For centuries, nobles and ne’er-do-wells have gathered on country estates for a bit of leisure, a lot of sumptuous food, sparkling conversation, and general good cheer. You’re invited to join us at Trevor Hall for a modern take on the traditional manor house weekend.
Together, we’ll make ourselves at home in this historic Georgian mansion surrounded by the picturesque North Wales countryside. We’ll talk about books, share gourmet meals in the Great Hall, play parlor games, ramble in the Welsh hills, listen to stories by candlelight, and stomp our feet at a Celtic ceilidh.
Our weekend begins in Manchester, England — a UNESCO City of Literature. We’ll check into our rooms at a design hotel and enjoy our first IRL meetup in a historic library. After a good night’s sleep, we’ll start our morning with a breakfast fry-up. Then we’re off to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House for a private tour of the Victorian villa where the author wrote her classic novel North and South (and entertained literary friends like Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens).
After a restorative tea-and-cake break, we’ll ride together via private motor coach — just over an hour — through the rugged countryside to Llangollen, a charming historic town on the River Dee in North Wales. Our destination: Trevor Hall.
The Hall sits on a wooded hilltop overlooking green slopes dotted with sheep and horses. After a tour of the house and gardens, we’ll ease into country living in the Hall’s luxurious (and tastefully eclectic) rooms. With bookish activities, entertainment, and surprises planned throughout the weekend, you’re sure to be delighted — and have plenty of time to connect with old and new bookish friends.
This is a five-day, four-night trip: Thursday through Monday. It will be held on two consecutive weekends, and each weekend is limited to 19 guests. The dates are:
Our guests from last year told us loud and clear that they wanted more time at Trevor Hall, so we’ve added a whole new day to this year’s itinerary. Full details are below.
To create a sense of camaraderie and community before we all converge in the UK, Mel and Dave will host a series of exclusive Manor House events online for all registered guests, including:
These activities begin in June 2026, so we’ll all feel like old friends by the time we arrive in Manchester.
You’ll also receive Mel’s exclusive Manor House Monthly newsletter, starting May 2026, with country house gossip, Welsh folklore, travel tips, recommendations for books and screens, recipes, and other fascinating stuff that captures our imaginations.
We’ve reserved studio suites for all our guests at The Treehouse Hotel, a colorful, cozy boutique hotel in the city center. (The Times rated it 9/10, and The Standard says it’s ‘designed with fun-loving grown-ups in mind.’)
Festivities officially begin in the evening, but we recommend you spend the day exploring this UNESCO City of Literature: Discover Manchester’s many bookshops and historic libraries while you soak up the vibes that inspired Elizabeth Gaskell’s classic novels North and South and A Dark Night’s Work. The John Rylands Library (a stunning neo-Gothic building with a wonderful bookish gift shop) and Chetham’s Library (the first public library in England) are each just a 6-minute walk from the hotel.
You’re on your own for dinner. Then we’ll gather in the lobby for a short walk to the Portico Library for our first meet-up with drinks, conversation, and a book exchange. The Portico was founded in 1806 as a gentlemen’s subscription library with literary luminaries among its members. We have the place to ourselves for the evening, beginning with a tour — and a peek at some of the library’s treasured first editions, including Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South.
We’ll start the day in the hotel’s Restaurant Pip with a full English breakfast and a refreshingly strong cuppa. Then it’s a short ride in our deluxe motor coach to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House for a 90-minute private tour of the author’s Victorian mansion, followed by tea and cake in the museum’s tearoom.
We’ll leave the bustle of the city behind on a drive through the wild, wooly countryside to Llangollen, where we’ll cross the River Dee and wend our way uphill to Trevor Hall. After a tour of the Hall’s three floors and gardens, you’ll settle into your well-appointed room to get refreshed for a cocktail party on the ground floor — with custom cocktails (good non-alcoholic options, too) and Welsh canapés.
At 8:00 p.m., a 3-course wine dinner — featuring Welsh specialties and ingredients from local farms (menu) — will be served in the Great Hall. You’ll end the evening with games in the billiard room, a movie in the drawing room, or reading in your soothing chamber.
Our morning begins with an optional walk, guided by Mel, to the nearby Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (the world’s highest walkable canal aqueduct and a UNESCO World Heritage site). Then we’ll chase away our peckishness with a lavish breakfast back at the Great Hall (menu).
