Discover the Magic of Fully Inclusive Festive Breaks at Potters Resorts
There’s something about Christmas that makes us all a little more nostalgic.
Maybe it’s the familiar sound of a favourite song, the scent of cinnamon and spices drifting through the air, or the first sip of something warm while twinkling lights begin to glow outside. Perhaps it is the simple pleasure of sitting down to a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, surrounded by family and friends, with nowhere else to be.
At Potters, the festive season is all about bringing those moments together and capturing the spirit of Christmas, while giving you the freedom to enjoy all the best bits on a memorable break away.
For just a few days, it’s simply the realisation that the usual Christmas rush has been left behind.
No shopping queues, or wondering whether everything is ready — and definitely no cooking or cleaning. Just an opportunity to relax, unwind and indulge in the moment.
From the 9th November, our resorts will be transformed for the season ahead. If you’re visiting just before for a cosy autumn break, you may catch a few of the elves working hard, sprinkling their magic across Hopton-on-Sea and Five Lakes.
Setting the scene
“I love those days when everything is going up,” says Chief Elf, Celia Potter. “There’s such a lovely buzz chatting to guests while we’re decorating, most of whom will mention that I’m covered from head to toe in glitter! I even enjoy the drive between the two resorts, which gives me a chance to get some Christmas songs on the radio!”
With over 30 trees, 300 decorations, 7,000 baubles and hundreds of metres of string and ribbon, the task is enormous. But as our first guests arrive to see the tastefully decorated spaces, complete with sparkling lights and Christmas trees that set the scene for a magical break ahead, it is of course, absolutely worth the effort for this band of elves.
“It really gets me in the spirit of things,” Celia says. “And our guests are always so complimentary.”
Before long, you’ll be tucking into a mince pie and sipping at a heartwarming cup of mulled wine, while the reception team provides the warmest of welcomes.
And once again, the familiar Potters feeling begins to take on a distinctly festive flavour.
Let the fun begin!
Starting with the festive-themed Garden Party, our Garden Bars become a hub of daytime fun.
Test your Christmas knowledge with a quiz over a delicious coffee or take in seasonal sets from your favourite faces. There’ll be plenty of laughter, but also plenty of time to take a breath, and let the festivities find you.
The peaceful Orangery at Five Lakes and clifftop Zest Rooms host craft sessions designed to create festive mementos of your time at Potters, to live on your tree at home for years to come.
At Hopton-on-Sea that might be a quirky gonk or twist and bloom holly, while at Five Lakes guests can get creative with Christmas wreath broaches and iris folding (some crafts may only be available on selected breaks).
Whichever resort you choose, the classic bauble making session returns in 2026 so you can create the perfect gift for a loved one, or hang on a branch of your own tree.
Get in the Spirit!
Dancing opportunities include a new ‘Santa Baby’ class with Josie at Five Lakes, and some ‘Fa La La Line Dancing’ with Kate at Hopton-on-Sea, while wellness sessions provide a chance to slow things down and restore some balance.
Then there are the activities that simply feel right at Christmas. The hugely popular bell ringing, for example, returns to Five Lakes, but this time, version 2.0 takes it further than ever before!
There’ll be Christmas singalongs and karaoke for those inclined, heartwarming sets for those who prefer to watch from afar, and even an Elf Hunt for puzzle-seekers.
Plus, for those brave enough to embrace the festive fashion challenge, there’s an ugly jumper contest too. We’ve all got one, right?
As with any break at Potters, your programme is designed to give everyone a reason to join in. Whether you’re someone who never misses a quiz, loves getting crafty, who always finds themself on the dance floor when you had absolutely no intention of dancing, or who simply loves to kick back and take it all in from the sidelines with a cup of coffee in hand, just remember…
There is no wrong way to experience the festive season at Potters.
Special new moments at dusk
One of the most enjoyable things about a Potters break is the way guests help shape the atmosphere, which is particularly true over the festive season. And this year, you’ve even had a say in one of the most anticipated additions to your Fully Inclusive Festive Break experience.
During the winter months, there’s a certain charm to the day as the light fades, the temperature drops, the windows begin to glow, and outside, the lights start to twinkle. Whether home or away, it’s your cue to grab a scarf and head outdoors.
Well, at Potters this festive season, those outdoor spaces are coming to life with music, lights and at the heart of it all, our huge Christmas tree!
“During the #SummerOfFun at Hopton-on-Sea, we gave families more choice by introducing the BBQ Shack and Ice Cream Parlour,” said Chief Operating Officer, Kirstie Hood. “We also created the Pimms & Prosecco tent, primarily as a meeting place for adults.
“We knew we wanted to recreate something like that for the festive season at both Hopton-on-Sea and Five Lakes, and that’s where the idea for Christmas at Dusk came about.”
On each full day of your break, dusk becomes your signal to head to The Family Green at Hopton-on-Sea or to The Garden Terrace at Five Lakes where guests will gather for the perfect precursor to your tasty dinner.
Shaped By You, For You
Here’s where you come in. Back in August, we asked you to help us shape this fabulously festive addition to your programme, by telling us what Christmassy treats you’d like to indulge in.
Christmas would not be Christmas without them, and they are sure to make the experience even more tempting. There’ll be a few surprises too — because sometimes the best part of Christmas is not quite knowing what is coming next.
