A family escape to Ribby Hall Village, in Lancashire, was the perfect choice for a special birthday celebration, writes Sarah Millington

TO some, it might sound mad, but when planning for my 40th birthday, I thought what better way to celebrate the milestone than with both my family and the in-laws? It was with this intention that we booked two holiday cottages at Ribby Hall Village, near Blackpool – and kept our fingers crossed that two very different families, including three strong-willed children, could get along for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

We needn’t have worried. Nobody fell out and Ribby Hall proved the ideal venue for keeping everyone entertained.

Established in 1994 by Bill Harrison, and still a family run business, the holiday park has become firmly established as a popular destination for families. Even before you arrive, you can understand why. The website advertises leisure facilities including a pool with slides, indoor and outdoor play areas and enough activities to tire out even the most energetic child. As a result, you might find it difficult to book – with parents generally keen to keep their children occupied, short breaks at places like this are in high demand.

My husband Paul and I stayed with our two children and my parents in one of the cottages for six, and it was certainly large enough that we didn’t feel cramped. The girls were happy with their comfortable, adult-sized bunk beds, and Paul and I staked claim to the double ensuite bedroom – well, it was my birthday. As the site is not too vast at just over 100 acres, including woodland, it seemed fairly compact, with the in-laws just a short walk away and all the facilities within easy reach. Especially with young children or those (like ours) who moan about having to walk, this is a definite advantage.

Our first full day was my birthday, and it seemed fitting that at least some of it should be spent having a little “me” time, so while the dads and granddads took charge of the children, the ladies booked in to The Spa Hotel. A relatively recent addition to Ribby Hall Village, this is an adults-only haven with a small but well-equipped spa and treatment rooms. We spent a blissful two hours on the Aqua Thermal Journey, which takes in things like a Balinese Salt Inhalation Room, an Outdoor Hot Tub and a Tepidarium, and, as if that hadn’t left us feeling sufficiently relaxed, we followed it with treatments. My half-hour Elemis facial was soothing yet thorough, leaving my skin tingling, and the other ladies felt their treatments were suitably indulgent too.

With a new Spar onsite, and Morrisons just up the road, self-catering is made easy at Ribby Hall. For those who prefer to eat out, there are plenty of options ranging from a Papa John’s pizza takeaway to formal dining at The Restaurant. We chose the latter for my birthday meal, and were pleasantly surprised by both the ambience and high quality of the food. For those without children or wanting a break from the usual family-friendly pubs, this is smart without being sterile.

We did, however, visit the popular Bar & Grill afterwards, which was full to capacity thanks to the entertainment provided. Perfect for adults wanting to relax with a drink while their children take part in a disco or a gameshow-style competition, this proved just the place to round off my special day.

Charlotte Gili-Ross, brand and communications manager at Ribby Hall Village, says sticking to certain key tenets is the way to success. “We really do listen to the feedback that we get from our customers,” she says. “A minimum of 75 per cent of the profits is invested back into the business year in, year out, which we use to enhance the holiday experience for our guests.”

One of only seven five-star holiday parks in the UK – and the only one in the North – as rated by Visit England, Ribby Hall Village counts itself among the elite of family break destinations. For five years running, it has won a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence and it also holds the British Safety Council Sword of Honour. For guest services manager Andrew Mason, this is affirmation that he and his team are getting it right. “We have a very large volume of guests who come back year in, year out,” he says. “We want people to be impressed with the accommodation and we have a constant programme of work to add new facilities.”

Among these is Wild Discovery, a recently-opened children’s petting farm with mainly re-homed animals, and there are also plans for an extension to the Bar & Grill to include, among other things, a kids’ club. With so much variety for both adults and children, we would definitely consider a return visit – even with the extended family.

  •  Ribby Hall Village, Ribby Road, Wrea Green, Lancashire PR4 2PR, 01772-671111, ribbyhall.co.uk