We've just returned from the Manor House Hotel, we've lost count of the times we've been there, it must be about 16. It's an excellent winter break as there is lots to do all day no matter what the weather , and that was bad this year. We spent six days doing archery, bowls, potting (our first try on a potting wheel), indoor curling, swimming, snooker, pool, ten pin bowling, shooting, massage and there were lots of other things on offer that we didn't do. Usually we also do walking and golf but there was too much snow.
Don't expect a 'posh' hotel, the owner has ploughed all his profits back into the activities year after year. The hotel is basic but there is always loads of hot water, nice warm rooms, lots of good plain food and friendly staff. The activities are included in the price so for my money at about £40 per person per day in January show me anywhere else that you would get all that included. (We had three bottles of free wine included in our six night stay and it was very good). I didn't hear anyone complain, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and as usual we made lots of friends.
We have lots of holidays including cruises and trips abroad but are always happy to go back to the Manor for a winter break.

Stayed here for a 4 day post new year break and had a fantastic time. Our first visit so didn't quite know what to expect. Everywhere is accessible by covered and enclosed walkways, a great bonus in the freezing cold and snowy weather we had when there. The place appears to have grown like Topsy down the hillside with facilities interspersed among the bedroom areas so you would come across a bowls court or swimming pool etc unexpectedly as you went round a corner! The decor is rather dated, lots of artexed walls, swirly patterned carpets, chintzy chairs and patterned bedlinen but everywhere was clean and rooms were cleaned each day with large fluffy towels and toiletries provided. We had a family room with room divider which was warm, spacious and well equipped, tea and coffee making facilities and TV with video and ensuite with bath and shower over.
There are endless opportunities to join in sporting activities or book the facilities to use, the craft workshop activities are well organised and you just pay for the materials you use and there are a vast assortment of spa treatments available at very reasonable prices. Things like snooker tables, air hockey etc only cost 10p. There are also organised walks over Dartmoor and an excursion to the Eden project available. The facilities at the nearby sister Ashbury Hotel are also available to use freely.
Food is plentiful with a huge assortment for breakfast, a large cold buffet at lunch and dinner and several choices of starters, main courses and desserts with huge bowls of clotted cream, cheeseboard, coffee and mints and you can return as often as you like for more. In addition tea, coffee, biscuits and cake are available all day in the bar. There is a different evening activity each night and a quiz available with the answers posted the next day.
Everything seems to be have been thought of with a video library, booking service for daily newspapers, clotted cream can be ordered to take home, a box where you can leave post to be sent off, swimming towels available (you just leave a deposit at reception), maps of the hotel and planners to fill in your activities were also available.
Staff are extremely helpful and attentive and this includes from my initial enquiry by telephone, through the booking process to our actual visit.
There is something for everyone of all ages and you can be as busy or relaxed as you like. Many family groups staying crossed the generations. It reminded us of a less luxurious version of a cruise with each of us finding different activities we wanted to try out and almost continuous eating!
Fantastic value fully inclusive price, we can't wait to return sooner rather than later!
Tips: Do as they request and leave your luggage in the car when you check in or you may end up dragging it all along the endless corridors when in fact there are parking areas close to each bedroom area, once you know where your room is you simply park in the appropriate car park.
You can join in activites before check in and after check out on the first and last days of your stay

The booking was for 4 days over Christmas and was a treat for the family so apart from my mother in law none of us knew anything about the hotel.

When we arrived the hotel looked rather dismal dark & mouldy. There are signs in the car park advising you to leave your luggage until after check in but they're not very large so we didn't notice them and ended up dragging our suitcases for what felt like miles along these very strange covered walkways. These walkways are not heated and are very confusing & not well signposted so it is very easy to get lost.

The rooms though were a nice surprise very warm, clean & all looked new & fresh. We were in rooms a very long way from the main house & towards the end of our stay took the car to transport our older family members as the transiton from warm room to freezing cold covered walkway took their breath away & many stops were needed for them to catch their breath.

Once we discovered the room to book the activities we were soon very busy going to all sorts of classes & trying out various sports etc meeting up only at meal times. Most of the activties were of a very high class & I would like to single out John who taught Archery & Air Rifles as excellent. He took so much time with my elderly mother showing her how to shoot a bow & arrow & she's nearly 80! I enjoyed archery so much I went again the following day but this time the class was taken by a much younger person who really made us feel like he was doing us a favour for being there!

All the sports hall (there are lots) were of a good or excellent standard. The games room though was very poor with lots of the comupter games broken etc.

The swimming pool was new but you had to get a towel from reception with a £5 deposit and if you are used to staying in Hotels that provide towels you could end up like my husband after a swim with nothing to dry himself with and a very long way from the reception!

Because of the snow all the outside activites were not available so we did not get to use them which was a shame but much too cold.

Some of the areas like the sun room had the feel of being in an old peoples home with lines and lines of tapestry chairs and acres and acres of swirly artex all over the place.

There was a Wi Fi Hot spot in the reception area but this hardly worked and staff on reception were not sure how it worked.

I would still reccomend the hotel - we all enjoyed ourselves and felt we had tried lots of activties that we had never had the chance to do before. It would be nice to visit again in the summer and try some of the walks on the moor.