Behind the scenes · Alara × Warner Hotels
Bringing a murder mystery weekend to life
A suspicious glance. A story that doesn’t quite add up. A conversation over dinner that sends your theory in a completely different direction. That’s the pleasure of a live murder mystery: you’re not just watching the story—you get to investigate it.
We’ve brought our murder mysteries to guests at Warner Hotels’ Bodelwyddan Castle, Cricket St Thomas, Holme Lacy House and Nidd Hall. Behind each weekend is a cast working together to create characters worth questioning and a mystery worth unravelling.
It starts with the people behind the suspects
Long before the first guest arrives, the cast gets to know the story—and each other. For one of our new 2026 Warner productions, that began with a first read-through at Livewire Dance Studio in Liverpool.
Rehearsal is about more than learning lines. We explore what each character wants, what they’re hiding and how they relate to the other suspects. When a guest asks an unexpected question, the character needs to feel just as convincing as they do in a scripted scene.
The best part? Everyone has a theory
The fun doesn’t stop when a scene ends. A clue becomes a talking point over dinner. Friends compare notes, defend their favourite suspect or spot something the rest of the table missed. Those conversations are part of what makes a weekend mystery so enjoyable.
You can follow every lead and put the suspects through their paces, or sit back and enjoy the performances. There’s no need to take centre stage yourself—just bring your curiosity.
Three more hotels. More mysteries to unravel.
A few moments from our 2025 Warner weekends, from the cast on stage to guests following the clues.
A whole weekend to unravel the mystery
Our 2026 Warner weekends feature Rock ’n’ Roll Revenge and The Haunted Hotel. With live scenes, clues and opportunities to question the characters, there’s time to change your mind before the final reveal.
Find the hotels, dates and booking links on our Warner murder mystery weekenders page. Accommodation bookings and current availability are handled directly by Warner Hotels.
A little intrigue for your own occasion
You don’t need a whole weekend to enjoy an Alara mystery. We also bring actor-led entertainment to company dinners, team socials, private celebrations and hotel events.
Tell us who’s coming, where you’re hosting and the kind of evening you have in mind. We’ll help you explore a format that fits your guests and your venue, with the practical arrangements discussed from the start.
Plan your own murder mysteryFind a Warner weekender