AD - Press Trip | I had such a great weekend at @p AD - Press Trip | I had such a great weekend at @pottersresortsfivelakes with @slwilson84. It was an action packed three nights with a full activity and entertainment programme, great food, lovely drinks and beautiful surroundings. 

The staff go above and beyond to make everyone feel at home and they ensure that everyone has the best time possible. I don’t think I stopped smiling all weekend.

The best thing about Potters holidays is that everything is included in the price you pay. Four meals a day, all your drinks - including wine, Prosecco, most spirits and soft drinks - great accommodation and so many activities. 

I’ll write a full review soon but for now here’s a little Reel of our weekend
I always have a lot of questions about accommodati I always have a lot of questions about accommodation when we stay anywhere as a family so I thought I’d share this little tour of our room at @windjammerlanding which was a pretty perfect place to stay.

It’s the ‘Ocean View Two Bedroom’ which was like a little house, with an upstairs and downstairs, built into the hillside. Both rooms had outdoor space and their own shower rooms. Such a great option for a family.
A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. We’ve been back a few days now but still miss the heat, the food, the pool, the constant sounds of wildlife and the lovely people. It was such a great holiday and I’m sure we’ll be back one day.
And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is watching her grow and what a wonderful young woman she is becoming. We could not be more proud. Love you Pickle, have a great birthday.
We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in S We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in St Lucia staying at @windjammerlanding and it was just the holiday we needed. Two weeks of sunshine and relaxation in what must be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. 

We can’t wait to go back again in the future. Here’s just a little snippet of our trip.
AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @na AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @national_motor_museum despite the rain! The children loved the Little Beaulieu play area and we loved exploring the National Motor Museum and Top Gear exhibit before having a ride on the monorail! We went on an old open topped bus, explored the Beaulieu Manor House and loved the gardens. 
Beaulieu is always a great day out - whatever the weather. This summer they have a whole ‘Summer of Fun’ planned, with activities most days - parades, bird shows and hundreds of sculptures within the grounds too. If you’re looking for a day out this summer definitely think about heading to Beaulieu.
AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to t AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to their first concert - but it was so much more than just a concert! @abbavoyage is incredible. With CGI ABBA and a live band, it’s like being at an ABBA concert 40 years ago but with modern lighting, effects and sound. ABBA look and sound real, it’s a mind blowing experience.
The set includes all the songs you know and love as well as a few less familiar ones.
You can’t take photos during the show which actually made a refreshing change. A whole arena focused purely on the show and soaking up the moment. It’s definitely something the four of us will always remember.
Now, I’m off to sing Dancing Queen all the way home.
AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdo AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdockyard today. They have a fantastic Ultimate Explorer ticket that lets you visit all the attractions as many times as you like for 12 months - and after a day at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we can see that you need more than one day to really do everything!

We explored HMS Warrior, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Exhibition - which is incredible! We also saw where ships are built and restored and spent time in Action Stations where the kids climbed and did an assault course.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is such a fun, educational day out with something for all ages - we can’t wait to go on their harbour tours next time we visit!
AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To cel AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To celebrate #100YearOfARoads National Highways have launched their #ARoadsToSummer competition! It's all about celebrating summer holiday moments, time together, fun in the sun, days out and more.

So why not be in it to win it? To enter, all you have to do is send @nationalhways a DM on here with a photo or video of your favourite holiday moments. You can also comment on their Facebook or Twitter #ARoadsToSummer posts with your holiday photos. I've shared a few of our favourite photos to give you some inspiration.

The best six entries will each win a £500 @nationaltrust holidays voucher! SO what are you waiting for? Dig out your favourite holiday photos or take some new ones to share!

The #ARoadsToSummer competition runs from 24 July to 10 September 2023. Winners will be announced in September 2023.

Good luck!
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Holidays & Accomodation, Reviews, Travel · March 16, 2018

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel – Newbury, Berkshire

Disclosure: We were invited on this break for the purpose of this review however all opinions are my own.

Last weekend we had some time together as a family at Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa. It’s less than an hour from us in Newbury, Berkshire and somewhere I had only ever heard great things about. To say we were excited for our stay was an understatement.

