We can’t wait to welcome you to Potters Resorts Five Lakes for your All-Inclusive Break, and here’s everything you need to know. We'd ask you to read this information in full to ensure your break goes smoothly.

As the lead name on your booking, we'd also ask you to please share this important information with all members of your party.

First things first, a few important pre-arrival questions...

1. Do you need to tell us about any additional dietary requirements or special assistance required, that you didn't already mention at time of booking?
2. Does anyone in your party have the following symptoms: a high temperature, a new continuous cough and/or loss or change to sense of smell or taste?

Arrival at Resort / Check In

Please follow these steps to ensure your arrival goes without a hitch:

1. If using a SATNAV or Google Maps, please search for the postcode CM9 8HX before you leave as signal can be patchy near resort. Our full address is: Potters Resorts Five Lakes, Colchester Road, Essex, CM9 8HX.
2. Please arrive within 15 minutes either side of your allocated check in time slot, as advised on your booking confirmation. So, if your booking confirmation states a 15:00 check in, you should aim to arrive between 14:45 and 15:15. In all circumstances, keys for accommodation will not be available before 15:00.
3. Park in our main car park and make your way to Reception where our friendly team will greet you and present you with your Welcome Pack containing essential information about your stay, wristbands and keys, which will be programmed to allow access into your accommodation from 3pm onwards.
4. Once you’ve checked in safely and you've been handed your keys, you can head to your room from Reception to drop off your luggage (we also have porters on hand to help you if required).
5. To enjoy all elements of your all-inclusive break, you must wear the wristbands provided throughout your stay; this indicates to our team that you are a bona fide residential guest and allows them to serve you.
6. Have an amazing break!

(If you’re arriving by coach, please refer to the specific arrival information provided with your luggage labels.)

On Resort

We ask that, during your break with us, you take appropriate personal responsibility and continue to help protect your fellow guests and our team. As such, we ask that you wash and sanitise your hands regularly and maintain reasonable space between yourselves and other guests where it is practically possible for you to do so.

As a business, we remain cautious during this ongoing pandemic and you will see that we’re continuing with some adapted measures to help further protect you, our guests and also our team. Such measures include reducing touch points and deep cleaning the Resort in between guests departing and guests arriving on each break.

It’s important to note that we may adapt these measures, or introduce new ones, where we see fit in order to continue to provide a safe environment for our guests and team, so all information above and below is subject to change at any time.

Reception is open from 8:00 to 22:00. You can now visit out brand new ‘Pop-in-Shop’ at Five Lakes, open daily from 8:00 to 20:00 (with the exception of Mondays and Fridays, where it’s closed between 10:30 and 14:00). You can shop for any supplies you may have forgotten to pack or browse our lovely selection of gifts.

The 'Pop in Shop' will accept cash payments. However, overall, Potters Resorts Five Lakes will be operating as a cashless resort and there are no ATM or cash back facilities available, so please ensure you bring along a debit or credit card for any other purchases you wish to make.

We have been investing in and developing our main facilities at Five Lakes to deliver on our promise to offer the very best short breaks in the UK, and including all the key elements of a Potters All-Inclusive Break (delicious food and drink, superb entertainment, a host of sports and leisure facilities and a packed activities programme). While we don’t anticipate any disruption to your stay, you may notice some areas on Resort that we’re continuing to develop, and it is possible that some activities may be unavailable during this early launch period. We are hopeful and indeed confident that everything arrives in time but we are aware there could be factors in the current supply chain around the world that are beyond our control. In all events we will mitigate and work around such issues to offer the best All-Inclusive short breaks in the UK!

Enjoying a Drink

Our All-Inclusive Breaks mean that drinks, that pesky cost that so often adds up on your holiday, are included throughout your stay, from 15:00 on your arrival day, and from 8:30 on each full day of your break to close of bars, up until 10:30 on your departure day.

During your break, we’ll be operating a drinks service from designated ordering points, where our team will take your order and arrange for your drinks to be delivered to your table. In addition, we have water fountains around the Resort for your convenience. Bottled water is available via the ordering points and will also be provided in your accommodation (replenished daily).

The latest edition to Potters Resorts Five Lakes, the Lake View Lounge is now open and available to you on your break. Operating times for this new All-Inclusive bar and lounge for residential guests are Monday and Friday from 2pm – 9pm and from 9:30am – 9pm during the rest of the week. These times are subject to change.

Please note: Potters Resorts do not serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18, or appears to be under the age of 18. If you are aged between 18 and 25, please ensure you have acceptable ID which includes either of the following: photocard driving licence, passport, or proof of age card that bears the PASS hologram. Anyone aged between 18 and 25 can check their ID with the reception team on arrival for age verification that will be valid for their break.

Our Policy

While our breaks are inclusive of drinks, we welcome guests who consider this particular element secondary to the safe surroundings, variety of inclusive entertainment, delicious food, activities, sports and a host of leisure facilities. We discourage irresponsible drinking and as such, drinks with ultra-high Alcohol by Volume or caffeinated drinks such as shots, liquors or energy drinks, are not included.

Our team is trained to acknowledge guests partaking in sensible drinking, and will refuse service to anyone they believe is drinking to excess. We encourage people to enjoy a drink with friends and loved ones and, most importantly, HAVE FUN!

