Just a week after we returned from our short Easter trip to Drayton Manor we heard the terrible news of the death of 11 year old Evha Jannath. A full Health and Safety investigation has been launched to hopefully prevent something like this from ever happening again. Lessons need to be learned as no parent should ever go through what Evha’s parents have. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family at this distressing time. I cannot imagine how they are feeling.
We still felt that our readers would like to know our experience of the Drayton Manor Hotel Stay & Play package. We stopped by on the way back from our London Easter trip, to break up the journey and give us a little theme park fix.
Drayton Manor Hotel Deals : Stay and Play
The Stay & Play package gives you one nights accommodation, full English breakfast and a day entry to the theme park. The cost for all four of us for this was £165 for the four of us which was pretty good value. After a full day visiting the Tower of London we arrived at the hotel around 6pm. It was still Easter school holidays for the Newcastle kids but we were aware that some UK children had gone back. Our friends Mollie and Emily Speed were back at school in Norfolk that week. I’m guessing that the week before would have been an altogether busier experience.
First impressions of the hotel were excellent. Drayton Manor Hotel was clean and modern in style. The hotel looked a little corporate with it’s glass atrium but the addition of the miniature Thomas carousel (press the button to operate!), the bright gift shop and the Thomas characters broke up the space.
The Thomas characters provided a fun photo opportunity for the girls to pose with. A large play park could be viewed just behind the reception with some outdoor seating. The weather wasn’t quite hot enough yet for al fresco dining yet!
Drayton Manor Hotel: Family Room
All checked in we popped up to the Room to have quick showers. The room felt very luxurious (but maybe that’s because we had moved from a Travelodge) with a big bath, king size bed, flat screen tv and a sofa bed for the girls. It was immaculately clean and had that lovely fresh smell which they pump into the reception. I predicted that I’d have a great nights sleep in this hotel room. Especially after a few wines with dinner and four days on my feet sightseeing in London.
Kids Entertainment at Drayton Manor Hotel
Kids entertainment was taking place in a conference room just along from the main restaurant from 7 to 9pm so we decided to check out the last hour. The girls had both slept in the car on the journey so they were on good form! Not really sure what to expect we headed to the conference room, grabbed some drinks and found a seat. The kids entertainment was essentially a disco with some younger staff members playing tunes with a load of balloons tipped into the middle of the dance floor.
We have learnt from our trip to Majorca’s Pollensa Park and Butlins is that our girls hate ‘organised entertainment’ so this suited them down to the ground. They ran around like crazies batting balloons to each other until it was 9pm and time to find some food!
Drayton Manor Hotel: Restaurant
In the restaurant, there was an all you could eat buffet on or you could order from the menu. Myself and the girls went for the buffet whilst Alan ordered a Caesar Salad from the menu. The food here as you would expect wasn’t haute cuisine but it filled a hole and was fully and plenty. The girls enjoyed the pizza and chicken nuggets while I mainly went for the curry.
Alan’s salad was fresh and he really enjoyed it. After another drink in the bar it was soon time to test my theory that I would sleep like a baby tonight.
Breakfast at Drayton Manor Hotel
My theory was proven! After a great nights sleep we were up, dressed and ready for a full breakfast before hitting the park. Breakfast was buffet style and was really good. As you would expect from a hotel breakfast there was fruit, pastries, cereals and full English options. Everything was self serve bar the hot drinks. We ordered 2 coffees and hot chocolates for the girls. As I started to drink my coffee it wasn’t the hottest so it was sent back for a replenish. This time it was hot and strong just the way I like it!
Checking Out
No sooner than we had checked in, we were checking out! We packed a rucksack with the raincoats and some snacks and dropped the suitcase back in the car. The entrance to the theme park was just opposite the hotel so we left the car in its spot and headed to the park on foot. Although a much smaller hotel than say Alton Towers we really enjoyed our short stay here. Rooms were immaculate, service was efficient and friendly and the proximity to the theme park was a great bonus. We were all set for a full day exploring Drayton Manor theme park.
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