Cheering up my sister - Boxing Day handover near Gloucester

[joecormac]

We live in the North West.

On Boxing Day my sister will have to share the holidays for the first time since separating from her ex. We’ll be driving down to some service station near Gloucester to hand her girls over until new year.

IF (and I know it’s unlikely) hotels were open and I could book one for us as a treat - anyone got any suggestions? What’s Gloucester like? Or should we turn around and head north to somewhere else?

Have no knowledge of this area at all so any recommendations welcome.

What’s your budget?

Good point. Two of us can share a room/bed - £175 to £200 for somewhere with a pool and we don’t leave hotel

Less if it’s in a town or village and we want to walk around and try and book a table - not that it will be open!!! I keep thinking we are going back to normal...

Obviously no idea what will be open...

If you want a pool, the Barnwood holiday Inn is near a motorway junction.

Bowden hall is quite nice but afaik no pool. Not sure what the food is like.

If you're looking for a nice village, then Painswick might be the obvious choice - I don't know what the rooms are like but I've had some good food in the Falcon Inn (might be busy if it's open on Boxing Day... I don't think I'd risk wandering around looking for a table anywhere tbh).

(The Gloucester services are owned by the Tebay people so a bit less soulless than some at least)

I'd go to Cheltenham rather than Gloucester

The Hilton Puckrup Hall is minutes from the M5/M50 junction which is a couple further up than Gloucester. It’s a don’t need to leave the hotel type option and has a pool.

Aren’t most pools closed still?

Look at Cheltenham which will have some near the racecourse.

I would carry on down to j14 and go to the Tortworth Court. They have previously done girls night in packages with dvds etc!

There is the Cheltenham Chase hotel too which is just off j11a (so the next junction from Glos services)

Not sure what prices are like on Boxing Day but certainly they are great hotels and spas.

You sound like a lovely sister!

Only just sat down and read your responses! Thank you so much for the advice - you’ve given me lots to go on!