Warner Leisure Hotels Joins The National Gardens Scheme
Released on: March 12, 2009, 5:45 am
Author: Warner Leisure Hotels
Industry: Travel
Warner Leisure Hotels, which was recently awarded the coveted
Hotel Chain of the Year Award, is delighted to announce that four of
its historic hotel gardens have been accepted into the National Gardens
Scheme (NGS).
The Warner Leisure Hotels group which
provides short breaks and longer
holidays exclusively for adults has a choice of six magnificent beautifully restored
historic country houses or mansions, along with three more modern hotels which are
full of character and four coastal resorts.
Jim Forward, Managing Director of Warner Leisure Hotels said, "We were looking to
support a charity that would help causes which our guests can relate to. We are very
proud of our locations and we are delighted that the four gardens we put forward
have received the endorsement of the National Gardens Scheme. The charity's
criteria were very strict and it's an acknowledgement of the fine work from our
relatively small gardening teams, who have created such welcoming and beautiful
garden locations."
He continued, "This is an opportunity for us to not only raise money for the
charity from National Gardens Scheme visitors, but also to encourage our many hotel
guests to visit other gardens within the scheme."
Littlecote House in Berkshire, is a Grade 1 listed Tudor mansion, with 40 acres of
landscaped gardens, including a spectacular topiaried yew avenue and a rose garden,
all in a picturesque countryside setting. Littlecote House will be open as part of
the NGS on Wednesday 10th June, 17th June and Wednesday 8th July.
The majestic Thoresby Hall Hotel and Spa in
Nottinghamshire, a Grade 1 listed mansion on the edge of Sherwood Forest, will
welcome NGS visitors who can savour the delights of the beautifully landscaped
gardens designed by Sir Humphrey Repton and enjoy the tranquillity of the Victorian
Rose Garden. In association with the NGS, Thoresby Hall will host guided tours of
the gardens on 27th June, 1st, 11th, 15th, 25th, 29th July, and the 1st and 5th
August.
The 18th century landscaped gardens at Holme Lacy House are also open to as part of
the NGS. The picturesque riverside setting and extensive 20 acres of parkland which
was modelled on Hampton Court Palace, along with the walled garden with pear and
apple orchard will be open to NGS visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and
Sundays from 2nd May until Tuesday 29th September. Historic House & Garden tours are
available by appointment.
Finally, amidst the rolling Somerset hills lies Cricket St Thomas Hotel, a Grade ll
listed manor house, designed in the regency manner by the famed neo-classicist Sir
John Soane and which was the inspiration and location for the BBC hit sitcom To The
Manor Born. The hotel boasts 160 acres of gardens and parkland with spectacular
views of the Somerset countryside. The gardens will open for NGS visitors on 5th
and 26th July and the 27th September.
About Warner Leisure Hotels
Exclusively for adults, Warner Leisure Hotels' enjoys an occupancy rate of 95% in
its portfolio of 13 properties across the UK. As well as offering a wide choice and
style of accommodation, each with its own personality, the hotel chain is renowned
for its Experience Breaks,
offering over 600 additional activities from hot air balloon trips and antiques with
TV's Eric Knowles to a Mini Cooper Treasure Hunt and numerous dance breaks.
The group currently receives around half a million guests annually but is expecting
even more this year as many people are choosing to stay in the UK and rediscover
beautiful Britain.
Contact Details: Frances Pardell
PR Manager
Warner Leisure Hotels
1 Park Lane
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP2 4YL
01442 203422
www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk