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Warner Leisure Hotels
by KaribouFluff
Warner hotels are scattered all over the country and can be vastly different to each other.
My first stay with Warner was at Thorsby Hall Spa (please see my review for Thorsby Hall) which was lovely an luxurious. My second and most recent holiday (over the Easter Break) was at Warner's 'Norton Grange' near Yarmouth on the ... Isle of Wight, with my Boyfriend. We booked our break, which included our Ferry crossing from Southampton, online. The online booking system told us we would receive details of our break in the post. We did receive a notice telling us the cost of the holiday and that we had paid, however no ferry times, ferry terminus details etc!? Two weeks before our break I called the Warner helpline to find out these details. I was given ferry times over the phone, but the lady on the phone couldn't tell me the terminal to catch the ferry from and gave me the telephone number for Red Funnel. (which actually turned out to be a wrong number, so I had to look it up myself!). She said I would receive details in the post, but this never happened!
After calling Red Funnel I learned that the Ferry times Warner had given me were wrong!
The actual holiday:
Ferry crossing went smoothly. Everywhere on the Isle of Wight is fairly near to everwhere else so the resort was easy to drive to. The resort is organised into challets with small roads between them (difficult to get your car around on check in and check out days with everyone else's cars parked around!) The grounds are well kept and green, and the main building is clean and nicely decorated (as are the challets). The resort is right on the coast with some beautiful views from the main building. There was one large restaurant, the food varied between excellent and average, depending on what you chose on the menu. Every evening offerred an A la carte menu or a cavery style buffet (and one evening there was a curry buffet which I didn't think was very good). The breakfast was great with continental and cooked options. The service in the bars were good (there are two bars) and the restaurant was average service.
There are loads of organised activities onsite if you are that way inclined... bingo, line dancing, archery, arts and crafts etc, and several options for evening entertainment each night... caberet perfomances, live bands, dancing, piano bar. There is a well equipped games room with Snooker, bowling, table tennis and even a Nintedo Wii! There is also a swimming pool and gym.
Free Easter Eggs were left in our rooms and at our breakfast table on Easter Sunday, which was a nice touch!
We did enjoy our break, however we couldn't help but feel like we didn't fit in... we are 26 and the majority of other visitors to the resort are pentioners.... we were definately the youngest there by 40 years!
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Hotel Nant Ddu Lodge (Merthyr Tydfil, Wales)
by bishopview
The Nant Ddu Lodge is a stunning hotel, bistro and spa. It is set in its own grounds, which nestles in the stunning, breathtaking scenery of the brecon beacons.
The hotel is certainly impressive when approaching on the easy access Merthyr to Brecon road. It is a beautiful white country manor type building. It oozes country ... grandure from its white washed stone exterior.
When entering the tree lined grounds. You will find a large well lit car park. There is plenty of spaces for vehicles even in peak times.
When entering the hotel, you will be met by a member of staff who will be happy to try and accomodate you. However it is very advisable to book a table before hand as it the resteraunt does get extremely busy on most evenings.
There is the most welcoming bar area, with an open roaring fire. You will find great characters nestled in the corner, often conversing in the Welsh language. There is such a relaxing atmosphere within the bar. Everyone is friendly, the country decor is most pleasing. There is an option to eat your meal in the bar. I have eaten many a meal in this bar area and it is delightful. Although it should be noted that there is no reduction in price to eat in the bar.
The restraunt area is very modern although still inkeeping with the country feel. The decor is warm and bright using opulent burnt orange and reds. Beautiful modern art graces the walls adding to the general high finish of the area. There are lots of tables in the resteraunt area. These tables are well spaced out, which allows for a more intimate dining experience. There are a variety of sized tables, catering for large groups too couples.
The bistro area, is somewhat smaller and more traditional. It boasts a log fire and a country feel. It is a bit cramped for my liking. It seems as if they have put too many tables in there which for me, somewhat spoils the dining experience. It is very difficult not to hear other conversations from other tables and I find this slightly uncomfortable.
The food in this hotel, is totally stunning. It uses fresh locally sourced produce in order to create a diverse and mouth watering menu. The menu is changed on a regular basis although old favourites can always be found on the menu. The food is very rich and opulent. But not pretentious or overly fussy. Basically the food relies on wholesome flavours and fresh local produce in order to offer a deliciously country menu.
There is quite a good choice of starters, main courses and desserts. The prices are excellent considering that the food is somewhat special. The prices offer excellent value for money.
The desserts deserve a special mention. There is a blackboard devoted to an array of mouth watering sweet options. All homemade using locally sourced produce. If you are fortunate enough to go to this hotel for a meal, I would strongly suggest that you allow enough room for a pudding. They are very special!!
Last month I visited this hotel for an evening meal with my husband, my sister and hr partner. We hadnt booked, and so we were offered a large table by an open fire in the bar area. It was very cosy and we were pleased with this.
We have eaten here on numerous occasions and therefore know that the food is so filling, it is quite a challenge to eat three courses. Although we were tempted by the delicious offerings such as garlic mushrooms on brioche with a garlic mayonaise or moule marinier with crusty farmhouse bread. We decided to skip starters.
