No assembly required as IKEA puts a stop to giant hide and seek game

IKEA stores are so big it can be easy to get lost in them – making them seem like the perfect place for a spot of hide and seek.

But when hordes of people threatend to stage a mass game at the Glasgow branch of the furniture giant on Saturday, police stepped in to prevent them assembling.

Plans had been announced on Facebook to turn the store at the Braehead shopping complex into an impromptu playground.

The trend for using IKEA’s huge warehouses for games began in Europe a few years ago – and has seen people hiding in fridges, under beds and in the firm’s big blue shopping bags. On Saturday, staff at Braehead became aware of a Facebook thread suggesting some 3,000 youths were about to descend on the store.

As well as drafting in extra security, IKEA contacted Police Scotland, who sent five officers.

Throughout the afternoon, groups of youths who looked like they were there only for the game were turned away from the shop. Word also spread on social media that the hide and seek game had been shut down – meaning many others stayed away.

Police remained at the store until it closed at 8pm.

One Facebook user posted on the thread: ‘To the person who said they phoned the store, this event is not organised by IKEA and they now won’t let people in.’

The trend for using Ikea for hide and seek started in Belgium in 2014 and spread rapidly around Europe, with IKEA bosses initially allowing the events.

In the Netherlands, 32,000 Facebook users signed up for a game in Eindhoven. However, in 2015, IKEA was forced to impose a ban because the events were getting out of control.

IKEA Glasgow store manager Rob Cooper said: ‘While we appreciate playing games in one of our stores may be appealing to some, we do not allow this kind of activity to take place to ensure we are offering a safe environment and relaxed shopping experience for our customers.’

A spokesman for Police Scotland said five officers attended but said there were ‘no issues’ for them to deal with, as IKEA was using its own security personnel.