Warner Hotels disappointment

I love Warners, but the Hotels do vary. I like being able to book s room without a single supplement. My favourite at the moment is Studley Castle, I’ve been twice this year. The food is lovely and it’s a full buffet. Went to Cricket St Thomas in September, and the food wasn’t so good , and was mostly waiter served. For disabled access, I’d choose Holme Lacy, the parking is near the rooms (disabled) and they have disabled changing in the pool area, with a seat in the shower and a chair lift into the pool. Most others don’t. My advice would be to ring the actual Hotel to book, not the central number. Then you can ask about facilities, and sometimes they give an extra discount!

I feel there are minor snobbish rumblings on here about Warners.

My first choice this year would have been a couple of one weekers abroad in a lovely hotel where most seem to include entertainment but we take that or leave it although for some people the entertainment makes their holiday. However my husband’s health issues stopped that so we tried Warners. I think it’s good to try different things.

We enjoyed our 3 nights so went back in Sept for 3 nights and again, enjoyed it. Better than sitting at home.

My cousin goes on several cruises every year and often asks me to go with her but I have never gone …. Yet. I never rule anything out. She says I would love it but I am claustrophobic. She loves the entertainment but I wouldn’t be that bothered. More interested in sunshine, relaxation and not cooking. 😝

Warners is what it is. Leisure hotels in nice grounds, often near the sea, a mainly older clientele, no kids, comfortable villas and you don’t have to lift a finger. Entertainment, sporting activities, swimming etc … take it or leave it.

I do find even 4 star non Warners hotels are not of the same standard in this country as abroad. Stayed in lots in this country and not been to one yet that I would be aching to go back to.

I have always chosen my own ways and would not want to go to the Warners . My husband and I used to go to places together and also individually as we had an old yacht and so spent main holidays on the boat and had a couple of weekends in hotels to have a bit of luxury. We worked out things we wanted to do and made decisions accordingly but if he had said that to me he would not be comng with me to anywhere. In fact he might be an ex husband!! For both of you it is meant to be a holiday and a pleasure , so either find something you can both enjoy or go separately or with a friend who enjoys similar things. As a singer and including opera in that I would probably have enjoyed it, but I even organised a few years ago to travel with a neighbour to Barcelona. We agreed to share a twin room, as it was cheaper than paying a single supplement for a rubbish room. so we agreed to do this but do our own thing when we arrived. We actually shared one meal and a couple of coffees and did our own thing for the rest of the time. Worked very well enjoyed our own things and were able to enjoy chatting to each other in the evening. So that is the way I would go. Recently I have travelled to see my family when my grandson was ill. They only have a two bedroom house and I went and stayed in the youth hostel. Worked well, was able to come and go at my own pace, worried no one by getting up early and was able to be down to visit my family. Great - freedom and enjoyed my time and was the cheapest way to go. Life is short, dont spend it doing things you dont like if you dont have to. If his attitude was not a one off, which is not normal for him I would be definitely choosing to go my own way on holiday and if things didnt improve I would literally go my own way!! Better pleasure and peace with your own company than either constantly doing what you dont like or arguing about it.

We went, as a group, to a Warners hotel last summer. We had a good time because we were with friends, but (ducks behind sofa) some people who were evidently regulars, glared at us as we were apparently sitting at their 'usual table', and heaven forfend, we were talking and laughing in a bar area! The food was ok, we spent most of our time outside in the grounds, the evening entertainment was not to our taste, but obviously to others', so we didn't go into the theatre, but neither did we grumble about it. As to the PP talking about disabled access, I am sorry to hear that, but frankly, where we were, you could hardly move for mobility scooters, in fact some of the users were something of a hazard, and a tad aggressive with it. To me, it was rather like a country house style care home. Won't be going back

The last Warners I stayed in was there newest at Heythrop near Chipping Norton , which was all digital as to meal times etc , only 2 days there but watched a film in the theatre there .
My own personal Warners is Nidd Hall at Harrogate as its in nice grounds .
Other Hotels I have stayed in are Scottish group who own Cairn Hotel in Harrogate , but many years ago THF was good hotel chain .
Mick

And Warners do not seem at all disability friendly if my sister-in-law’s experience is anything to go by.
Just had a chat with her about her time at Warners Littlecoats.
She is disabled, uses an electric scooter, cannot stand so needs all the normal facilities to be found in disabled accommodation - raised toilets, grab bars, one level. On booking, she was assured they had rooms for the disabled “Wheelchair accessible.” She should have run a check-list by them because that was just about all you could say.

The shower was up a step but even without the step, there were no support handles.
The loo was low level with no bars to help you get up. On asking for help, she was told she could hire an elevation seat for £50.00. They’d already paid £830 for the room. Had to wait until the next morning to phone the hire company who advised “But Warners have the seats there.” So £50 every time a guest pays, they are hiring a second-hand seat which must be a nice little earner!
The “Blue Badge” spaces were some distance away from the hotel.
The main access to the leisure facilities is via steps. She was directed to go via the Courtyard - and that was cobbled. Great with a wheelchair. Even the access slope was cobbled!
I could go on.

I really wish those staff with responsibility for disabled access had to spend at least 24 hours using them both as a wheelchair user and as a support helper. This applies to anyone with that charge.

Rant over!

sweetcakes

Have you thought hubby just might like the saucy dancers and riskay jokes 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think I'd be taking off alone somewhere nice - where I could choose the 'entertainment', or just relax - whatever - and leave him to enjoy the dancers and 'risky' jokes on his own!

... especially if he'd told me to "get over myself".

I know we're all very liberal-minded and not easily offended, etc, etc, etc, but why is it assumed women will be 'entertained' with scantily-costumed female dancers shaking their booty' and comedians making smutty jokes?

