Discover SMASH IT RAGE ROOM in South East London
Offering a safe place to release pent-up frustrations
Offering a safe place to release pent-up frustrations, Smash It Rage Rooms in South East London welcomes people to take out their anger on inanimate objects, without judgement.
Located on The Mound in Coldharbour Estate, Smash It was created by couple Amelia and Darren Tofts after a family member suffering from PTSD struggled to get an appointment with the NHS.
In trying to deal with the emotions their son was feeling, the couple read online that a great way to relieve the angst was to write down their worries and then burn the paper. Eventually, it got to a point where their son felt like smashing something and so the couple bought plates that could be written upon and then smashed.
“He told us he really felt better after, which was a great relief,” says Amelia. “After speaking with some school staff, other parents and young people, we decided to put together a mobile smash space to offer more people the chance to feel the relief that our son felt.”
After two years of successfully touring around schools and public events, Amelia and Darren realised that a lot of young people and adults were looking for a way to release their frustrations.
“It was interesting to see the problems different age groups have,” says Amelia. “We told everybody to write down anything they didn’t like or that was bothering them. Young children’s plates would say things like ‘Spiders!’, ‘Broccoli!’, ‘Homework!’. The teens’ plates would be more about personal appearance, relationships and exams, while the adults’ plates would be anything from hating the night shift, fertility issues or the cost of living to ULEZ.”
Many of the participants asked if they had a ‘proper’ rage room because they wanted to come with friends and family to break bigger things and so began the long road to opening Smash It Rage Room.
Opening in March 2024, Smash It Rage Room has had feedback from customers saying just how much relief they got from breaking up inanimate objects in a safe, non-judgemental space.
“We are super-proud to be supporting a number of charities, including mental-health charities, St Christopher’s Hospice, Barnardo’s, Smile of Hope and Scope by buying all their unsaleable items, not only saving them money but making them money and reducing their carbon footprint.
“We then recycle as much as we can after being smashed.”
HOW IT WORKS
Anyone over 12 years old is welcome in the rage rooms. There are three packages available: Bronze £25, Silver £50 and Gold £100, per person. Packages last 15 minutes, 30 minutes or, for the extra-angry, there’s a 45-minute package.
Whether you decide to visit on your own or with friends or with work colleagues, the friendly team will give you HSE-approved PPE to put on before a safety briefing. You will then be shown to your room, where a variety of items will be waiting to be smashed, from plates and cups to TVs and car windscreens. You can choose your own music and lighting before using the provided hammers, baseball bats, crowbars and more to release all that pent-up emotion. A safe non-judgemental space, blinds can be put down to cover the windows and offer privacy for anyone worried they might become emotional.
INFO: smashitragerooms.co.uk
INSTA: @smashitrageroom
