Venues taken from an acticle written By Laura Tait
Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes, London
£54.40pp, plus rooms from £135 (sleeps 2)
The hotel: Modern and elegant boutique-style hotel situated in two 18th century houses, with a trendy cocktail bar and fitness centre with gym, sauna, steam room.
The event: Sherlock Holmes is called in when murder is committed, after Professor Bugel wins an award for an amazing discovery. You lot, in your 1920s fancy dress, will attempt to solve it. And if it turns out you’re better at accessorising than you are at crime-solving, there are prizes for the best dressed too.
What's included: Welcome cocktail, three-course dinner with wine, and disco.
Langtry Manor, Bournemouth
From £215pp, inc 2 nights accommodation
The hotel: Old-fashioned and charming manor, built in 1877 by Edward VII for his mistress Lillie Langtry.
The event: They only happen twice a year (Nov and March) but they’re extravagant. The mystery pans the entire weekend, from meeting the characters over pre-dinner drinks in the drawing room on Friday, to Sunday morning post-breakfast unveiling and summing-up, with a murder at any time in between. Everyone will play a part and each event has a different story and theme – the next one (26-28 November) is Pirates of the Caribbean, set in the 1820s.
What's included: Champagne cocktail reception, all meals inc. Fri night dinner and six-course banquet on Sat night, 2 nights stay.
Kitley House, Devon
£39.50pp, £44.95 with disco, rooms from £79 (sleeps 2)
The hotel: A listed Grade One building over 500 years old, with gardens and woodland paths based around a series of lakes.
The event: A murder will take place during dinner, with actors from the Candlelight Theatre Company of Torbay laying the clues for you to unravel, and it's up to you to investigate and accuse a suspect. Concludes over coffee with the police supervising. Plots and themes change regularly so you can go again and again.
What's included: Cocktail reception, three-course dinner with wine.
Walworth Castle, Darlington
£26.95pp, rooms from £95 (sleeps 2)
The hotel: Set in 18 acres of lawns and woodlands, with parts of the atmospheric and medieval-esque castle built in 1189, rumoured to be haunted by a girl who became pregnant by the stable boy and was locked in the turret.
The event: Surprise-filled Sherlock Holmes-style whodunit, with the plot unravelling over a leisurely dinner.
What's included: Three-course dinner with wine.
Best Western Grosvenor, Stratford Upon Avon
£175pp inc 2 nights accommodation
The hotel: 180-year-old grade II listed Georgian building with intimate lounges and individually decorated modern bedrooms.
The event: Another one that goes the whole hog and takes all weekend, with highly developed plots, loads of twists to keep you guessing and different dress codes depending on what the theme is that weekend, from 1920s distinguished or 1970s school reunion to modern day party.
What's included: All meals, drinks while dining and 2 nights stay.
