Article: Blackbrim game night: food, drinks and music
Blackbrim game night: food, drinks and music
Set the table for Blackbrim
A pot of tea, some scones and a Victorian soundtrack will set the scene for Blackbrim. If you feel like cooking a full dinner or dressing up, there are ideas for that below too. Pick what sounds fun, whether you’re playing solo or having people over.
An evening in Victorian England
The Blackbrim Trilogy takes place in Victorian England, during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901. It’s the world of Dickens and Sherlock Holmes, which gives us plenty to work with for a themed evening.
The story runs through Blackbrim: 1876, Reager's Return, and Origins & Ends, in that order. You’ll follow Reager Skinner’s trail as a private detective; the food and music below can help set the scene before you open the first envelope.
Beverages
Gin and tonic
Gin was a popular spirit in Victorian England. The gin and tonic grew out of British soldiers in India mixing gin with bitter, quinine-containing tonic water. For game night, start with a classic gin and tonic recipe and add whichever garnish you like: a lime slice or a sprig of rosemary works well.
Sloe gin
Sloes are the small, sharp-tasting blue fruits used to make sloe gin. Traditionally, they’re steeped in liquor with sugar for months. You can buy a ready-made bottle, or follow this sloe gin recipe if you have access to sloes and plenty of time before game night. Serve it warm for a winter evening or use it in a cold cocktail.
Smoking bishop
Smoking bishop is the spiced wine punch Scrooge offers Bob Cratchit at the end of A Christmas Carol: “over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop!” This smoking bishop recipe takes more preparation than the drinks above, so start it before you sit down to play.
Vintage lemonade
Lemonade was sold on the streets of Victorian London and made at home with still water. This vintage lemonade recipe is an alcohol-free option for the table. Keep it as it is, or add gin to individual glasses for a London Lemonade.
More drinks
Alcohol-free recommendations:
- For a warm drink, try one of these hot chocolate recipes from the 1880s.
- Tea is the easiest option here. English Breakfast and Earl Grey both fit the setting.
Alcoholic recommendations:
- Victorians also drank port, sherry, madeira, beer and wine, so you have plenty of choices beyond cocktails.
Food
Scones and clotted cream
Serve scones with jam and homemade clotted cream for an afternoon-tea approach to game night. Clotted cream is thicker and richer than whipped cream. If you’re making it yourself, read the recipe ahead of time; it needs time to cook and cool.
Victorian tea sandwiches
Afternoon tea is commonly credited to Anna, Duchess of Bedford, who wanted something to eat between lunch and a late dinner. These tea sandwich recipes include cucumber dill, salmon, egg and cranberry chicken fillings, along with preparation advice for a tea party.
Steak pie
Treacle tart
Treacle tart takes a small liberty with the date: golden syrup arrived in the 1880s, a few years after the Blackbrim story. We’re also Harry Potter fans and wanted to include his favorite dessert. It’s very sweet, so serve small slices with cream or ice cream. This treacle tart recipe includes an option for making the golden syrup yourself.
Victoria sandwich
More food ideas
For more menu ideas, browse these Victorian recipes.
Extras
Attire
A costume is optional. If you’d enjoy wearing one, start with clothes you already own.
For dresses and skirts, these DIY Victorian costume ideas explain how to put a look together. This Victorian clothing guide has more examples and shopping links.
A suit and vest will do much of the work; add a top hat if you have one. This men’s Victorian clothing guide has ideas for several looks.
Music
This 221B Baker Street playlist runs for roughly an hour and takes its inspiration from Sherlock Holmes’s London address.
For a quieter background, try this Victorian writing-room mix with rain at the window.
This Victorian-inspired mix has a more dramatic feel.
For an eerie evening, try this creepy Victorian playlist. Keep the volume low enough to talk through the clues.
Choose your music before opening the box, then leave it running while you play. If you haven’t picked up the game yet, see what comes in Blackbrim: 1876. It plays with 1 to 6 people, is rated 14+, and takes 2 to 4+ hours across two parts.
