ABBA Chique

Friday, 6^th March 2026 x 2 nights (3 days)

The Old Swan Harrogate - The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire (classiclodges.co.uk)

The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate combines Victorian splendour with elegant contemporary style and is just a short walk from the town centre.

One of the most famous hotels in Harrogate thanks to its romantic past. Once a popular spa, it was the hideaway haven for crime queen, Agatha Christie, when she famously disappeared here in 1926.

The hotel is packed with stunning period features, including revolving doors and polished wooden floors. In winter, you can cosy up in front of the roaring fire in the lobby. There are elegant reception rooms, including the magnificent Wedgwood restaurant, with its original glass ceiling, or the Swan Lounge & Bar, where you can relax with a drink or a snack overlooking the lawns and views of the town centre.

Executive Coach & Professional Tour Driver Throughout

Day 1 – Late morning departure and travel to Harrogate – making a stop along the way.  After dinner this evening, we enjoy an evening of ‘Sway’ with Jason Allen.

Day 2 – Today is free for you to explore the pretty town of Harrogate.  Enjoy a lovely stroll through beautiful Valley Gardens or explore the delightful Victoria arcades for some retail therapy.  Have a relaxing lunch in one of the many restaurants, cafes and bars – maybe even visit the famous Betty’s Tearooms.  Later, we return to the hotel to get ready for our entertainment evening.  This begins with a pre-dinner drink, followed by our 4-course Gala Dinner and tonight’s extravaganza – the highlight of the weekend – an evening with ABBA Chique.  Established in 2009, Kent-based ABBA tribute band, Chique, have since become one of the most sought-after tributes in the country, regularly performing sell-out shows all over the UK and abroad.  All the glamour & glitz of a real ABBA concert, with stunning costumes, made with attention to detail of ABBA’s original designs, and a powerful stage presence full of energy and fun.  You’ll feel as if you were back in the 1970s!

Day 3 – Depart for home after breakfast.

Cost:

Members with share(s): £300pp

Members without shares:  £319

Non Members:   £329

Singles:  we have 6 rooms available for the same price pp  as above

Deposit:  £25 pp

For further details and bookings, you can either use the   or contact Ged Morris

Please include your Name, Home Address, Contact Telephone Number, Membership Number and the Number Places Required (Member/Non-Member)

Watch Abba Chique on the following link.https://youtu.be/vd8NI2yeqU4?si=Nou88iKOr2m3Iy4b

Capital Weekend 2 - 26th - 29th July 2024 - FULL

Why not join us on this Capital Weekend 2 based at the The Bull Hotel, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.

Friday: Travelling to The Bull Hotel at Gerrards Cross with suitable stops along the way. After you've have checked-in there will be time at leisure before dinner.

Saturday - After breakfast we travel in London for our visits to Buckingham Place and The Houses of Parliament.

Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the home of the monarch, the focus of national and royal celebrations, as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony.

Buckingham Palaceis one of the world's few remaining working royal palaces. It has been open to visitors during the summer months for more than 20 years. On the self-guided tour of the State Rooms you will discover the highlights listed below. The State Rooms -There are 775 rooms in Buckingham Palace including the 19 State Rooms and 78 bathrooms. The State Rooms are a suite of lavishly decorated public rooms in Buckingham Palace where the monarch receives, rewards and entertains their subjects and visiting dignitaries. Several of these rooms were used for the Royal Wedding reception for the Prince and Princess of Wales (William and Kate). These rooms are awash with sparkling candelabra, marble columns, sumptuous carpets, damask wallpaper, fine furniture, sculpture and works of art.

Buckingham Palace's Grand Staircase is a highlight of the tour. The magnificent bronze staircase was designed by the architect John Nash as part of his commission to remodel the palace for King George IV from 1825 to 1830. The impressive double balustrade features an intricate pattern of acanthus, oak and laurel leaves and represents some of the world's finest bronze casting work. The stairs are lit by an etched glass dome in the ceiling.  Some big names are on show at the palace. You can usually come across paintings by Van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude as well as sculpture by Canova and Chantrey. The paintings in the State Rooms also include some wonderful portraits of past and present royals including Queen Victoria, George III and Queen Charlotte, William IV and his wife Queen Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth II and, of course, the current Royal Family. 

 The majestic Throne Room is a favourite with visitors. It contains the thrones that are used for investitures and ceremonial receptions such as at the jubilees of Queen Elizabeth II and also has doubled as a ballroom on occasion (on your guided tour, you'll also see the official Ballroom – the palace's largest multi-purpose room). You may recognise the Throne Room as the backdrop for some famous royal wedding photos including Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) and  Phillip in 1947 and the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.

Your State Room ends at the tranquil Garden Cafe on the West Terrace of Buckingham Palace. The cafe offers a range of light refreshments including tea, coffee, sandwiches and pastries. During the summer opening, the Garden Shop contains a delightful range of gifts and souvenirs exclusively created for the Royal Collection. You'll find homewares, china, clothing, jewellery and children's toys, books and postcards. Most of the products on sale are inspired by works of art in the Royal Collection.

