Holme Lacy House

We liked it enough to add two nights and book another stay before leaving. The grounds and gardens are lovely, the rooms are comfortable and well kept, and the older part has some especially grand rooms. Housekeeping kept my room, 235, spotless every day, and the lady who cleaned it was always cheerful and smiley. Jo, Eva and Maite were particularly welcoming, friendly and professional. The chefs also did a brilliant job accommodating one person in our party with several challenging dietary requirements. There’s plenty to do, and you can keep busy or take it easy. I’d describe Holme Lacy as a cruise ship that stays put in beautiful countryside, with everything organised. The guests are a mix, though older visitors may feel especially at home. The grounds are beautiful, too. This was our first Warner break in quite a while. Our previous one was shortly after the Covid pandemic, when cruising, which we usually do a lot of, wasn’t really running. We enjoyed that stay, then went back to cruising once it resumed. We came back to Warner this January to see how it compared, and enjoyed it far more than we expected. A few arrangements have changed since last time. Archery and shooting now cost extra, though they used to be included. Dinner also requires a booking at either the Brasserie or the Market Kitchen. The Market Kitchen is a buffet with a different menu each night. The Brasserie has waiter service and its main menu stays the same, but booking is free, there’s no cover charge, and the chef’s special changes daily. For a week, I’d mix the two, maybe two nights at the Brasserie and the rest at the Market Kitchen. We’ll definitely be back.

We loved the panto, Dick Whittington and the cat. The grounds and topiary gardens were stunningly peaceful, and our spacious, luxurious room in the Old mansion house was lovely. The food was delicious, and the spa was a relaxing touch. James, our waiter in the Brasserie, was charming, and Jen at the Spa was so friendly. Our two day festive break at Holme Lacy felt perfect, and it was amazing value with so much included. The location was great, well away from the crowds at this time of year. My first Warner Hotel visit was Heythrop in the summer with my sister. Now I’m going to try them all.

It was good to get away for a couple of days. There was a good choice at dinner and breakfast, and the food available during the day was good too. Before leaving, check your room statement. I found a round of drinks on mine that I hadn’t had, but reception listened to my query and removed the charge.

The house is beautiful, and the staff were really pleasant. We enjoyed our four day stay. A big thank you to Ben for sorting out a problem for us. He made us feel that nothing was too much trouble.