What were our first impressions of the Donnington Valley Hotel?

Donnington Valley is family owned hotel, spa and golf club in the heart of Berkshire making it easily accesible from London and the M4. There is plenty of complimentary parking on site and when we parked up I wasn’t really excited by the main hotel building – it looks pretty similar to many other hotels we have stayed in. But, inside we were blown away by how grand and well thought out the hotel was. This is one hotel that really shouldn’t be judged by the exterior.

What was our family room like at Donnington Valley Hotel?

Although we arrived an hour before the advertised check in time our room was ready for us and we checked in smoothly. We found our room easily on the first floor and loved it immediately. It was a suite which had a main bedroom and then a separate lounge area – which had been turned into a bedroom for the children with a sofa bed and an extra single fold out bed.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

The children loved that they had their own towels and toiletries on their beds and also a Donnington Valley backpack each complete with a teddy bear and lots of other treats – chocolate, bubbles, a game and a drinks bottle. This was such a lovely start to the stay and made the children feel so included in the break. Plus, it gave them instant entertainment for when we were having down time in our room.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

The bathroom was really big with a bath as well as a big seperate shower – which had fantastic water pressure! There were plenty more toiletries and fluffy towels in the bathroom and complimentary robes and slippers too.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

The main bedroom area was a bit dark – even with the blinds open as the window looked straight out at a wall. The view wasn’t an issue but more natural light would have been lovely. But, the children’s half of the room was really nice and bright with a nice view of the hotel grounds.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

The room also had bottled water and tea and coffee making facilities facilities. There was also a fridge in the room with fresh milk, such a nice addition when we’re used to UHT milk in hotel rooms. And there were even magazines for us to read – a lovely touch that we really appreciated.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

What were the facilities like at the Donnington Valley Hotel?

After we’d unpacked we went to the health club to use the swimming pool. The staff here were lovely and couldn’t have helped more. They gave us towels to use and cards for the lockers and I was impressed with how clean and modern the changing rooms were. The hotel has designated swimming times for children in the morning and afternoon and the children were pleased they could swim from 3pm until 5pm.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

The pool at Donnington Valley was lovely, a really good size with steps leading into it as well as a jacuzzi, a sauna and steam rooms although we didn’t use these as the children were too young to go in them.

The pool had so many loungers around it as well as large bean bags to sit on and we could see that there was a bar service available to the pool side, perfect for a spa day or extended time at the pool.

The health suite at Donnington Valley Hotel also included treatment rooms with a fantastic range of treatments on offer and a gym that looked so modern and full of equipment. The whole health and fitness offering at Donnington Valley is fantastic and a really great part of the hotel.

After swimming we went back to our room to relax and found lovely treats in our room. Plates had been left with biscuits and cakes for the children – complete with their names written in chocolate and a little box of chocolates for Dave and I. This was such a lovely little touch and a really nice gesture to thank us for staying with them.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

The children had a bath, Dave and I had showers and we got ready for dinner. Our room was the perfect space to relax in and the bath and shower worked well – plus, the children loved spending time wrapped in fluffy towels eating cake. I think they were living their best life at Donnington Valley.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

What were the dining options like at the Donnington Valley Hotel?

Dinner was served in the hotel’s Wine Press Restaurant. The restaurant had a really nice ambience, with low lights and a really intimate setting. I was pleased to see they had a children’s menu and they brought bread and butter out to us as well as a jug of water to start the meal.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

The children’s menu included three courses which was great to see and had a really nice range of options. For their starters they both had breadsticks and a cheese dip which was both tasty and fun for them.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

For their mains the children had bolognese and hot dog and chips. The meals were a great size for the children however, they only came with one side. So, Little Man’s hot dog was served with one of a choice of sides – and he chose chips. I would rather they had one potato option – chips, mash, new potatoes etc and a vegetable option – beans, salad, vegetables etc. For me, the main part and one side isn’t a balanced meal and something I’d love to see amended in future.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

Dave and I had a choice of the Press Menu – the menu that is included in package stays at Donnington Valley – or the a la carte menu which had a supplement for each course. For our starters Dave chose the crispy squid and I went for the ham and beetroot salad. Both were really lovely portion sizes and the flavours worked really well together.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

During our meal we had a sommelier choosing wines to suit the dishes we had chosen for each course. This was something we weren’t used to but something we really enjoyed. Dave and I both ended up with different wines that we wouldn’t have usually tried and the wine really brought out the flavours in the meal – rather than having a whole bottle of wine drunk through the three courses.

