The recent series of The Traitors was one of the most successful BBC shows to date with millions of viewers tuning in live and streaming the show online. And now a celebrity version is on the horizon. Drama, intrigue, deception twists, turns. Even a happy ending. The nation was hooked. It was, in fact, the biggest entertainment programme since the Eurovision Final in 2023. So no wonder people are looking for Traitors-themed party ideas to inspire their events.
What makes this show different is not just the mystery and trickery of the contestants, but the staging and production values. Sweeping countryside vistas, rugged Scottish coastline, and of course the mysterious and atmospheric setting of Andross Castle. The show is littered with props and references that make it feel like an ancient mysterious cult is operating right in front of our noses. Not to mention Claudia Winkleman. Her fabulous wardrobe and signature red fingerless gloves, alongside the dramatic capes of the treacherous contestants.
Put this all together and you know what we’re going to say. It has all the hallmarks of a fabulous party theme.
If you love the drama, deception, and strategy of The Traitors, why not bring it to life with a thrilling Traitors-themed event? Whether you’re hosting a corporate team-building day, a party with friends, or a charity fundraiser, here’s our Traitors-themed party ideas to create an unforgettable experience inspired by the show.
SEEK OUT A TRAITORS-ESQUE VENUE
Our Traitors-themed party ideas start with the venue. Pick a setting that channels suspense and decadence. Think historic castles, grand manor houses, or even a moody candlelit room if you’re on a budget. A dusty library or gallery within a grand period property would make the perfect space for your party. If you can hire an entire house and move your event around the different rooms, then even better.
The Traitors is famously set in a historic Scottish castle. So, you could do worse than travel North of the Border in your search for a venue full of atmospheric spaces and intrigue around every corner.
We’re aiming for the full castle works, turrets, curtain walls, and battlements. Bonus points if there’s a moat and drawbridge. Inside, suits of armour, exposed brickwork or stone, and a dramatic staircase in front of which to hold your welcome drinks.
Here are a few options for venues in Scotland, giving the same Traitors vibes but with added benefits.
Andross Castle
Andross Castle, the filming location itself, is available for hire for weddings, we imagine with a premium price package now. The benefits of starring on the small screen. If you want an authentic Traitor’s experience, then this is your venue.
https://ardrosscastle.co.uk/weddings/
Glenapp Castle
With rooms and suites holding up to twenty-one guests set in breathtaking gardens, forests, and surrounded by seascapes Glenapp is a five-star retreat that your guests will remember forever.
Dundas Castle
An elegant historic castle located close to Edinburgh; Dundas Castle is the perfect location for your Traitors style event.
The Torridon
This stunning hotel is a slightly leftfield option due to its highland’s location, but you’ll be hard pushed to find somewhere as naturally beautiful and luxurious. Perfect for really putting the ‘away’ into a corporate away day if that’s what you’re planning.
SET THE SCENE
The invite to your party must be shrouded in mystery and sealed with red wax as are The Traitors’ instructions. If your budget and geographic spread allow, have a caped ‘Traitor’ deliver the invitation in person without ever revealing their identity. Keep the invitations cryptic and mysterious – giving away only a hint of what’s to come.
The contestants always arrive in style, so on the day of your event, have your guests assemble at a convenient meeting point nearby to your venue. Then have them shuttled in with LandRover 4 x 4s just as they are on the show.
Having them arrive at the venue at dusk presents the opportunity for flaming torches to flank the walkway to your party venue for added theatre. Your venue needs a sweeping driveway and if the air is warm enough, welcome drinks could be done here – all served in ornate goblets of course.
One of our favourite challenge moments from the latest series of The Traitors was the giant statue of a caped traitor. Are you thinking what we’re thinking? What better way to greet your guests at the party than with an enormous caped traitor statue?
Encourage guests to dress in mysterious, elegant attire. Dark suits, cloaks, or even medieval-style outfits to mimic the show’s dramatic aesthetic. Provide accessories like masks, capes, or lapel pins to differentiate Traitors from Faithful.
Create a dark and suspenseful setting. Dim the lights and add ornate chandeliers mixed among the flicker of candlelight.
Your Traitors-themed party ideas could include smoke machines for an eerie effect and lighting trickery to create shadowy corners that enhance dramatic moments.
DECEPTIVE DINING
Use long banqueting tables but don’t cram people in – the tone is more of an elegant murder mystery than a medieval banquet. Add in velvet table runners for an opulent feel. Ornate goblets only for drinks.
Punctuate the tables with dark decadent and murderous touches. Dagger napkin holders. ‘Poison’ chalices. A large scroll with the evening’s itinerary, presented like a medieval decree. Play suspenseful music to build tension.
Place cards could be labelled “Faithful” or “Traitor” and why not give your guests random assignments to stir paranoia and create a buzz within the venue? You could go as far as to have a hidden bar within the venue that people are taken to secretly for cocktails during the night.
Offer food and drink themed around The Traitors. Make the food fun and mysterious. Share a platter of dips with a hidden spicy note or unexpected twist (think to Heston Blumenthal for inspiration).
Make your dishes look dark and dramatic. Try something like squid ink pasta for an elegant but eerie dish. For dessert – poison apples, cheesecake disguised as an apple but sprayed in darkly decadent colours. Serve themed Traitors cocktails – black or red drinks with dry ice for a smoky effect.
And in true mysterious style, our Traitors-themed party ideas include some intrigue. Hide secret clues and messages in desserts or under crockery.
ENTERTAINMENT TRAITORS STYLE
Entertainment at this type of event is tricky – you want to keep the mysterious and moody atmosphere, but it is a party after all.
Our take would be to keep the pre-drinks and dining to the theme and then let loose with a DJ afterward. The set can start with dramatic, moody music (e.g., orchestral covers of pop songs) and build the energy as the evening goes on.
Themed performances work exceptionally well for a Traitors-themed event. On arrival, suspenseful music will add to the atmosphere. A string quartet or medieval folk band would fit the castle-like setting well.
A fortune teller or tarot reader would be a brilliant sideshow. Set up a shrouded tent themed to the event, with heavy drapery and heavy beaded curtain to enter. Have guests visit the ‘seer’ throughout the evening.
A photobooth with cloaks and daggers, and other props such as scrolls and goblets an provide a lasting memento of the night.
With mysterious food, gothic elegance, and thrilling surprises, your Traitors-themed event will be a night of deception, drama, and unforgettable fun.
Looking for more TV and drama inspiration for your party? Check out our guide to a Bridgerton-themed wedding here: https://www.tlc-ltd.co.uk/bridgerton-themed-wedding-ideas/
What other TV dramas would you like to see as our style muse? Share your thoughts in the comments below.