Outdoor Events: On the Case

On the case: Creating a World Record and raising funds with the help of the world’s most famous consulting detective.

Outdoor Events Case Study

Sherlock Festival, Temple Newsam

Combining event management, PR and fundraising, Cause UK hosted the largest gathering of Sherlock Holmes look-a-likes with a Sherlock festival of music, cosplay, funfairs and circus entertainment.

The event, hosted by actor and comedian Neil Grainger, was to beat the Guinness World Record for the Most People Dressed as Sherlock Holmes. 443 gathered from across the UK dressed as the detective at Temple Newsam, Leeds.

Hundreds took part in a collective Sherlock mob dance to ‘Staying Alive’.

Sherlock and Dr Who writer Steven Moffat and wife, TV Producer Sue Vertue, sent a a message of support on the day, which was filmed just the day after their return from winning Emmy’s for BBC’s Sherlock in LA. Clair Challenor-Chadwick, MD of Cause UK elicited support from Steven and Sue and Hartswood films. She also auctioned memorabilia signed by Benedict Cumberbatch and the Sherlock cast to raise money for brain research.

The event attracted widespread media, including a Japanese film crew, and featured in the Radio Times, Huddersfield Examiner, Telegraph and Argus, Harrogate News, Yorkshire Life, Yorkshire Eve Post, Daily Mirror, ITV Calendar news and BBC Look North.

A #sherlockselfie social media campaign attracted thousands of tweets and Facebook activity, to donate to the cause, with photos posted from Australia, the Great Wall of China and outside Baker Street itself.

The event raised awareness and funds for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre.