Everything You Need to Know about Crime and Dine
- 21st Sep 2026
- Author: Elliott Langley
This October, our Venue Hire team are taking things in a whole new direction with Crime and Dine, an immersive evening that combines a three-course meal, premium drinks, real investigative techniques and a murder mystery that unfolds before your very eyes.
To find out more about this unique and quirky event, I went undercover and met with Sarah and Laura from our Venue Hire team, a couple of intrepid true-crime enthusiasts, to discover how Crime and Dine came to life, what you need to know if you're joining us, and why it promises to be a night like no other.
Thanks for joining me both. So, where did the idea for Crime and Dine come from?
Laura (Assistant Events Manager): I’ve always loved immersive experiences. I actually have some experience working on murder mystery-style events in a previous role. So we got talking about how we could bring something similar to the National Space Centre, but make it feel unique to us. It became much more than a traditional mystery evening and started evolving into something that really fitted with our Cosmic Events programme.
Sarah (Event Operations Manager): Most of our Cosmic Events have been music-themed, so Crime and Dine felt like an exciting opportunity to try something completely different. We wanted a premium evening experience that still had all the fun and atmosphere people expect from a night out at the National Space Centre.
Laura: Plus we really wanted to do something Halloween-themed for a long time, but it’s somehow never quite come together. Once Crime and Dine presented itself, we knew we'd found our Halloween event.
Without giving away the twist, what can guests expect on the night?
Sarah: From the moment you arrive, you are stepping into a story. You’ll enjoy a welcome drink, settle in for dinner, and soak up the atmosphere. Then suddenly… everything changes. Now you are part of an active investigation. You’ll examine evidence, analyse clues and work together with your table to discover what happened.
Laura: One of the most exciting parts is that guests will learn investigative techniques from a retired Scotland Yard detective. You're not just guessing who did it. You're actually experiencing how a professional investigator approaches a crime scene.
Sarah: But we’re not here to be overly serious. We’re here for a fantastic, fun night out, with great food, drinks and plenty of laughs along the way. We want people to have fun while getting fully immersed in the experience.
Is it fair to say that Crime and Dine isn’t your typical murder mystery?
Sarah: Absolutely! A traditional murder mystery is often about trying to identify which character is responsible. Crime and Dine is much more immersive than that. You're actively involved in collecting information, examining evidence and using real investigative techniques throughout the evening. We’ve teamed up with a retired Scotland Yard detective, who’s now turned his attention to creating amazing events. So it’s super authentic.
Laura: That's what really appealed to me. Guests get a glimpse into how real investigations work. It's not about picking a name at random. It's about observing, analysing and building a case.
How does the dining experience fit into the evening?
Sarah: The investigation unfolds between courses, so the dining experience and the mystery work together naturally. Guests get time to enjoy each course, discuss theories within their group, and then decide what they think happened before new information is revealed.
Laura: We really wanted this to feel like a premium night out. The food, drinks and atmosphere are just as important as the investigation itself. By the end of the evening, we want people talking about the whole experience.
Is there a dress code?
Sarah: Not at all. You can wear whatever you want. It’s about fun over everything else, so there’s no need to get dressed up… unless you want to!
Laura: We’ll give you another clue… don’t spend too long deciding what to wear, because we might have some wardrobe surprises for you. After all, you don’t want to be contaminating the crime scene.
So what does it take to turn an idea like this into a reality?
Sarah: It all starts with a whiteboard. We throw everything onto it and then gradually work out how to create the best possible experience for our guests. Some ideas stay, some disappear, and eventually the event begins to take shape.
Laura: What people don't always see is how many teams are involved. The Venue team develops the experience, the Marketing team helps create the story and atmosphere, our Chefs create a bespoke menu, and the Operational teams help bring everything together. It's genuinely a whole-Centre collaboration. That's one of the things I love about events here. Everybody contributes something different, and it allows us to create experiences that feel really special.
Why is the National Space Centre the perfect venue for an event like this?
Sarah: There aren't many places where you can enjoy a three-course meal, investigate a crime and spend an evening surrounded by iconic rockets. The Space Centre gives us opportunities that very few venues can offer. The atmosphere is already incredible before the event even begins.
Laura: People know us as a visitor attraction, but events like this allow people to experience a completely different side of the Space Centre. We're always looking for ways to surprise people, and Crime and Dine definitely does that.
Did your love of true crime help inspire the event?
Sarah: Honestly, that's just everyday life for us! I love true-crime documentaries, books and dramas. We even have a bit of an unofficial thriller book club in the Venue Hire team.
Laura: We're definitely true-crime friends. I've always been fascinated by investigations and understanding how detectives piece together evidence to find answers. There's something really satisfying about seeing all the clues come together.
Finally, do you think you have what it takes to crack this case wide open?
Both: Yes!
Laura: We've done a few escape rooms together, which we have a 100% success rate for escaping. So I’m pretty confident that we can do it.
Sarah: I think I’ve been working these mean streets long enough to solve just about anything that lands on my desk.
Laura: I’m more excited to see how the guests do on the night. I honestly can’t wait!
Can You Crack the Case?
Thanks so much to Sarah and Laura for taking the time to speak to me about our exciting new Crime and Dine event, which takes place on 30 October. Tickets are now on sale, and include a welcome drink, seasonal three-course dinner, and an immersive evening of fun. Book now to secure your spot and get ready to put your detective skills to the test.
Plus, follow our Cosmic Events page to find out when our next event is.