Afterward, we’ll convene for the Manor House Book Club to discuss the title previously selected by the group. Post-book chat, you might enjoy a leisurely promenade in the garden, then we’ll revive our spirits with a traditional afternoon tea featuring finger sandwiches made with local ingredients, freshly baked scones, Welsh Bara Brith with salted butter, and sparkling wine.
The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to write to friends, read, play games, or rest your head in your plush bedroom. We highly recommend you set aside a little time for a private tarot reading in the Smoking Room with Careena, the friendly witch we’ve invited for the afternoon. (More details on Careena and tarot below.)
Later, we’ll gather in the Great Hall for a lavish 6-course dinner with wine and cocktails (menu) before the evening’s entertainment: candlelight storytelling in the Music Room with Mel and Dave.
We’ll start the day with a light breakfast, followed by free time to play parlor games, work on a jigsaw puzzle in the snug, read in a window seat, or wander down to Trevor Chapel to admire its historic stained glass window. At noon sharp, we’ll gather ‘round the table for a proper Sunday Roast. (Hello, Yorkshire pudding! menu) Then we’ll board our private coach for the 10-minute drive to Plas Newydd, the black-and-white Gothic fantasy home owned by 18th-century sapphic power couple Lady Eleanor Butler and Susan Ponsonby, a.k.a. The Ladies of Llangollen.
After touring the house and gardens, you’ll have time to explore Llangollen on your own — browse the shops, walk along the River Dee, have a wander — and we’ll all meet up at The Old Bull Inn for Celtic music, drinks, dancing, and a pub-grub buffet. (Info on the band below.) The pub is a former coaching inn, a key stop for horse-drawn coaches along bumpy roads. The publican provided food, drinks, and bedding for weary travelers, along with a courtyard where horses could be stabled and carriages parked. (Hence, the ‘Stabling’ sign above the entrance to the courtyard.)
Our private shuttle will chauffeur us home for gossip, a cutthroat game of Whist, or a late-night kitchen raid. Maybe we’ll light a fire in the fireplace!
Our final morning together begins with an optional walk through the woods along the Llangollen Canal, guided by Mel, then we’ll convene for a big breakfast with Welsh cakes and the makings for hot breakfast butties (sandwiches) (menu) in the Great Hall. After breakfast, we’ll pose for a Victorian-style group photo on the lawn.
Then, we’ll gather one last time for a fond farewell. After a remarkable weekend together, you’ll board the private coach for transport back to the Manchester Airport or Manchester Piccadilly train station.
Note: Once you’ve registered, we are happy to provide more details about how you might extend your trip in Manchester, Llangollen, or London before or after your weekend at Trevor Hall.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Here’s the first thing you need to know about Trevor Hall: A house has been in its location for over 1000 years. The second fact of note is that its current owner is a rock band promoter turned horse breeder. So although the Hall’s facade is 100% dignified Georgian — and its Great Hall is an excellent example of medieval flair — Trevor Hall’s decor is now modernly whimsical, a thoroughly delightful mix of Victorian elegance and rock-and-roll attitude. The wooden staircase is lined with vintage family photos, the upstairs halls are dotted with antique arcade machines, and you’ll likely find framed gold records on the wall next to a landscape painting.
Each of the 10 bedrooms is individually decorated (The Great Gatsby Room! The Moroccan Room! The Moulin Rouge!) with playful details and opulent fabrics — all with views of the manicured gardens and lily pond. The six bathrooms are wholly modern in function and elegant in design. There’s a Billiard Room and Music Room with a grand piano (and hand-painted wood floor), a plush Drawing Room, an inviting Smoking Room, and a cozy kitchen for late-night snacks and conversation. At the heart of it all is the Great Hall, featuring a grand fireplace, stately oak dining table, a suit of armor (!), and a colorful tile floor designed and installed by 19th-century tile magnate (and former owner) J.C. Edwards.
Trevor Hall has a real Jane-Eyre-meets-Tim-Burton vibe that stole our hearts. It’s a living, breathing country house that demands you have fun while reveling in its plump couches, cushy bedrooms, and majestic dining room.
The passage of time at a proper country house weekend was marked by opulent meals throughout the day. We see no reason to deviate from tradition on this point.
