Warner Leisure Hôtels

My parents live 10 mins from one and spend Christmas there every year. They really enjoy it.

My sister's in-laws used to go to Nidd Hall, close to Harrogate and York. They used to really enjoy it.

Thanks, anno. I think I'll book Thoresby Hall. It won't be a ridiculously long journey either, which is something to avoid in January I think.

I think Warner breaks are OK. Like anything else, I'm sure fault can be found with some things but, on the whole, I think they are quite nice holidays for older people. Given that an upmarket B&B can cost upwards of £120 a night these days, I think they offer good value.

Thoresby Hall has been my favourite to date partly because I had such a lovely time 'walking with hawks' or in my case with an eagle owl. It was a wonderful experience.

I can't recommend Alvaston Hall though. The pool was cold and the mealtimes were what I imagined Butlins was like in its heyday.

We're planning another venue though as I love the food and not having to do things if you don't want to.

Has anybody been to the Cricket St. Thomas one in Somerset I would be pleased to know.

That was my second choice, POGS but it's a much longer journey and you never know what the weather's going to be like in January.

It looks nice.

I've been to Cricket St Thomas. It's set in very lovely grounds. The hotel is quite good - we were some way away from the main building, which is, I believe, more expensive. The food was fairly good.

For me, the thing I liked the most was the setting.

We love the one on the Isle of Wight - Bembridge. It is right on the coast, with lovely grounds around. We have been to several different ones, and they each have a charm of their own I think. We have always found the rooms comfortable, and the food plentiful. Different things are organised, but if you do not want to take part, no-one makes you.

Eloethan

That's interesting to know.