The Houses of Parliament - The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London. Through the video and audio stories on the multimedia device, discover the history, art, and architecture of the building, and what happens today at UK Parliament. You can set your own pace but should allow up to 90 minutes to make the most of your visit which includes the House of Commons Chamber, the House of Lords Chamber, Westminster Hall, and much more. 

Returning late afternoon to The Bull Hotel prior to Dinner.

Sunday: After breakfast we will leave the hotel travelling to Kew Gardens. day at leisure to explore the gardens. There’s an impressive 250 years (and counting) of history in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, but they’re also paving the way for the future with not one, but two national bases for research into botanical studies. While you’re strolling through the Victorian Palm House or seeking out the luscious flora (including the giant, stinking Titan Arum in the Princess of Wales Conservatory), scientists are working away in offices and laboratories behind the scenes. 

 Nowadays the Gardens stands at a huge 300 acres, but they started out a little more humbly in the back yard of what was once the royal palace – favoured most by George III. There’s lots to see here, whether you like green stuff or not. The grand Victorian glasshouses remain a favourite with visitors, one of which (Temperate House) holds the record for the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. And if you want to explore elsewhere? Why not take a trip to the Treetop Walkway. At 18 metres high, this trek through the leaves offers fab views of the grounds. Once you’ve come back to earth, stroll down to the Chinese Pagoda, which was built in 1762 and towers over the southern end of the Gardens. And if the plants aren’t doing the trick, try seeking out the sculptures, which feature Henry Moore’s ‘Reclining Mother and Child’ in a stunning setting that changes with the light of each season. In fact, the art alone could take up your entire visit – see the Eduardo Paolozzi sculpture ‘A Maximis Ad Minima’ and visit the Marianne North Gallery and the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, all included in the ticket price.

Returning to the hotel late afternoon, prior to dinner at the hotel.

Monday: After breakfast you will check-out of the hotel and make our way homewards with suitable stops before arriving back in Manchester early evening.

Hotel: The Bull Hotel is located in Gerrards Cross, Bucks. Set in landscaped gardens in a conservation area of Buckinghamshire, The Bull retains the cosy spirit of an historic coaching inn, and its 4-star rooms and suites are ideal for today’s traveller. All rooms offer comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms and many feature modern artworks and views over landscaped gardens. (www.sarova-bullhotel.com)

Price Per person: (Based on twin/double 2 adults sharing) -

• Member Plus (Members with Lottery Shares) - £409
• Members (No Lottery Shares) - £419
• Non-Member - £429
• Single Supplement £93
  

Look What's included: 

• 3 Nights Accommodation including Full English Breakfast and 3-course, choice menu dinner
• Porterage (if required)
• Executive Coach & Professional Tour Driver throughout the tour as per itinerary
• Tour of Buckingham Palace 
• Multi-media tour of the Houses of Parliament
• Admission to Kew Gardens

What's NOT included:

• Meals and Entrance to attraction fees other than those stated in the itinerary
• Driver/Guide Gratuities
• Any Items of a personal nature such as drinks, souvenirs etc

For further details and bookings, you can either use the  or contactBob Walker

Please include your Name, Home Address, Contact Telephone Number, Membership Number and the Number Places Required (Member/Non-Member)

15th - 19th September 2024

Nestled in the heart of the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man is within easy reach from the UK and Ireland, making it a welcome escape so close to home. As the only entire nation in the world to be recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere, you will experience awe-inspiring nature, an ancient and compelling 10,000 year history, a vibrant culture and an outdoor natural playground of unrivalled beauty which combines exhilarating coastal adventures and some of the best walking in the British Isles.

ITINERARY

Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man since 1869 and the main tourist and commercial centre.  Here, too, are the Legislative Buildings of its ancient parliament Tynwald whose origins go back over a thousand years when the Island became a Viking kingdom.  The magnificent sweep of Douglas Bay, against the background of green hills, has a charm hard to equal anywhere.  Douglas was a pioneer in illuminations and at night presents a scene of spectacular beauty, never to be forgotten. As well as being the chief seaport, Douglas has the terminii of the Victorian steam railway which runs south to Port Erin and of the electric tramway which follows a scenic route north along the coast to Ramsey.  Both systems arouse keen interest amongst railway enthusiasts. Along the entire sea front run the Douglas Horse Trams which are now the only ones still in existence.  They began life in 1872 and they remind us of a more leisurely way of life. Behind the front can be found other places of interest such as the Manx Museum, the centre of Manx National Heritage and a fascinating treasure-house of the Island's unique history. 

16^th September 2024: After breakfast you will start your journey on the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to the pretty village of Laxey on the east coast - then board the Mountain Railway winding its way to the Island's only mountain, Snaefell. This unique Victorian enterprise, which is around five miles long, has been in operation since 1895 and is the only electric mountain railway in the British Isles. Snaefell peaks at 2,036 feet above sea level, you may be able to see some, or all, of the Seven Kingdoms - England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man and the kingdoms of heaven and the sea before taking the Mountain Railway back down to Laxey.