Sharing in the moment with your friends, there is something wonderfully nostalgic about being outside at Christmas. It takes us back to some of our fondest memories.
These nights on the green or terrace are the sort of scene you’d find on a Christmas card, as the lights shimmer against the night sky, and crowds gather round a sparkling outdoor tree, as festive music plays and extra treats bring smiles.
But at Potters, there’s always that difference. No need to rush home or check the time. No need to worry about what needs doing next. Simply stick around for another song, have another festive delicacy (all included, of course), take in the lights, and enjoy the atmosphere without a care in the world.
Then, at your pace, head back inside to continue an evening full of delicious food courtesy of your 3-course dinner, and outstanding entertainment courtesy of the Potters Theatre Company.
Christmas dinner, with a Potters twist
Part of the charm of a Fully Inclusive Festive Break at Potters is the sense of occasion without being overdone.
Trees sparkle, decorations catch the light and those familiar spaces on resort feel transformed, without losing what makes them unmistakably Potters. You can arrive, take a breath and let the festive feeling find you.
And for many, it might find you over a traditional Christmas dinner.
While a seasonal menu offers a huge variety of wholesome dishes throughout your stay, on one night, a tasty festive feast is one of those occasions that just feels different.
After a day of entertainment and activities, there’s something exciting about getting dressed up, heading into the restaurant and taking your seat to find crackers awaiting you.
Picture the golden turkey complete with all the trimmings, familiar flavours, and the anticipation of that first bite. It’s a meal that feels like part of the celebration rather than simply another occasion to eat.
And when the last course has been enjoyed, be it a traditional Christmas pudding or an indulgent chocolate dessert, the evening is far from over.
Because this is Potters, and the highly-anticipated Christmas production from the Potters Theatre Company awaits!
Simply the Best CHRISTMAS!
“I get plenty of funny looks when I’m blaring out Christmas music in my car in the middle of the summer,” says Creative Producer, Roxy Yarnold.
We bet, but such is the expectation, it’s little wonder the Creative Team — who are behind the West End-quality stage productions you see on The Atlas and Glade Theatre stages — start the preparations early.
When most of us are thinking about sunshine, holidays and lighter evenings, the Potters Creative Team’s minds are elsewhere. Sleigh bells, Christmas classics and how to make a theatre full of guests feel that unmistakable festive glow.
“By the end of summer, we already had our concept and setlist. Thankfully, naming the new show was a little easier this year,” explains Creative Production Manager, Shane Balls.
Understood, because in 2026, Simply the Best is getting the Christmas treatment.
As with the Potters Theatre Company’s much-loved flagship production which has become a defining part of our entertainment experience, Simply the Best Christmas looks back across the decades to celebrate the music, moments and memories that have made the festive season such a special time of year at Potters.
It promises to be a spectacular celebration including sections repeatedly requested by you, sprinkled with that unmistakable PTC magic to create a show that belongs firmly to the festive season.
If that wasn’t enough, following the show will be some special surprises and the returning Christmas Countdown. So bring your dancing shoes, as our brilliant PTC vocalists invite you to get in the spirit of things on the dance floor.
It’s a festive celebration designed to make this special night in our theatres so much more than the show itself. And leaving you with memories that will last way beyond your stay.
A taste of Christmas
Of course, not every festive moment needs to be big, bold, and under the brightest of lights. Often, the most memorable parts of a Festive Break are the quieter ones.
The cosy corner you’ve found with the morning paper. A table shared with friends new and old, in your favourite bar. The sound of live music and laughter drifting through the resort. A quiz that starts out as a bit of fun… before everyone suddenly becomes very competitive.
Maybe it’s the simple pleasure of relaxing as you realise you have nowhere else you need to be.
Many of those moments are accompanied by your favourite drinks too. And over the festive season, your inclusive menu is sprinkled with extra flavours to tantalise your taste buds.
From deliciously spiced lattes and festive hot chocolates, to hot toddies and Rocking Rudolph ale, every sip holds the spirit of Christmas. And it’s the perfect complement to all the yuletide fun happening on your Fully Inclusive Break.
There is no place like Potters for Christmas
Christmas has a way of making us appreciate the things that matter. Delicious food, great music, spellbinding entertainment, lots of laughter, tradition — all in all, it’s about quality time together and making memories with your favourite people.
At Potters, all of those things come together in a Fully Inclusive Festive Break that’s designed to feel both wonderfully familiar and completely different from the usual festive routine.
From crafts, quizzes and coffees in our cosy bars to music, dancing, Christmas dinners and cracking shows, every moment is crafted for memories. It could be the first song you hear, the first glimpse of lights, the unexpected moment that makes you smile, a conversation around the dinner table.
But one thing is for sure. From that heartwarming cup of mulled wine on arrival to the friendly face in a festive knit upon departure, the spirit of Christmas will undoubtedly find you at Potters this festive season.
There’s no better time to settle in, switch off, be jolly, and let the most wonderful time of the year wrap itself around you. All in the warmth of our Five-Star Resorts.
Whether you’ve made Potters an annual tradition or are joining us for the first time, we can’t wait to see you.
Fully Inclusive Festive Breaks commence from Monday 9th November 2026, and from Monday 8th November in 2027. All 2026 Festive Breaks feature the Potters Theatre Company’s new production ‘Simply the Best Christmas’.
