A Tale of Two Naughty Rabbits

When two adorable rabbits were in need of a home, the management team at Holdsworth House came to their rescue.

The two brothers were nameless, but quick thinking guests at the hotel thought up 'Ringo' and 'Paul', after two of the four most famous guests that have stayed at the historic manor. After all, the little white rabbit had black rings like smudges around its eyes - Ringo was a very fitting name.

Paul and Ringo were treated to every kind of luxury, as is the Holdsworth House way. They were met on their arrival with lots of 'oohs' and 'aaahs'; they'd even had the most wonderful hutch and expansive rabbit run built. John, the hotel gardener, ensured the lawn was rich and green whilst Chef even saved some of the finest carrots fresh from the Yorkshire fields. The road ahead was a life of bliss.

Whilst extra comforts and fine food was already a given, it was the customer service and daily attention lavished on the two rabbits that was to ensure their regal existence. Daily feeds, cleaning and human contact, in particular with wedding coordinator Sophie, was to help the timid little creatures settle in.

All was wonderful in the bountiful gardens of Holdsworth House and as time went on, the two rabbits soon found their paws. But then things began to change... and cuteness grew up into adolescent cheekiness!  Perhaps all the lavish attention went to their heads, perhaps they were just born scallywags. Whatever the change, these two rabbits certainly heard the 'Exit' in 'Brexit' and their escape artistry skills were honed.

The first notion to be tested was 'how deep is the ground?' Paul and Ringo joint forces to dig their way under the hutch. Great Escape style, they tunnelled down and out. Some lovely Yorkshire stone flags put a stop to that.

Next was 'can rabbits fly?' This test involved Paul climbing on top of the hutch and launching himself towards the outer run fence - let's just say this was more Chicken Run than rabbit run.

Finally as repairs were made to the rabbits' bedroom ramp (yes you read correctly), which had broken in the melee, Ringo decided to nibble the toecaps of maintenance man Charles' boots as he worked, probably in a bid to hitch a ride to nirvana beyond the run's picket fence.

Of yes, even today the rabbits are exceptionally well loved. But maybe Houdini and Copperfield might have been more appropriate names! #butterwouldntmelt

Nothing So British As Afternoon Tea

"If your are cold, tea will warm you;
If you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are exhausted,it will calm you."

Here's a man who liked his tea. We're sure 19th Century Prime Minister William Gladstone, who quoted the above, would have given his approval of the afternoon tea served at Holdsworth House. For 50 years the historic hotel in Halifax has been serving up traditional afternoon tea on a collection of silver tiered cake stands. 

Afternoon tea is one of those things that never really goes out of fashion, but more recently the platters are an increasingly regular sighting and have even made it onto the wedding menus of many Yorkshire brides.

Not to be confused with cream tea, afternoon tea is a filling selection of sandwiches, elegantly cut into slender fingers, homemade cakes, pastries and fancies and the best homemade scones, jam and clotted cream that you can muster up.

Introduced in Britain in the 1840s afternoon tea was the meal that bridged the gap between lunch and dinner, which might not be eaten until 8pm onwards. It became popular amongst society ladies especially, as a way of gathering socially and entertaining guests.

Since 1963 Holdsworth House has been rocking the afternoon world with its stunning version, using an eclectic collection of vintage crockery to add a wonderful charm and elegance to this grand affair. Everything is home baked and created with precision and attention to detail - just as the Victorians would have wanted.

Today you don't need to don a dinner jacket or gloves. Smart casual is the attire of choice.

We have a choice of two afternoon teas - the traditional afternoon tea and the new 3 Kings Christmas Afternoon Tea with some delicious seasonal spices and fruits hitting all the right notes.

If you're wondering about what to buy friends and relations for Christmas, then afternoon tea really is the classy gift to give this year. At Holdsworth House tea for two is from £25.50.

You can buy the afternoon tea for two experience as a gift voucher. Valid for 1 year from the date of purchase.

Afternoon Tea Wedding

Tea for two went out of the window yesterday when Holdsworth House took centre stage at an afternoon tea wedding for 60.

Instead of a traditional sit down meal guests enjoyed a magnificent treat of slender sandwiches, crusts off of course. Guests were seated across 3 interconnecting restaurant rooms, creating a wonderful atmosphere. Speeches then took place in the Long Bar with a few tipples.

The bride had acquired a beautiful collection of glass cake stands for Chef and his team to adorn with homemade goodies:  Tier 1 was dressed with watercress leaves and sandwiches - succulent salmon and cucumber, sweet pickle and cheese, tender beef and horseradish . Tier 2 featured home baked mini lemon meringues and (oh so melt in the mouth chocolatey) fudge cakes. Tier 3 shone with beacon like scones and jars of fresh strawberries and cream.

