Leadership series: Richard Harpham

Our CORE Leadership Series gives a voice to exceptional leaders shaping the industry today.

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Harpham, CEO of XP Factory PLC, the group behind Escape Hunt and Boom Battle Bar.

We are covering a lot of ground: the stories behind both concepts, their growth journeys, technology, evolving customer trends, and yes, Doctor Who! 

Richard's career brings a fascinating mix of scale and entrepreneurship, from Strategy Director at Pret a Manger to founding and leading start-ups. He shares his perspective on franchising, global expansion, and IP development, before closing out on what the current UK Government could do to foster a more growth-friendly environment.

About XP Factory PLC:

They are a UK-listed experiential leisure group behind two brands: Escape Hunt, offering escape room experiences across owner-operated and franchised sites globally, and Boom Battle Bar, which combines competitive socialising (axe throwing, augmented reality darts, crazy golf...), with cocktails and street food.

The group was formed in 2017 as Escape Hunt plc, adding Boom Battle Bar through acquisition in 2021 before rebranding as XP Factory. It reported record revenue of £57.3m in FY2025, with ambitions to reach £90m by FY2028