Top UK hotel chain scraps free activities for guests
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Plus, try five of our top five activity staycations on water
- Harriet Cooke, Consumer reporter
WARNER Hotels have been criticised for introducing new charges on fun activities that were once free for guests.
Archery, rifle shooting, crossbow and axe throwing now cost £8.50 per person per session in most Warner sites, while they are £9.50 for the brand’s more upmarket Reserve Hotels.
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The company said the move will mean more people will get the chance to do the activities and will also protect the cost of the overall holiday.
But the new charges have been blasted by holidaymakers across review sites such as Trustpilot and Tripadvisor, with many lamenting the extra cost.
One guest fumed on Trustpilot: “From the 4th April 2025 they started to charge for activities such as archery, air rifle shooting and axe throwing - £8.50 each. They will price themselves out of business.”
A second added: “Warner beware killing the goose that lays the golden egg,to now charge £8-50 for outdoor activities is pure greed.”
A third added: “Why not charge just those that fail to attend and not those that reserve and attend…
“Our wedding anniversary stay in September (is) now cancelled and will never return unless they re-consider their new charging structure.”
Meanwhile on Tripadvisor one guest of Sinah Warren, a Warner site in Hayling Island, Hampshire, said: “Pay enough for holiday and now have to pay for activities. Activities which used to be included with your break now chargeable at £8 50 for archery, Axe throwing and rifles.
“Charge is per person, so if two of you and want to take part daily could cost you an extra £51 per day.
“Seems to be Warners are charging more for the breaks and giving the guest less for the money.”
A review of the same place said: “We go for the activities and have always enjoyed these, however I was astounded that the outside activities are now chargeable!
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“And chargeable at £8.50 per person per activity! That's just absolute nonsense and everybody we spoke to was wow!”
Warner Leisure Hotels provides an adult-only environment in a mix of countryside manors and seaside hotels.
Previously guests could enjoy breaks with breakfasts, dinners, entertainment, pools, and sports mostly included in the price, with booze being the key extra to pay for.
Warner Hotels said: “We are committed to creating memorable and high-quality stays at great value prices.
“To improve the availability for guests and protect the cost of the overall holiday, we’ve made the decision to introduce a charge for selected activities – allowing guests to tailor their stay and only pay for the experiences they choose to enjoy.”
It’s understood the company has had feedback from guests who found that activities were fully booked due to no-shows, causing them to miss out. Charging will help prevent this problem.
ROLLERCOASTER RAPIDS
HOLD on tight and scream your way through the rapids as you hurtle along the amazing white water rafting course at Tees Barrage.
There are two international-standard courses, 300 metres of water and, on the extreme run, the steepest drop in the UK.
CANAL CRUISE
Hire company Drifters, has boat yards across England and Wales, renting out canal boats.
You’ll be taught how to steer, work the locks and moor up at a country pub along the way.
Take a day cruise through the Cheshire countryside to Nantwich from Bunbury Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal, across the impressive Nantwich Aqueduct.
PADDLE AWAY
Go canoeing on the river Teifi in south west Wales.
Activity centre Adventure Beyond offers half and full-day trips starting from Llechryd and passing through the Teifi Gorge conservation area, a derelict slate quarry surrounded by oak and beech trees.
You may spot otters, red kites, salmon, kingfishers and even red deer.
WE ARE SAILING
If your pipe dream is owning your own yacht, the next best thing is to hire one. Take your family sailing for a day, weekend or splash out on a week.
Fairview Sailing has 50 vessels available from its base in Hamble, Hampshire, with a skipper at the ready.
You can sit back and relax on Oceanis 37, with three cabins and all mod-cons including a CD, DVD player and TV.
UNDER THE SEA
Dive into the amazing underwater world off the coast of Orkney.
Kraken Diving School operates at one of the best wreck-diving sites in the world with sunken vessels from the First and Second World Wars.
The more experienced can go as deep as 40 metres but if you’d rather keep your head above water, the PADI-certified school – which donates to marine conservation Project Aware – offers a snorkel safari.
Susannah Streeter, of investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said the group behind the hotel chain was facing a difficult time, adding: “The latest snapshot of annual accounts filed last September by Bourne Leisure, the group behind Warner Leisure hotels, showed it fell into the red.
“Bourne Leisure, which is owned by investment firm Blackstone, posted a pre-tax loss for 2023, amid the challenges of high inflation and mounting pay costs.
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“Although inflation has come down markedly, the cost of employing staff has risen again.
"The increase in National Insurance Contributions and the minimum wage which came into effect in April are likely to be taking a toll, given that the group employs more than 12 thousand staff across its Haven holiday parks and Warner Leisure Hotels.”
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