In fact there were over 80 scones freshly made and served warm.

This was a wedding with a difference, very 'on trend' with the afternoon tea and superbly delivered ;)

Afternoon tea cake stands being prepared with precision.

Getting ready for the drinks reception.

The historic restaurant filled with superb ideas from the bride and groom.

Sandwiches being prepared just before serving.

The Panelled Room being set for afternoon tea, just candles to add.

The Restaurant, awaiting the wedding guests.

Behind the scenes jars of strawberries and cream are being created

The masterpieces being put together in the kitchens.

Freshly baked scones keeping warm.

Between the Sheets

Guest reviews are something we look forward to reading, whether it's on Tripadvisor, Hotels.com or from a card delivered in the post.

But whilst we work our fingers to the bone delivering top notch service, toil tirelessly in the kitchens to create the best Yorkshire food or stay up past midnight typing out bride's menus and table plans.... in fact it's our humble beds that are repeatedly mentioned in our reviews for giving the 'best night's sleep ever'. 

It shouldn't really be surprising to see our beds mentioned frequently - after all we have over 50 of them. And we all know that slipping twix the clean, crisp sheets is so often what many guests look forward to at the end of the day.

As you cast aside the cushions and throws, and slide between the naked white sheets and cloud-like duvet, there's only one thing on your mind - sleep.

And sleep you will, thank goodness for our alarm clocks. How many hours of lost work, late brides and 'duvet days' have we caused because you can't bear to leave your peaceful cocoons?

So what's the secret? It's a bit Princess and the Pea-like. You start with an exceptionally good coil sprung mattress - purchased locally from an excellent (national) manufacturer, these things aren't cheap. 

Next comes the mattress topper, a cotton-based topper that adds an extra layer of warmth, cushioning and hygiene.

Crisp loose sheets are neatly laid over the topper. Our housekeeping staff could do the Guinness World Record challenge for hospital corners, which snugly hug the bed - unlike fitted sheets that have a tendency to 'ping off' when least expected.

All beds are made up using lovely soft duvets. Gone are the days when you had to fight your way in and out of sheets straight-jacketed so tightly you can't slide a cigarette paper between them.

There's a very definite pecking order to our pillows. Foam pillows must be positioned behind the goose feather ones, so the soft down can plump out proudly, inviting the guest to sink in and sleep. For anyone sensitive to our feathered friends we have anti-allergy pillows and duvets that will ensure your night remains tickle and sneeze-free.

If you prefer a blanket or feel the chill, extra blankets are available, though they're a rare sighting.

As is the fashion at home, we have throws and cushions to help create a luxurious feel and here you definitely get what you pay for; quality is exceptionally important.

We now invite you to test the beds out and see if your feedback is anything like these reviews from Tripadvisor:

"We had champagne and fluffy robes in our room which was so cosy and the bed was very comfy..."
"The beds were comfy and the place has a great atmosphere..."

"lovely hotel , superb food , very comfy beds . Brilliant !"

ENDS.

Small Means Flexible

Everyone seems to be in agreement that when the sun shines, there's simply no better place to be than the gardens of England. There's not a landscape on earth that can appeal more to the senses than our own back yards. The weeks of hot blue skies experienced earlier this year are testament to that.

So when you want to bask in the glorious but unreliable British summer, you need a reliable team who can respond to every eventuality. A great example is the small but perfectly formed Holdsworth House Hotel in the heart of West Yorkshire.

Well-known as a wedding and private dining venue, the Jacobean manor of Holdsworth House nestles in ornate, landscaped walled gardens, complete with sunken box hedge Parterre garden, year-round borders and a lawn fit for croquet.

The 39 bedroom venue is Halifax's first and only four-star hotel and has held 2 AA Rosettes for its dining function for the last 14 consecutive years. Now the team, who occupy the number one position on Tripadvisor, are offering guests the chance to experience outdoor dining under the blue Bronte skies.  Swathed in white linen and with the glassware and cutlery sparkling in the sun, a banqueting table has never looked so pretty and many brides, grooms and party planners are loving the fact that this outdoor option is available without having to jump on a plane or pay through the nose.

So what happens if the sun doesn't last? As there is only one wedding permitted each day at Holdsworth House, brides needn't worry about the function rooms being taken. So if the skies do cloud over, the operations team is geared up move the party indoors. If there was ever an example of 'nothing's too much trouble' then this is it.

For parties and functions up to 120 guests, Holdsworth House in Halifax is simply unique.