Dining

If you haven’t already advised us of the special dietary requirements of any members of your party such as gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, or of course, any allergies, please get in touch in the next 24 hours so we can make sure their needs are catered for. On arrival, please visit our Restaurant Team as early as possible and no later than 17:00 to discuss your specific requirements with our chefs, as they will be busy during service.

All meal times will be listed on your break programme, which is included as part of the Welcome Pack you receive during your check-in.

Entertainment

Our super talented team is here to entertain live, mainly in The Glade Theatre and in The Garden Bar and across the resort on the many hosted activities.

Day and night, you'll never be too far from being entertained by our fabulous team on Resort. Our entertainment is designed to complement your holiday, whether it be live music as the perfect background to your evening, the shows in The Glade Theatre or fun in The Indoor Sports Park or outdoor activity fields.

Can't wait to come back?

All Potters Resorts Breaks well into 2023 continue to fill fast, so don't leave your next break to chance. You can book now online or call our friendly team on 0333 3207 414. If you’d prefer to speak to a member of our team, you can use the live chat feature on our website, and we will be delighted to assist you.

Alternatively, our Reservations Team at Five Lakes can help you with any queries while you are staying with us. Just pop to Reception and ask for a member of our Reservations Team to discuss your next booking at Five Lakes. If you wish to book your next break at Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea , please call our team or book online as per the above contact details.

Activities & Leisure Facilities

On arrival, you’ll be given your own break programme which will tell you all about what’s happening throughout your break including fun activities, experiences and entertainment. And you don’t need to worry about planning out your whole break as advance booking for activities is not required; simply arrive on time at the venues detailed for your chosen activities.

As well as our day and night programme, there’s a variety of leisure facilities for you and your party to enjoy. If you wish to enjoy a non-instructor led activity such as bowls, snooker or badminton please visit our Sports Kiosk to collect equipment, or if you’d like to swim, our pool is open until 19:30 with last entry into the pool/gym at 18:45.

Please be aware that our leisure facilities are subject to availability and are available on a first-come-first-served basis. As such, we cannot guarantee that you will always be able to book your chosen activity, but our team will happily discuss with you alternative availability.

If at all possible, you should bring your own equipment for any sports you may wish to play, subject to them being available. However, if you are unable to do so, we will still be able to provide equipment (excluding our 18-Hole Lakes Golf Course) and items will be thoroughly cleaned after each use.

With so much space to explore, you may also want to bring along some outdoor footwear and clothing for any walking you wish to do, or outdoor activities you’d like to take part in. Please be aware that closed shoes are required to participate in certain activities.

Accommodation

We will be operating a daily housekeeping service, however if you do not wish for your accommodation to be serviced during your stay then please advise Reception as soon as possible after your arrival.

If you choose not to have your accommodation serviced, but require any fresh towels, toiletries, or tea, coffee, sugar, etc, replenished, then these are available from Reception for collection or alternatively, we can deliver them to your accommodation if you prefer.

Departure

As we will have done prior to your own arrival, we need to fully sanitise rooms and the entire Resort before allowing access to new guests. For this reason we must insist all accommodation is vacated by 10:00 and that everyone has left the Resort by 12:00 on your day of departure. All keys can be returned to the dropbox at Reception for your convenience.

Other Helpful Info

Now we’ve given you all the essential info for your break, we trust you will enjoy a wonderful stay with us here in the glorious Essex countryside. But here’s a few handy tips to make your stay even more memorable. Just click on the links provided below.

Designed by European Tour legend Neil Coles and opened by Nick Faldo, our 18-hole Lakes Course is one of the finest golf experiences in Essex. While our inclusive par-3 offering will satisfy many, experienced golfers can upgrade their booking for a small supplement, and enjoy a different challenge amongst the stunning Essex countryside. You can find out more below, or call our friendly team on 0333 3207 422 to add a round on The Lakes Course today.

Boasting twelve treatment rooms, a bespoke relaxation area and a dedicated space to enjoy delicious lite bites and refreshments, The Spa at Potters Resorts Five Lakes provides an idyllic venue to relax and unwind. Whether you have an hour, a morning or an afternoon free on your break, we have a range of treatments and packages to suit you.

We strongly recommend that you contact The Spa in advance of your break to book an appointment to avoid any disappointment. Get in touch with the friendly team on: 01621 862324

Our swimming pool and gym facilities are open from 7:45 to 19:30 every day except for Mondays and Fridays, when it opens at 9:00. Please note maximum bather numbers are in place for swimming pool usage for health and safety and as such it is subject to availability at any given time.

If bringing children, those aged 8 and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult in the water at all times, regardless of swimming ability. Children aged 9-12 must be supervised by a responsible adult from the pool or poolside, again, regardless of swimming ability. Children aged 13 or above require a responsible adult to be within the pool area.

At Potters Resorts Five Lakes we have six EV charging points available, situated in the middle of our car park. You will need to bring and connect your own cable to the charger. Please check when connecting what the KWH price is on the display panel and you can pay via contactless on the charging point.

We trust the above information has been helpful and answered any last minute questions you might have. If we’ve not quite ticked every box, please feel free to contact our friendly team on 0333 3207 407.

We can't wait to see you, and may we take this opportunity to thank you for your support and for reading this important information, as well as to wish you a safe journey to Five Lakes.

The Potter Family