FAQ

Lanwades Hall, Bury Road, Kentford, Newmarket CB8 7UA: a private country house about 30 minutes from Cambridge. You stay, eat and play in the house's second-floor apartment, and some Trials use the grounds and other parts of the house.

Most guests drive, and there's parking on site. If you're coming by train, message us and we'll help you plan the last stretch. Travel to and from the venue isn't included.

Pairs booking together share a private room: a double, or a twin if the doubles are taken. Solo guests share a twin room with another guest, who may be from a different booking. If a private room is free, a solo guest may have it to themselves. We confirm your room in writing before you pay.

The apartment is reached by several flights of stairs, so it's generally not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Some Trials take place outdoors after dark, on uneven ground. If you have any access needs, talk to us before booking and we'll tell you honestly whether we can make it work.

Exact timings come in your Pre-Event Pack, two to three weeks before the weekend.

All meals are included, from a welcome aperitivo buffet on Friday evening to Sunday lunch. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies in your Guest Registration Form, and we'll plan around them.

Comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes for Trials outdoors after dark, a warm layer (it's late November), toiletries, any medication you need, and your own drinks if you'd like them. A full list comes in your Pre-Event Pack.

You keep your phone, but please don't use it during active rounds of the game. At meals, in breaks and overnight, use it as normal.

No. There's no script and no character to play. You're yourself all weekend, just a little more suspicious than usual.

No. You get a full briefing when you arrive, and the High Priest explains everything as it happens. How it plays gives you the shape of the weekend if you're curious.

In your private Confessional, the High Priest asks how much you want to be a Heretic. Tell him you'd rather not, and you can steer well clear of it. Want the role? Convince him.

Your weekend isn't over. You join the Eclipsed, who keep playing with secret missions and challenges for tokens, and the top player is crowned Eclipsed Champion. You also get to watch the rest of the game knowing things the others don't.

Yes. The First Sanctuary is a mixed group of solo guests, pairs and small groups. Coming alone is often the most fun way to play: you have even less idea who to trust.

Quieter players often do brilliantly, because listening is half the game. Trials are team-based, nobody is put on the spot to perform, and you can step out of any moment with a quiet signal.

It's atmospheric rather than scary: candlelight, cloaks, secrets and a lot of suspense. It isn't a horror experience.

Some Trials involve moving around the house and grounds, including after dark. Nothing extreme, but not fully seated either. You can opt out of any part of any Trial.

We take photos and video during the weekend. We only use them in our marketing if you say yes on your Guest Registration Form, and you can change your mind at any time.

£350 per person, or less when you book together: £325pp for 3–4 people and £300pp for 5 or more. That covers two nights in a country house, every meal and the full game, hosted all weekend. No extra fees.

Have a question about group pricing? Message us on WhatsApp.

Fill in the booking form (about five minutes). We email you your room and price, usually within a few hours, and you pay a deposit to secure your place. Go to booking.

Yes. The person who books pays for everyone in the booking. Each guest then gets their own short registration form, so you only need their names and email addresses. Everyone must be 18 or over.

The balance is due before the weekend, on a date we confirm in writing when you book. Payment is by bank transfer.

You can cancel at any time by emailing us. A cancellation fee applies, depending on how close to the weekend you cancel. If we fill your place, we refund what we save. You can also transfer your place to a friend with at least 7 days' notice. Full details are in our Booking Terms & Conditions.

If we have to cancel, you get a full refund. If it's because not enough people have booked, we'll tell you at least 7 days before. Your payments are protected by our insolvency insurance, as required for package holidays.

Yes: birthdays, hen and stag dos, reunions and more, on your dates. See private events.