murder mystery weekend, murder mystery, murder weekends, original murder, original murder weekend, murder, leisure, detective, crime, murders, mystery, murder mystery weekend, crimes, murder events, hotel break, sleuthing, solving, joy swift, hen weekend, hen party, hen parties, intrigue, murder mystery weekends, mystery weekend, murder mystery weekends uk, absolute murder, total murder, murder mayhem

Home

30th Birthday News

30th Birthday charity

What's it all about?

What happens?

Plot details

Hotels, dates and prices

Receive our e-Newsletter

warning: cheap imitations seriously damage your enjoyment!

Well, I can't believe it's really here, our 30th Birthday and what an incredible 30 years it's been.

In 1981, when I was quite a naļve 25 year old, I came up with the craziest idea, why not 'kill' customers in the hotels where I was working in PR and marketing. I invited guests to come along to sleuth and solve the murders and my invention of Murder Weekends was born. The ensuing worldwide publicity propelled me into a wonderful 30 year career, which has seen me travel all over the world, introducing the fun of my Original Murder Weekends and creating an international industry. On that first weekend, 30th October 1981, I never imagined that I'd still be murdering thirty years on, but I'm so grateful I am, how else would I meet such lovely guests, have a wonderful extended family of terrific actors and have such great fun with so much laughter!

This forthcoming year is very special and we want to make it our best year yet, not just for weekends, but for a charity as well. Although I give to many charities, I have for many years supported Breakthrough Breast Cancer; by finishing the London Marathon (I can't claim to have run it!!), jumping out of a plane and regularly holding ‘Breast parties' for my friends. Having had one of my closest friends very poorly with the disease last year, and thankfully successfully beating it, the charity has even more relevance for me. We have already raised £2,967 by collections at the end of the weekend, but are hoping to make at least £10,000 with the sale of our very unique, extraordinary and quite ridiculous – 'Murderously Naked Calendar', which will be on sale from September on weekends and from the office. We have managed to produce a very funny calendar thanks to the hilarious exhibitionism of my fantastic group of actors.

We have kept our prices the same for the last three years, and although we have had to increase them slightly for 2012, it is by a small amount and the weekends are still incredibly good value for money, with no hidden extras, as can so often happen with other breaks. On our Original Murder Weekends you will have the fun of a full murder programme from 8.00pm on Friday until 12.00 noon on Sunday. There are always at least 3 murders and the actors stay in character the entire weekend. That, along with full accommodation and delicious meals throughout the weekend, it really is a fantastic deal.

We are currently performing our 113th plot and I have already have some great ideas for the three new plots in 2012. With some guests coming for their 30th, 40th and 50th times, I think I can safely say that my plots have not become formulaic or boring! Although guests love the sleuthing, we do have so much fun on weekends and one of the comments I often hear and most relish on a Sunday is "We haven't laughed so much in years!".

Since inventing the concept of Murder Weekends in 1981, I have seen so many changes in the world, and have incorporated modern technology into not only my plots, but also into a new way of playing them – there are two plots which can be played online www.murdermysteryinvestigations.com, if you haven't already done so, why not give it a bash!

I do hope you will be able to join us on one of my Original Murder Weekends soon. You'll give your brain a complete work-out; have great fun and lots of laughs. Don't just take my word for it, why not take a look at the "What the guests say" page, to see what other guests have said about their experience. They loved their weekend and we're sure you will too.

Lastly may I take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their hard work for Murder Weekends, Geri runs our office brilliantly and all the fantastic team of actors and also to thank you so much for your company and custom. I don't always get to meet everyone at the end of the weekend to say this personally, but I can't thank you all enough, without you, we wouldn't still be going after all these years!

Do keep your eye on our website and in the press for news of our 30th birthday special events.

We're dying to see you!

Very best wishes
Joy