The food outlets in the village were first class. That evening we ate in Nigel Smith’s restaurant; a fine dining eatery with an a la carte menu every night of the week, and a fish and chips special on Mondays and Fridays. The staff in the restaurant were patient and attentive, turning a blind eye to Oliver shouting at the top of his voice and eating the colouring pencils, and Ben trying to set light to the napkins by placing them on top of the candles. On reflection, choosing such a classy restaurant for our first meal wasn’t my wisest decision, but the fish and chips were the best we’d ever tasted, the service was the best we’d ever experienced, and the Pinot Grigio put a smile on our tired faces.

The following day we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast at our cottage, after which we fed the ducks, and headed out for a walk around the village to see what facilities and activities were on offer. There is plenty to do on-site including horse riding, fishing, golf, mini-golf, boating, cycle hire, tennis, climbing wall, swimming and the gym, and so much more. Ribby Hall is set on 100 acres of tranquil and picturesque land, the perfect landscape for outdoor activities whilst feeling ‘at one’ with nature.

We were slightly restricted in what we could do with a 22-month old in tow, but we made the most of our stay by visiting the horses, each of whom was greeted with a “moo” or “baa” from Oliver, and cycling round the village on the four-wheel cycle. The rest of our day was spent in the pool complex until our pruned fingers and toes could stand no more. But the highlight of this day was the evening entertainment. Every Friday and Saturday night guests are treated to family entertainment from the in house team, which includes anything from dancing and circus acts to face painting and the “party in the dark”.

The entertainment takes place in the Bar and Grill; to be honest I didn’t have high expectations for the venue; figuring mediocre pub grub would be on the menu. Again I was pleasantly surprised. The food was well cooked, well presented and delicious. This family venue was perfect for the children as they could run around at their own leisure, leaving us to relax with a pint at the edge of the dance floor.