure,’ he said.

‘But with this, you don’t have to follow a group or book something, it’s easy and fun to do.’

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Jack, 34, has left his job as a language assessor to focus on the mystery books full-time. He now plans to work on other locations, and says he has plans to create other adventures.

He said: ‘I’ve always has an interest in local history and to create something that people can use is great.’

The books, which sell for £9.99, are available at mysteryguides.co.uk.

They are also available for sale at the Dolphin pub in Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Museum, The Hard Interchange and at I Can See The Sea, at studio 2 in Hotwalls studios, Old Portsmouth.