Fans of the hit TV show The Traitors are spending thousands of pounds to recreate their own versions of the programme, from stag and hen dos to luxury castle weekends, according to event companies and castle rental specialists.
The show's popularity has sparked a boom in Traitors-style events across the UK, with firms hosting year-round imitations for fans looking to recreate the drama of the candle-lit roundtable. The trend is also proving a boost for owners of Britain's castles, with wealthy fans hiring them out for private events.
Castle packages and corporate events
Roger Masterson, founder of Celtic Castles, which specialises in castle stays and rentals, said: "We see a huge spike in people searching for Traitors-style experiences on our pages every time it comes back on TV. We've got castle hotels that put together Traitors packages. A 15-bedroom castle might sleep 30 or so. They'll bring in couples and organise the faithfuls and traitors over the weekend. They build a story around it and play the game. There are huge varieties with how it's done."
Companies organising team bonding exercises are the most common customers. GOTO Events, which runs tailored Traitors-style experiences, offers packages from five people to 1,000, complete with their own version of the missions contestants play to build up the prize pot and a Claudia Winkleman-style host. Danni Warren, GOTO's head of marketing, said these had become the most popular experience they offer.
"Ever since the show launched, it's just not died down. We keep thinking things will slow down and they haven't," she said. "Everyone pretty much takes it as a bit of fun because you know that someone is lying. In one of my first events, the big boss was one of the betrayers and got called out in the first round. It was funny. Everyone loves calling out their boss."
Costs and castle repairs
A Traitors-style experience does not come cheap. Daylong events cost a few hundred pounds, while those looking for the full castle experience pay much more. Rothes Glen castle in the Scottish Highlands is offering a three-night package from £4,388 a room for two guests for a castle conspiracy weekend in August next year. A private event costs even more: hiring a luxury castle for the weekend can set you back tens of thousands of pounds, before the cost of organising the game, says Masterson.
"If you were looking at an exclusive-use property, let's say for 30 people, they might charge £10,000 a night on a bed and breakfast basis. So, a two night stay would be 20 – then add another 10 for the event. You could have an amazing time for £30,000 for the whole weekend," he said.
The boom is also helping fund repairs to Britain's crumbling castles, he added. "I've been with owners and I ask them why they're moving into the hospitality market. And they say: 'Well, we need £100,000 to replace the roof'."
The new series of Celebrity Traitors began on Thursday, with 21 celebrities including James Blunt, Maya Jama and Hannah Fry competing for up to £100,000 for their chosen charities, running until Friday 30 October. "We are expecting another surge [with the new series]. We are ready to go," said Warren.