Each morning at Trevor Hall will begin with a full breakfast in the Great Hall. As is custom, an array of hot and cold dishes will be laid out on the sideboard — a gentleman (or lady) is never waited on at breakfast. Saturday includes a traditional afternoon tea with plenty of savory finger sandwiches and freshly baked scones. We’ll also enjoy three formal sit-down dinners in the Great Hall — including the traditional six courses on Saturday evening and a full Sunday Roast.
Our menus were designed in collaboration with Welsh caterers Chris and Amy Yapp. Their carefully crafted meals feature Welsh specialties — Welsh Lamb, Laverbread, Welsh Cakes, Bara Brith — and local ingredients, including salted butter, honey, and produce from local farms. Our cocktail party will feature a Welsh Gin Fizz made with Chris’ own homemade Welsh Damson Gin — and you can look forward to a dessert of Sticky Toffee Pudding with Welsh Whisky Custard.
Our menus include delicious vegetarian options, and the caterers can accommodate guests with celiac disease and other allergies. A selection of non-alcoholic beverages and wine will be available throughout the day; evening meals are accompanied by wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks chosen to complement the menu.
Take a sneak peek at the menus!
In addition to casual amusements — billiards, charades, cards, table games — it was not unusual for professionals to arrive at a country house party to entertain guests. Tarot cards arrived in Europe in the 15th century, most likely through the ports of Venice at the height of maritime trade. As the cards migrated to France in the 17th century, their use turned from card game to divination. Tarot was finally introduced to Britain in 1886 — and the most well-known tarot deck in the world, the Rider Waite Smith deck, was published in 1909. The Victorians were mad for otherworldly amusements like fortune telling, palmistry, séances, and tarot. We can only assume that the former residents of Trevor Hall must have queried the cards from time to time.
Tarot Readings with Careena
On Saturday afternoon, we’ll be joined at tea by Careena, a member of The Magic Circle, the most famous magic society in the world. She’ll welcome you to a private tarot reading in the Smoking Room where you can pose a question to the wisdom of the cards. Careena uses tarot to spark conversation and create connection, but as she says, ‘not to predict doom.’ She brings the flair of a storyteller — and deep familiarity with the symbolism of the cards — to her readings. ‘Everyone walks away with a smile, a sense of curiosity, and often a deeper insight into themselves.’ (In this short video, she explains the nine of pentacles.)
On Saturday evening, Dave and Melissa will share a custom-crafted story in the Music Room by candlelight. It’s a bit of the podcast in real life: history, folklore, banter, and a little drama.
The Wee Bag Band
Based in North Wales, The Wee Bag Band’s mission is to bring ‘mad, bad, trad, diddly, diddly Celtic music and song to the masses.’ The five-piece band has played all over the world — France, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, USA, Cuba, Bahamas, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Greenland (!). They’ve promised us a short dance lesson so we can enjoy a proper ceilidh (live music and dance). Alan, the bodhran (Irish drum) player, does double-duty as a dance caller, so we are in good hands.
In the months leading up to our time at Trevor Hall, we’ll read a manor house book or two — chosen by you — in preparation for an in-person Manor House Book Club. One of last year’s attendees called it ‘the best book club I have ever attended.’ (You can get an idea of the kind of books we’re considering right here.) Guests will be sent the chosen book club title in Summer 2026.
In literature, as in life, a home can reflect a person’s status, motivation, and values — a nifty shorthand for conveying what’s important to a character. The physical description of their surroundings tells us plenty about what makes them tick. In the 18th and 19th centuries — the golden age of the country house — a grand estate symbolized power, wealth, and class.
For more than 450 years, authors like Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, the Brontë sisters, and E.M. Forster have placed their characters in unforgettable homes. Where would the story of Jane Eyre be without Thornfield’s battlements, rookery, and ‘mighty old thorn trees, strong, knotty, and broad as oaks’ — not to mention the infamous attic? Dickens sentenced Miss Havisham to Satis House, and Daphne du Maurier haunted her heroine at Manderley with Mrs. Danvers and memories of Rebecca. It’s no accident that Lizzie’s visit to Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley estate helps her realize he’s not only the man for her but also a truly good man.
In addition, Mel and Dave will also host an optional online book club in September/October 2026 to read and discuss works by Elizabeth Gaskell, chosen by the group.
