Murder Mystery Weekends December 5, 2007
Posted by admin in : weekend breaks , trackbackWeekend Breaks with a twist
My office manager decided that rather than do yet another team building exercise, you know where the office hard men get to lord it over the wimps (that would be her and me!), we’d try a Murder Mystery Weekend Break at a rather nice hotel in Edinburgh. At first there was a bit of resistance, especially from a couple of the blokes. I think they look forward to splattering the boss in paint, or mud or whatever fresh hell the team builders come up with this year. Still, she is the boss, so the day dawned early (6 a.m.!) and after freezing on the station we all found ourselves curled up on a comfy train going north. This was a very civilised start to what up until now had been my annual ritual humiliation. I’m not very out-doorsy!
Right from the start there was plenty of action. As soon as we arrived at the hotel we were allocated roles and costumes. Our theme was the Roaring 20s and my Flapper costume was an absolute dream! There was a wig and everything! The biggest surprise was seeing how handsome some of the blokes looked in their costumes. Hard to believe that Jimmy from Accounts, a rather spotty youth (!) had somehow transformed into a dashing young hero! I think that’s one change of image that might stick, he certainly enjoyed all the female attention he got.
A team of professional actors guided us through the day. At first we assumed that they’d be the both the victims and the suspects and we’d have to work out who did it. So it came as a great shock when Lavinia (my best mate Sue) keeled over into her soup. Splat! Straight in - she always did love a bit of Am Dram! And there, in her back, a gleaming and rather convincing dagger! EEEK!!! I thought Mrs W was going to faint on the spot.
Well, that changed everything. Suddenly we didn’t know who to trust anymore. It became obvious that at the same time as I’d been getting my 20s cossie and a little card with my character’s details on it other people had been given quite different roles. It helped as well that there were people we didn’t know there too so we couldn’t be sure if they were actors or not. We were seated on tables of 8 or so guests, not all from our office. This definitely made life more interesting, what with the blokes all looking so handsome in their suits. Actually, a couple of them admitted how nice it was to see the women all dressed up rather than covered in mud 
It was like being in a real live episode of Poirrot and ‘those leetle grey cells’ were working overtime! The plot had enough twists and red herrings to challenge my favourite TV sleuth while at the same time providing lots of fun.
Talk about team building though! Over our scrumptious three course dinner we tried to work out what exactly was going on. We were the sleuths now and together we had to work to establish the identity of the murderer. Just like Poirrot we had to look for clues, talk to witnesses, never knowing who might keel over next. It was sooo cool! I’m not going to say anymore about the plot really. I’d hate to spoil it for other people, plus which they make you sign a note in your own blood swearing never to reveal the murderer’s true identity before you can go home. OK, I made the last bit up but you get the idea
I had a chat with one of the organisers over the full English (yummy!) next morning and they do lots of these weekends. Each one has a specific theme, like a Masked Ball or a Medieval Supper, your team gets to dress up, become characters and let your imagination carry you away. Some people don’t get as into it as much as me and that’s fine they can just sit back, relax and watch the show.
It’s not just that hotel either. These things go on all over the country. We are definitely going again next year. I think the murder mystery weekend was just about the coolest corporate training we ever did! Thing is, I enjoyed it so much I’m trying to persuade my partner to go on one with me just for a laugh. I think a Murder Mystery Weekend Break could be quite romantic and I’d quite like to see him in a dinner suit, or even doublet and hose
Book a trip to a Murder Mystery Weekend Break, with tickets to murder mystery and hotel accommodation included in the price.
Murder Mystery Breaks are currently provided at Cambridge | Harrogate | Loughborough | Matlock Bath
Hi I wrote a Murder Mystery for 35 people for a Christmas party 7 years ago. It was a huge success.
I set it during prohibition in the US and set it up at a horse racing event at Atlantic City and invited the w crime families’ one from Las Vegas, One New York. We had loads of fun and the girls were flappers and the guys were gangsters.
Great to know that someone has taken this a step further.
:o)
Hi Caroline
Atlantic City must have been wild in the 20s! I fancy one in a really posh country house hotel in England, sort of An Inspector Calls type of thing….
I agree murder mystery weekends are great fun. I think writing one must be an interesting process. I wouldn’t mind having a go at that myself. What a wonderfully tacky location you chose