Chertsey, Surrey
Mickle Hill, Pickering
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stapleford, Cambridgeshire
Corsham, Wiltshire
August 2025
As Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series continues to captivate the nation and with the much-anticipated film adaptation having premiered on Netflix on 28th August, retirement living is being redefined in the public imagination like never before. With vibrant, contemporary retirement villages for the over 60s across the UK, Rangeford Villages celebrated the occasion with a series of immersive events and initiatives, offering a fresh perspective of what modern retirement truly looks like.
Exclusive premier events
To showcase the new film and give owners a night of cinematic luxury, each village hosted an exclusive premier with all the movie night essentials, it was a night to remember. At Strawberry Fields in Cambridgeshire, owners were treated to a screening of the film at their outdoor cinema followed by pizza and cocktails in the courtyard. Menu highlights included Carnage Crust, a killer combo of every meat in the book, Veggie Victim, so good it’s practically a crime (against plants) and Deep-Sea Demise, a wave of seafood that’ll pull you under.
Killer cocktail menus
Across the villages, the expert bar staff created a bespoke menu of special cocktails to celebrate the film release. At Siddington Park in Gloucestershire, The Femme Fatale Fizz, The Bitter End andMint to Kill You are just a few examples of some of the playful and creative beverages that have been on offer.
Themed Dining Experiences
Each Rangeford village features modern dining options led by incredible culinary professionals. At Homewood Grove in Surrey, owners enjoyed ‘Murder a Curry’ night. This event was open to owners and their family, where a curry buffet was served in the restaurant with cocktails and mocktails. In addition, other gastronomic initiatives across the villages included a Murder in Venice themed menu and Wadswick Green in Wiltshire, mystery-inspired light bites were showcased such as Cheesy Plot Twists, Devils on Horseback and Death by Chocolate Cake in the bistro.
Thrilling Events
Murder on the Dance Floor dance classes, murder mystery games such as ‘Who killed Colonel Mustard?’ crime scene puzzles and whodunit themed film nights throughout August are other examples of how each village brought their community of owners together to celebrate with engaging events.
Immersive Trips
Owners at Siddington Park even went on a trip to Englefield Estate, the iconic filming location to walk around the grounds.
Much like the storyline, the village owners are all from different walks of life and professions however, the community spirit at their village has brought them together, with many creating their own hobby groups including book clubs and walking groups. Rangeford owners represent the redefined attitude towards active retirement in later life, their friendships and community building demonstrate this.
Carol, an owner at Siddington Park, comments: “Siddington Park is such a social hub, I have made lifelong friends who are fun to be around and we all enjoy retirement life. The village has brought us together, we get so much out of socialising and spending time with each other. We’re all from different walks of life and there are such great characters living here, some of which could certainly be likened to the sleuths in the film.”
The Thursday Murder Club events have played a wonderful role in supporting the flourishing connections between owners.
At Strawberry Fields, the owners had a fantastic time at the premier event with other members of the Stapleford community. Gordon said the event was “unmissable” whilst Sylvia added: “It was amazing. Bless you [Rangeford] for organising it all.”
Owners at at Homewood Grove said: “I have loved every minute of this evening, what a fantastic film and it’s been joyous to all come together as a village. The community here is just wonderful and we all get along so well. Events like this are a great opportunity to spend time with each other and get to know new owners who have recently moved in. The lead up to the film has created a real buzz, we’ve all enjoyed the special games, cocktails and food menus.“
“My favourite thing about the film has to be how they represent retirement villages. Our homes have given us all a new start in life, one that is engaging, fun and memorable. Moving to a retirement village doesn’t mean your loosing anything, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
“The whole week was extremely well run and all of the owners really enjoyed everything, culminating in the ‘Thursday Murder club’ premier. However, the murder in the apartment was the unexpected highlight with all the staff taking part in this gripping event.”
Amanda Valentine, Head of Marketing at Rangeford Villages, comments: “At Rangeford, our villages are providing more than just a beautiful place to live, they are vibrant communities promoting active and inclusive retirement. Our owners all come from different walks of life and professions, much like the characters in The Thursday Murder Club, and we have noticed that despite their differences, many form new friendships through shared passions that enhance their lifestyle and sense of wellbeing.“
“Our owners are huge fans of the book and so we are marking the film release with a set of fun and immersive events. Each village celebrated the premiere of the film with an exclusive screening, and we had special themed menus in our restaurants and drinks. The storyline of the film gives a glimpse of what it’s like to live in a retirement village, which may come as a pleasant surprise to some! Our villages are similar – we create a hub for our owners to make friends and this can be transformative.”
