Rallying against the recent wave of mid-contract price hikes from the major broadband providers, Fibrus gave frustrated broadband customers the chance to let off steam in spectacular fashion in Cumbria’s first-ever rage room.

Organised by Full Fibre broadband provider Fibrus, the pop-up experience invited participants to smash computers, bottles, and broadband routers using baseball bats and hammers.

Offering a cathartic release for those fed up with rising costs and mid-contract price hikes by other providers.

Rage rooms, which originated in Japan in the late 2000s, have grown in popularity worldwide as a form of stress relief.

The Carlisle version took place at a secret site in Kingmoor where the room had been built and given an urban graffiti makeover by artist Daniel Ibbotson.

Those selected to take part were given safety gear and a briefing before stepping into a custom-made room, where they had around 15 minutes to let off steam by destroying a range of tech equipment, including wifi routers from broadband companies like Sky and BT who’ve recently hiked their customers prices.

The event highlighted Fibrus’ commitment to fixed pricing, with the company continuing to promote its pledge of no mid-contract price increases.

This comes amid wider industry rises introduced this April by major providers.

Jude Parr from Wigton had been excited to try a rage room for the first time and get out her frustration at her broadband provider who “promised the world then didn’t deliver”.

She added: “Then when I tried to get out of the contract they wanted to charge me the full two years even though we were coming to the end of it. Not very impressed.

“The rage room was hard work but I really, really loved it. When do you ever get to smash stuff up?”

Sue Reynolds of Brampton felt special to have been selected, more so as her daughter missed out, and rated it a 10 out of 10 experience as she vented her anger on her provider.

“Living in the middle of nowhere where we have limited wifi signal at the best of times, dodgy

routers, buffering, all of that, so it was lovely to take the opportunity to smash stuff up,” she said.

Maria Irving, from Carlisle, also turned her ire on her broadband company, saying she couldn’t wait to leave her contract and was delighted to smash up one of its routers.

Also rating the session at 10 out of 10, she said: “It’s different, it’s definitely worth trying, and it was fun.

“But I’m red hot now! It was harder than I thought.”

Colin Hutchinson, Managing Director of Fibrus, said: “The response to the rage room event has been fantastic. It’s clear plenty of people enjoyed the chance to let off steam in a fun and safe way – they literally had a smashing time.

“We know how frustrating unexpected price increases can be, and while we can’t solve that for everyone overnight, we’re proud to offer a fairer alternative with no mid-contract hikes.”

The Carlisle sessions were organised in partnership with specialists Smash Space, who run a successful rage room in Newcastle.

Morgan Race of Smash Space said it had been a great first experience enjoyed by all who took part.

“It’s been really good fun, everyone seemed to enjoy it, everyone got stuck in quite nicely. I think everyone’s gone away quite satisfied.

“People always start off quite politely then whatever’s been bothering them comes out.

“It was a nice idea to do [with Fibrus], something different, something unique, something that makes people think we’ll give that a bash.”

He added: “Rage rooms are difficult things to get going but once they do get going they are good fun.”