I have long wanted to return to Thoresby Hall and was pleased when my parents suggested us going there to celebrate their Diamond Wedding.
We received a nice welcome from Toby on reception and both my brother & wife and ourselves were very pleased with the standard and cleanliness of our accommodation.We had paid extra for my parents to have the upgraded Signature room which was absolutely lovely (was very envious of the walk -in shower!)and comes with extras such as a fridge.
After having a very welcome cup of tea & a wander round we decided to get ready for the evening.Our first evening meal on the Friday was extremely good…lots of choice & wines reasonably priced (a bottle of Shiraz & Pinot Grigio totalled around £30 and they were so good we had the same ones each evening)You can either choose starters & main courses from the menu or help yourself from the carvery area.When it came to choosing a dessert we were all relieved to hear that the dessert menu doesn’t change…..therefore we knew we could sample most of them!!Our waitress for the weekend was Poppy who was really helpful ,friendly and very efficient.
The entertainment on the Friday was an excellent comedian….all of his material was original…definitely no “old chestnuts”….we all enjoyed his performance particularly my husband & brother who laughed their heads off!!Dancing to music followed ….it was great to see my 85 year old Dad strut his stuff …even my 81 year old Mum who has mobility problems joined us on the dancefloor as the music was so good!
Music for dancing was provided either by the Live band or after the main entertainment the DJ plays a variety of music….requests taken for your favourite track!
Saturday was lovely weatherwise so after a very hearty breakfast…again lots of choice & good standard…Roy & I along with my brother & wife decided to go for a walk around the beautiful grounds (see pics).
We had a brief look at the plant shop and then made our way to the Courtyard which contained 2 or 3 unique shops ….thank goodness I didn’t have any credit cards with me as I could have easily spent a few hundred pounds…There was also an Art gallery & a café but we spent time in the Military Museum….this contained lots of memorabilia from the 1st & 2nd World war.The most interesting and also the most poignant was the ground floor section detailing what it was like in the trenches of the first world war…..
Entertainment on the Sat night was a Rod Stewart tribute ….the guy was a great entertainer and the dancefloor was packed when he invited everyone to dance along to his songs during the second half of his act.
Sunday evening was the resident team who performed music & dancing with a Swing theme….very professional and enjoyable!
We could not fault the choice or quality of the food whether at Breakfast or Dinner(see pics) and prices at the bar were reasonable…just a little more than your average pub.However if you are a regular at Warner hotels you can become a member of the Concierge Club which entitles you to 10% discount off your wine at Dinner & the bar bill….plus there are also other benefits.
To save carrying cash around with you the easiest option to pay your bar bills or any extras is to open up an account when you check in.
You can pay extra to eat in the Blue grill…..what a beautiful room ….we will definitely book a table in there next time…and request a table with views over the gardens…see pics.
My brother & wife had pre booked(booking in advance is recommended) a massage each and were very complimentary about how good they were and reasonably priced too.
Due to the fact that I wanted to spend as much time as I could with my parents I only had a swim and a look around the Spa but I definitely want to spend a proper session (2 hours for 2 people costs £30)on my next visit…hopefully on a “girlie” break! There was a variety of areas to relax in …sauna,steam,whirlpool but I did like the ice cave!
Had a game of Bingo with my Mum in the beautiful Great Hall(see pics)…I was waiting for 1 number for the top prize but was pipped at the post!Played darts with my Dad & Roy took him on at snooker and outdoor bowls!There is also a croquet lawn and a small putting green.We never got a chance to play table tennis as it was always in use!
There are lots of activities that we did not participate in eg Archery & Rifle shooting but we have done a fair few on previous Warner breaks
Wi-fi is available in the bar & lounge areas but not in the rooms.
The only downside (in my opinion) is that mobile network was patchy but there are “hotspots” which the staff will tell you about….…some people may see this as a positive of course !!
Although we love the other Warner hotels as they all have something different to offer we do prefer the character & ambience of staying in a Historic Hotel.
I really can’t recommend Thoresby Hall highly enough….it’s perfect for a families (over 18’s only of course),couples or a special Spa “girlie” break –a 2 night break comes with entrance to the Spa with a treatment included.My next visit can’t come quick enough…..and I will make sure I have my credit card with me ready to visit the Courtyard shops!
As my parents’ actual date of their Diamond Wedding was back in March they didn’t want any announcement made but if you do have a special celebration the Entertainment team are happy to mention it at the start of the evening shows.A celebration pack with a balloon,hats & table decorations can also be ordered if you wish & you can reserve tables in the entertainment lounge too.
Lastly my brother & wife had never been on a Warner break believing they wouldn’t like the set up…..they were very pleasantly surprised and are already thinking of returning in 2016 !!