Mel and Dave have been partners in love and creative work since 1992. They’re the co-creators of Strong Sense of Place, a podcast and website dedicated to literary travel and books with vivid settings. Since its launch in 2020, they’ve read and recommended almost 600 books. They’ve also worked together to build websites for Fortune 500 clients, published three best-selling cookbooks, and played in Dave’s rock band. In 2017, they sold almost all of their stuff and moved from the United States to Prague. Their mission is to follow their curiosity, be guided by empathy, and create community among like-minded people.
It’s also worth mentioning that Mel has watched the film Gosford Park a ridiculous number of times and would like nothing more than to be transported to Thornfield Hall to drink tea with Jane Eyre. Although Mel is firmly anti-colonialism, she’s also smitten with all things tea-and-tartan; we contain multitudes.
Ellen is a writer and ghostwriter for children’s and adult books. Her published works include novels, poetry, nonfiction, and picture books, including Some Snow Is… (illustrated by Andrea Offerman) and Grandmothers Galore! (with Judith Henderson and Rashin Kheiriyeh). Ellen also teaches creative writing and has spent most of her adult life as a bookseller and farmer. She has many strong opinions on sheep. Just ask her. She lived in Prague for several years and currently makes her home in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Jennifer is an avid reader and life-long lover of books. Her dayjob as a pharmaceutical QA consultant helps fund her book-buying habit. When she’s not reading a book herself, she likes to help others find great books to read. As the Co-Director of the Newburyport Literary Festival, she organized an annual weekend of author readings, interviews, and panel discussions in person and online for 15 years in her hometown of Newburyport, MA. She currently manages a well-curated Little Free Library in front of her house and loves to talk about all things literary with her regular visitors. On rare occasions when she is not reading, you can find her on the beach with her Brittany Spaniel, Otis.
Manchester is the third largest city in the UK and is a UNESCO City of Literature. It boasts 10 independent publishers, dozens of independent bookstores, and four historic libraries. You can visit Chetham’s Library, the first public library in England, keeping readers in good books since 1653. Or explore the Manchester Central Library (curvy neo-Classical), The Portico Library (Greek revival), and John Rylands Institute and Library (spiky neo-Gothic) — all open to the public for a look around their stacks. You can also delve into history at the Working Class Movement Library or explore verse at the Manchester Poetry Library.
The storybook village of Llangollen is nestled among the wooded hills of North Wales. It’s part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the Llangollen Canal and the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, known as the ‘stream in the sky.’ In town, you can stroll along the Victoria Promenade, picnic in Riverside Park, visit two lovely independent bookstores, and browse for souvenirs in shops and art galleries.
Llangollen is also a fantastic jumping-off point for outdoor adventures like mountain biking treks, white water rafting, hiking to the dramatic ruins of Castell Dinas Brân, or exploring Valle Crucis Abbey.
Accommodations: One night in studio suite at a boutique hotel (Manchester), three nights in a luxury bedroom at Trevor Hall.
Transportation: Deluxe private motor coach roundtrip between Manchester and Llangollen and private coach into Llangollen on Sunday. You get yourself to Manchester, we’ll take care of the rest. Note: When you depart Trevor Hall, the motor coach will take you to Manchester Airport or Manchester Picadilly train station.
Food: All meals from breakfast on Friday to breakfast on Monday (and the Trevor Hall kitchen will be stocked with goodies and drinks for midnight snack raids).
Entertainment: Private tours of the Portico Library, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, and Plas Newydd; Manor House Book Club, private tarot readings, candlelight storytelling, live Celtic music, and guided nature walks.
Tips: All gratuities for transport, catering, entertainment, and housekeeping.
Other goodies: Exclusive pre-trip online events, a pre-trip package with a print copy of the book club book, Manor House Monthly newsletter, and other small delights.
Note: To enter the United Kingdom, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your planned stay. US citizens will also need to complete a form and pay a £16 fee (approximately $22 USD) for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Solo Ticket
Duo Ticket
Traveling solo? Don’t worry! We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender in advance. During our exclusive online community events and on your own, you can get to know each other before you meet IRL. At the hotel in Manchester you’ll have a solo room, and at Trevor Hall, you’ll be provided with separate beds in a shared room. If you have any questions about this before or after booking, send us an email!
Payment Plan: Payment may be made in full on booking, or you can opt for a payment plan.
