YHAgroup.org.uk

As we weather some of the warmest weather of the year so far, what could be more natural than to start thinking about Christmas? Well, that’s what they’re doing at the Court Hill Centre - the bunkhouse known as The Ridgeway Youth Hostel before breaking with the YHA last year:

The Court Hill Centre is pleased to offer affiliate groups a special club Christmas Dinner package. Christmas Dinner, bed and breakfast can be yours for just £27.70 pp. Book for a group of 30 and we’ll give you sole use. AND we are not licensed so you can bring your own wine!

The opportunity to bring your own booze is certainly an advantage over, ahem, certain budget accommodation providers we might mention…

Sam Dalley of the Backpackers’ Press writes:

One of our member hostels has pointed out to me that YHA local groups are short of accommodation which is available to individuals and small groups in the winter.

There are over 250 Independent Hostels in the UK and over 95% of them stay open all year.

Full details of all these hostels are in the Independent Hostel Guide which retails for £4.95.

I would be glad to offer these guides for free (while stocks last) to any local group member who sends 5 second class stamps to cover the postage.

I’ve seen a copy of the guide and it’s quite impressive, listing 275 hostels across the UK plus a further 50 in Ireland and continental Europe. If you want to take Sam up on this kind offer, send your stamps to:

Backpackers Press
Speedwell House
Upperwood
Matlock Bath
Derbyshire
DE4 3PE

Potential independent hostellers should also visit the recently remodelled Independent Hostel Guide web site, where the same information can be found online. The site isn’t perfect, but there’s a a thing or two YHA could learn from it.