For our mains I chose the braised beef which was served with dauphinoise potatoes and vegetables. It was so well cooked, melt in the mouth, and just fell apart. It was such a filling meal and the flavours were lovely. Dave went for the pork belly which was served with creamed potatoes and was another lovely meal. They both made a great alternative to a classic roast dinner.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

For desserts the children went for a seasonal fruit salad and an ice cream sundae. The ice cream was huge – with all three main flavours of ice cream, wafers and marshmallows – the perfect dessert for most children. Little Man’s fruit salad, although seasonal, was a bit hit and miss with him. It had some fruit in that he wasn’t familiar with – figs and pomegranate – so a good chunk of the dessert he didn’t eat. But the melon, strawberries and blueberries went down well.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

I chose the orange bread and butter pudding which was served with custard and was literally heaven on a plate. It was so warming. Light but filling and a really lovely way to finish our meal. Dave had the chocolate tart which was rich and full of flavour on the inside and crisp on the outside. A really lovely dessert.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

After dinner we went back to our room and the children went straight to bed. I actually think they were asleep the minute their heads hit the pillows! It was so nice to be able to put them to bed and then sit in our own bedroom area, reading and relaxing for a while before going to bed ourselves. Having a separate area for the children is always such a bonus on a family weekend away.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

Dave and I slept really well too. The bed was huge, the bedding was so comfortable and the curtains and blinds kept most of the light out too. The whole hotel was so quiet after the children had gone to bed – we couldn’t hear any noise from the restaurant or bar and it really was a great night’s sleep.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

In the morning we went back to the restaurant to have breakfast. We were brought tea and coffee to the table and everything else was a buffet – which we all love as a family. There were fruit juices and smoothies, yogurts, fruit, cold meets, salmon and cheese, breads and pastries, cereals and a really good hot selection too.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

Dave and I had the cooked breakfast and the children had a variety of smoothies, yogurts, pastries and fruit. They were in their element! Everything was really well cooked and it was the perfect way to start the day.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

Donnington Valley Hotel has so much space inside to socialise and relax – from the health club to the restaurant, bar and extensive lounge areas. It also has some of it’s own outside space – including water features – and is also surrounded by parkland and backs onto the Donnington Valley golf course which is the perfect space to get some fresh air and explore.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

During our stay at Donnington Valley it never felt too busy or like there were too many people around. It’s just the right size hotel for a relaxing break and we really enjoyed our time there.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

We loved our weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel and it was the perfect place to spend time as a family. Our room was great, we all slept well, our dinner was fantastic and the staff were so present and lovely. I know we wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again in the future.

A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire
A Family Weekend at Donnington Valley Hotel - Newbury, Berkshire

In: Holidays & Accomodation, Reviews, Travel

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Comments

  1. Amy Fox says

    March 16, 2018 at 10:31 am

    It sounds like you all had a lovely time and the food looks delicious. I do agree about the veg option on the children’s menu! x

    Reply
  2. Kel says

    March 20, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Seems like a great place for a family stay! I always appreciate having a separate sleeping area for the young ‘uns – mine make too much noise while they are asleep and it keeps me awake!

    Reply
  3. Stevie - A Cornish Mum says

    March 20, 2018 at 5:26 pm

    It is so lovely how much effort they make to make the stay special for children with all the extra touches, this place looks lovely!

    Stevie x

    Reply

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Hi everyone! I'm Donna. Mummy. Blogger. Social Media Manager. Traveller. Lover of stars, rainbows and gin. Firm believer that tea and cake can fix most things.

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