For our main course choice both me and my husband chose the same. Slow roasted welsh lamb on a bed of sweet potato with a sweet onion and mint puree. This came with our choice of sautee potatoes and a beautiful dish of hearty vegetables. (you have to pay extra for veg.) The lamb dish cost £11.95 which was very good value for money. I can not even begin to dscribe how delicious this dish is. The lamb is so sweet and tender, it just melts in your mouth. The sweet mash is such a beautiful addition to this dish as it compliments the lamb wonderfully. The sweet onion and mint puree is more like a gravy. It is totally sublime and if I could have had a bowl of that I would have been more than happy.
For desert, I had home made bakewell tart with fresh cream anglaise. This was without doubt on of the nicest deserts I have ever tasted. It was rather an overwhelming portion and I couldnt eat it all. However its rich and crumbly pastry with almond and jam filling was totally orgasmic!!
The meal for myself and my hubby came to an impressive £45 this also included a bottle of rose wine which accompanied the food to a tee.
Upstairs in the hotel, there are 31 rooms. All rooms are ensuite. There are three selection of rooms to choose from...
Standard room £89.50 pp/p night.
Superior room £99.50 pp/pnight.
Family room £125.00 pp/p night.
Standard room
These rooms are very suptious. They are all well furnished to a high standard. Inkeeping with the country feel. All rooms have a television. tea and coffee making facilities and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
Superior room
These rooms are bigger than the standard room. They boast a queen sized beds and also offer a larger tv, plus use of his and her bathrobes.
Family room
These rooms are the largest. They have a settee in the room which can convert into a bed. Also they have a beautiful queen sized bed. All children under 5 get to stay for free. Children over 5 are charged £10.00 which includes buffet breakfast.
I do think that the prices for the hotel are quite steep. However It truly is a country retreat and I would certainly recommend a night here for a romantic getaway. The rooms are indeed very beautiful and offer comfort as well as style. It is worth noting that occasionally the hotel has weekend offers which indeed offer considerable discounts.
Attached to the hotel is a beautiful spa. This is quite a new building and offers the height of tranquility. There are numerous spa treatments on offer from beauticians and holistic therapists. Again, there are often great reductions and deals on the Nant Ddu Lodge website.
I have had the great pleasure in visiting this hotel for a number of years as it is very close to where I live. It is a real treat to go here for a meal as although it is not far from my home, it is nestled deep in the countryside and offers such a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The best thing about this hotel, is that it can be as informal or formal as you wish it to be. The waiters are very friendly and offer help on choosing from the menu. Saying that they are not in your face all the time and allow you the time to enjoy your meal in peace.
The food is wonderful and thoroughly recommended.
All in all this is a fantastic country hotel offering a warm country atmosphere. It also offers tranquility and a peaceful romantic haven. There are lots of country walks in the area. Although if you want a visit into local towns they are only a ten minute drive away.
The cost here for both the meals and the spa treatments are very competitive with other local resteraunts. The starters average at £5 while main course average £12 with desserts £5.
A thoroughly gorgeous hotel, spa, bistro and resteraunt.
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Northop Hall Country House Hotel (Flintshire)
by moo2moo
If you believe the marketing people then Northop Hall is the premiere place in Wales to hold a civil wedding. Having spent an evening there recently at a wedding there I'd beg to differ.
The hall is in a fabulous location, the grounds are superb, theres ample parking for around 40 cars and seating for around 60 guests wedged ... in like sardines in rows too close together to shuffle between. The room sanctioned for the ceremony would once have been absolutely stunning but was rather tired looking and could have done with a fresh coat of paint to spruce it up.
The entrance lobby boast a huge staircase but this opens onto an equally enormous door which sucks all the heat out of the building. Despite several archaic radiators and an enormous open fire one minute you were baking and the next the door opened and the temperature dropped significantly. Rather strangely the hotel lobby was full of tourist leaflets which detracted for the grandeur of the setting.
The reception room boasts authentic dark wood panelling and huge windows which would be rather majestic with fabulous views were it not for them being etched with the hotel name at eyeball level on each and every pane lest you forget precisely where you are. There are plenty of enormous picnic tables outside for summer months but no where for smokers to shelter in the bleak welsh winters.
Those with SatNavs were a tad confused by the hotels Chester postcode despite it being in Wales. Garmin owners didn't realise they needed to change the country and so struggled to find the place.
Dinner was quite frankly disappointing. A rather nice soup with a very dry bread roll was swiftly followed by chicken legs wrapped in bacon served with two roast potatoes and a selection of serve it yourself vegetables which were confiscated before we'd finished eating without asking I'd we'd like more. The service would have been more suited to a speed dating evening than a formal wedding. Barely had you finished the last mouthful than your plate had been whisked away and the next course appeared in its place. Desert was a mass produced tasteless cheesecake unimaginatively presented and unevenly cut with some guests receiving enormous portions whilst others were consumed in three small mouthfuls. Lukewarm coffee arrived in demitasse cups before we were evicted from our seats to make way for the live band.
The bar was overpriced but you come to expect that at isolated venues.
The toilets were nothing short of grotty with fag burns on the seats, peeling paint and taps which struggled to provide a trickle of lukewarm water. Not quite what you'd expect from the myriad of brochures describing it as a tastefully decorated Victorian mansion decorated to the highest standard.
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