Sounds more like 'Gala' night at the local Working Men's Club.

No, you're not turning into Mrs Bucket - you just want something a little more refined - let him go on his own if he enjoys it so much. Life's too short to sit through these tedious, hackneyed, 'entertainments' if it's not your cup-of-tea.

The one and only time we stayed in a Warner Leisure hotel was a weekend break for DH’s 70th. As it was a birthday present from our children we had to say we had a great time but in all honesty we were put off by the number of people, the constant force feeding of sixties music and the long distance of our room from the main goings on.

The entertainment wasn’t at all bad but we were surrounded by ‘regulars’ who were quite rude as to how much room we were taking up at our cramped table and talked loudly over the music.

The food was the best bit of the weekend but we were amused when we saw the waiters sticking labels on bottles of wine where diners had had one drink each and wanted it saved till the next meal. Our waiter asked us if we’d like him to fetch a label and DH replied, ‘No! I’d like you to fetch another bottle!’ 😂

We've just returned from a Gatsby weekend at Warners, Alvaston which is near Nantwich. The entertainment was superb. On the final evening we had a virtuoso performance from an internationally acclaimed violinist, who was heading up his jazz quartet. Simply splendid!

On the downside, it seemed to us that the place is being updated in stages. Decor in the rooms was lovely but certainly one of the lounges could do with reupholstering throughout. I think Alvaston is one of the older ones, though.

Food was rather hit and miss. Friday evening, pretty dire, Saturday evening, fine, Sunday evening middling.

We've been to various Warners several times and will go again.

I would have stayed for Opera which we both love, but we had to put up with Country and Western complete with line dancing. Absolutely not our thing. Warners food was awful and the best thing about it was the archery lesson which was excellent.

Have you thought hubby just might like the saucy dancers and riskay jokes 🤷🏻‍♀️

Witzend

I don’t think you’re being ‘Hyacinth Bucket’ at all. I’d run a mile from that sort of entertainment. To tell the truth I’d probably run a mile from any hotel entertainment.

What’s wrong with a break in an ‘ordinary’ nice hotel? Outside school holidays you’re unlikely to find it overrun with noisy kids.

I so totally agree! We never ever holiday where "entertainment" is provided! We pick a nice hotel in an interesting city or region, enjoy and relax, read a book by the open fire in the lobby! Oh, and if we would want any entertainment we could always check the local activity calender!

Llandudno has masses of hotels, many on the lovely wide sea front. Maybe worth trying one of the booking apps......?

I don’t think you’re being ‘Hyacinth Bucket’ at all. I’d run a mile from that sort of entertainment. To tell the truth I’d probably run a mile from any hotel entertainment.

What’s wrong with a break in an ‘ordinary’ nice hotel? Outside school holidays you’re unlikely to find it overrun with noisy kids.

Why not just choose a really nice hotel in the country or a city you’d like to explore. We went to a lovely country house type hotel just outside of Stratford on Avon earlier this year. We booked a deal they were offering, it included dinner, bed and breakfast for two nights. We upgraded the room as it was my birthday and it was really nice. No entertainment offered, just lovely food, roaring fires, comfortable rooms, and the possibility to spend some time in one of my favourite cities. We visited The Dirty Duck, a pub I first went into as a sixth former, whilst visiting Stratford on a school trip to see Hamlet at the theatre opposite. I was studying A level English at the time. Lovely memories.

What’s wrong with opera? Perhaps you would have preferred the entertainment OP didn’t care for?

My boyfriend and I, both in our eighties, go to Warners at Corton 2 or 3 times a year. Entertainment is usually good, except the time we had an opera singer on and the room slowly emptied earlier than usual. The food is plentiful with lots of choices and the staff are always cheerful and helpful.

Callistemon I would not say it was typical. I’ve never been upset and I’m not a fan of bad language or crude jokes.
I left a Robbie Williams concert a few weeks ago because I had gone for the music, not his foul language.

We've never been to a Warners hotel but I do have a friend who goes with a couple of her old friends from school.
She's a lovely person, quite 'proper' in the nicest way, and I cannot imagine her going back again to anywhere which had risqué entertainment.

I'm surprised to hear about your experience, ExDancer, would it be worth contacting the company to let them know your disappointment and ask if that is their usual type of evening entertainment?

We are off to Warners newest hotel in a couple of weeks. We think they are wonderful.
Some of the sites have seen better days and need updating but some of them are fabulous.
I suppose it depends what you want from a break. We (3 sisters, DH’s and mum) go regularly. It’s brilliant, we all have a wonderful time, so easy, we all have our private accommodation , the food is excellent and the entertainment is there if you want it. If not there are lovely lounges to have a drink in, sometimes with quiet music in the background. We’ve had pianists, guitarists etc.
I’m not keen on comedians but the shows we have gone to have been non controversial.
The hotels are usually in lovely places and form a very pleasant base to explore from.

Horton😳 meant Hopton prefer entertainment at Hopton

I’d recommend Potters too been to Horton and Five Lakes

We usually holiday abroad but as Husband has several health issues and countless hospital appointments all this year, we decided to try Warners. We went in June and Sept for 3 night breaks.

You don’t have to go to the entertainment although we did every evening apart from one when there was something we wanted to see on TV. We really enjoyed it, Rod Stewart lookalike was good, Sweet Sensations band really good, comedians were fine, nothing offensive.

I have friends who go to Potters which is All Inclusive but it’s very expensive. A lot more than Warners. They are big drinkers though so say it’s worth it.

I just googled Potters. It looks great. I hope ExDancer gives it a try. I know exactly what she means by her comments re the 'entertainments' she mentioned. We've walked out on such shows on cruises before now.

Noooo please stop recommending Potters, we first went to Hopton 37 years ago, now it’s difficult to get a booking 😱