The Great Laxey Wheel is the Isle of Man's most iconic landmark and the largest working water wheel in the world.  At 72 feet 6 inches in diameter, this extraordinary feat of Victorian engineering has brought tourists flocking to the picturesque village of Laxey for almost 170 years.  See this magnificent wheel turning and take the spiral stairs to the top to enjoy panoramic views of Glen Mooar Valley. Beyond the wheel, learn about the lives of the Laxey Miners. Here you will have some free time in Laxey for lunch, take a closer look at the wheel and surrounding area, before boarding the coach for the Milntown Estate for House & Garden.  Set in the beautiful parish of Lezayre, Milntown is the island’s only Historical Estate and boasts 15 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland, which surround the magnificent mansion and café at its heart. Whilst here, you will enjoy tea/coffee & Scone with cream & jam. Dinner in the hotel.

17th September 2024:  After breakfast you depart Douglas for Port Erin on the Victorian Steam railway. The line dates back to 1874 and is a 3 gauge track and still uses its original steam locomotives and coaches! The train journey passes through the beautiful countryside, farmlands and along the coast. It used to include Peel, Foxdale and Ramsey, but the line was shortened to the 15 miles route. Sitting in the old-fashioned carriages as it shoogles its way along the tracks and watching the scenery pass by with the puff of steam floating by like clouds is magical. A great experience for adults and children.

In Port Erin you will have time for lunch and enjoy the beautiful bay bounded by two headlands. On northern headland, Bradda Head, sits the iconic memorial tower called Milner’s Tower. The promenade, on the east side of the bay, is somewhat higher than the seafront, and primarily consists of hotels, mostly built in the Victorian era. The town is famed for its views, including spectacular sunsets over Port Erin Bay and Bradda Head, as well as glimpses of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland in the distance.

After time in Port Erin you board the coach to continue your journey to the Cregneash Village Folk Museum overlooking the Calf of Man. The village was one of the last strongholds of the Manx language and customs. You will find a number of thatched Manx cottages which are open for you to explore. You can also see evidence of their crofting way of life through stories, skills and craft demonstrations. Who knows you might even spot Manx cats with no tails, four-horned sheep, working horses and other traditional farming practices in action.

18th September 2024: Breakfast then travel to Peel where you will have some free time. Peel sits on the west coast of the island, is the only city on the Isle of Man, and has the island's cathedral. It is here visitors will find a variety of interests, including a large ruin castle from 1392. Fishing has a long history in Peel as it once was the island's main fishing port. To this day the harbour can be seen filled with boats of the fishing trade. It is here that Herring is cured to make the famous Manx kippers. There is an old style feel to the place with many narrow streets and small houses near the coast.

Our tour continues across the island to Castletown, where once again you will have some free time. Take a stroll around the ancient capital of Mann and discover the interesting facts and stories that this town has to tell. 

Capital of the Island until 1869, Castletown is made up of small winding streets, picturesque fishing cottages along the harbour and a Viking castle that towers over the centre of the town. Visit the famous Castle Rushen, one of the best preserved medieval castles in the world and listen to stories of the Lords of Mann that once resided there as well as the varied and fascinating history of this market town. Walk along the harbour which home to the world-famous Tin Bath Races as well as the site of the old Brewery and the large fishing vessels from its days as a thriving fishing port.  Remainder of the day will be at leisure in Douglas prior to dinner in the hotel.

19^th September 2024: Breakfast and check out to catch the ferry from Douglas to Heysham arriving back into Manchester late afternoon.

Your Hotel: Rutland Hotel, Douglas - The Rutland is located on the seafront of Douglas and has 64 rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. Offering a full range of modern facilities and accessories, rooms at the 3 Star Rutland offer both great value and a quiet location. Guest enjoy complimentary Wi Fi and the Queens Carvery Restaurant offers both a buffet breakfast, and into the evenings a hearty Manx roast with a separate residents bar and entertainment. The hotel is situated close to the quiet Queens Promenade of Douglas, a pleasant walk to the many local bars, restaurants and retail area.

Price per person (Based on 2 Adults sharing Twin/Double Room):

• Member Plus Adult - £549
• Member Adult - £569                    
• Non Member Adult - £589                 
• Single Supplement - £64 (double/twin for sole occupancy)

Price Includes:

• Executive Coach & Professional Tour Driver throughout the tour as per itinerary
• Return ferry crossing (Heysham - Douglas)
• 4 Nights half board accommodation with Breakfast and 3 Course Choice Dinner including Tea/Coffee 
• Admission to Milntown Estate with tea/coffee & Scone
• Admission to Cregneash Estate
• Train journeys as detailed in the itinerary

Not Included:

• Single Supplement
• Any items of a personal nature such as meals, drinks, etc
• Guide/Driver Gratuities
• Travel Insurance

For further details and bookings, you can either use the  or contact Bob Walker

Please include your Name, Home Address, Contact Telephone Number, Membership Number and the Number Places Required (Member/Non-Member)