Transfers & Refunds: Tickets are non-refundable. But if you can’t use your ticket, and we have a waiting list, we will do our best to find someone to take your place. If we’re successful, we will give you a refund. All tickets are transferable — which means you can give/sell your ticket to another book lover.
You will choose one weekend:
19 per weekend
We expect these weekends to sell out quickly. Our Patrons have priority access to tickets per the schedule below. We will share the ticketing link and access codes via our Substack newsletter prior to the on-sale dates.
Join our Patreon now if you want to guarantee an option for early purchase. Explore the membership options here.
Join our free Substack newsletter to be notified when tickets go on sale. Sign up here.
Dietary concerns: Gluten-free and vegetarian options are built into our menus. After registration, we’ll collect dietary preferences to pass along to the chefs. (For guests with celiac disease and other allergies: The caterer is very experienced in safe food preparation and is able to serve a complete gluten-free menu prepared in a separate kitchen.)
Alcohol: Non-alcoholic beverage options will be provided at all events and meals.
Introverts: We will establish ‘quiet zones’ in the house for guests who need a break from social interaction.
Covid/Flu/Communicable Illness Precautions: We are committed to hosting a safe event that’s accessible to the broadest spectrum of people. This is a close-quarters weekend — shared meals, shared spaces, shared… everything. We need everyone to take care of each other. If you wake up on your departure day with flu, Covid, norovirus, or anything contagious, please stay home. We know that’s a hard ask when you’ve been looking forward to something for months. But it’s necessary. You can always transfer your ticket to someone else, and we’ll do our best to help you find a taker.
We will also share illness-related guidelines closer to departure dates, based on the Covid/flu situation in the US and UK in October/November 2026. Please note this will likely include requesting that you wear a face mask on airplanes and other public transportation and Covid testing on arrival in Manchester. These precautions will help mitigate risk and help create a safe environment for all guests, allowing us to enjoy our weekend at Trevor Hall with peace of mind.
If you have any questions about this before or after booking, send us an email!
We are eager to meet you and share this unique experience together — this may be unlike any other trip you’ve taken in the past. The Readers’ Weekend at Trevor Hall might not be the right experience for you if…
you are unhappy with moody weather. The weather in North Wales in the fall can be sunny and cool — or cold and gloomy. We’ll have sunshine in our hearts, but take note if foul weather puts you in a foul mood.
you are uncomfortable with stairs or have limited mobility. The bedrooms in Trevor Hall are located on the second and third floors, requiring a climb up wooden stairs. We will help carry bags, but there is no elevator nor bellhops.
you are uncomfortable with shared bathrooms. The bathrooms in Trevor Hall are not en suite. There are six well-appointed bathrooms with showers, sinks, and tubs that are shared among the 10 bedrooms.
you prefer daily maid service. The house will be spotless and ready for our arrival on Friday afternoon, but there will not be housekeeping services in your bedroom during your stay. There is a laundry room, stocked with detergent and iron/ironing board, available for your use.
you’re under 13 years old. Teenagers are welcome with adult companions, but this experience was not designed with children in mind.
Note: The information below is for introductory purposes only. After registration, we’re happy to provide more details about getting to Manchester and answer any questions you have about making travel connections.
Arrival in Manchester: You should plan to be well settled in Manchester by 6:00 p.m. on Thursday to check into your room and participate in the Portico Library tour and book exchange.
Departure from Trevor Hall: The private motor coach will depart from Trevor Hall at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. It will arrive at the Manchester Airport at approximately 3:30-3:45 and the Manchester Picadilly train station at 4:15 p.m. Please plan your travel connections accordingly. (If you need special arrangements for other timing, private car services are available in the area.)
You can find information about direct flights from the USA to Manchester here.
You can find information about transport from Manchester Airport to the city center here.
If you prefer to fly to London and then travel to Manchester, you can find information about direct flights from the USA to Heathrow here.
You can find information about taking the train from London’s Euston station to Manchester’s Picadilly station here.
After registration, we are happy to provide more details about how you might extend your trip in Manchester, Llangollen, or London before or after your weekend at Trevor Hall.
We love to hear from you! Consider this your invitation to ask us questions you have about the trip — or to tell us you can’t wait to join us. Send us an email!
If you’d like to hear about our experiences at Trevor Hall last year, we’ve got a podcast episode all about it. Listen and enjoy photos here.
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