Join our beginner bridge holidays and discover how to play duplicate bridge in a relaxed, friendly setting while enjoying a great hosted holiday.

Our expert tutors run seminars and assisted play sessions each morning and evening, guiding you step by step from complete beginner to bridge player. Across three weekend breaks, you’ll move from guided sessions to playing independently.

The programme is divided into three UK-based weekends — Parts 1, 2 and 3 — giving you the flexibility to learn at your own pace, or move ahead more quickly if you already have some experience. Alongside the beginner programme, our standard bridge holiday runs in a separate room, so you’ll always have the opportunity to dip your toe into the regular sessions whenever you feel ready.

We know everyone is eager to get the cards in hand as soon as possible, and you’ll be encouraged to do just that — playing alongside others with a similar level of experience.

Your learning will be supported through assisted play, clear seminars, and comprehensive English Bridge Union course materials, all delivered in a relaxed and friendly holiday atmosphere. You’ll be learning with like-minded people at the same stage of their bridge journey — and bridge is indeed a wonderful way to make lasting friendships.

There’s no need to rush. We believe bridge should be learned at your own pace and in an enjoyable, unpressured way. That’s why we offer a three-step programme, with the option to repeat a weekend to consolidate your learning before moving on.

What’s covered on each holiday:

Beginner Bridge Holiday

• Part 1 An introduction to bridge through MiniBridge (No Trumps and Trumps), scoring, declarer play, basic defence, a MiniBridge duplicate session, and an introduction to bidding.

• Part 2 Continuing bidding (strong and weak hands), the competitive auction including overcalls and doubles, declarer play techniques, defence (including opening leads and defenders’ play), plus a duplicate session.

• Part 3 Higher-level opening bids, slam bidding, key conventions such as Stayman, Transfers and Blackwood, handling awkward hands, as well as bridge etiquette and the Laws of Bridge.
  

Bridge is a game you never truly master — and that’s one of its greatest attractions. The learning never ends, so let’s begin in the very best way.

We’ve been running fun and friendly bridge holidays for over 33 years, supported by some of the very best EBU-trained teachers, directors, and holiday hosts. They are dedicated to helping you discover and enjoy the world’s most challenging and rewarding card game.

If you would like to know any more please just call us on 01656 747 700 and ask to speak to Simon.

Improver holidays are focused on both learning and play, in a friendly and social atmosphere and at a relaxed pace. They are run by experienced and friendly teachers. They are not designed for complete beginners or experienced duplicate players. Rather, they are aimed at players who have been learning and playing fairly regularly for at least a year (preferably with some experience of playing in a competitive setting) and for players seeking to develop their skills and to gain confidence to play in competitive club duplicate sessions.

Morning sessions begin with a seminar, introducing bidding and play techniques to improve your game. The seminars are followed with prepared hands to illustrate the seminar topic. Sometimes we discuss the hands as a group and other times we play the hands in an assisted session where you are able to ask for help and guidance with both bidding and play.

Examples of Morning seminar topics and prepared hands:

Opening Leads

The Losing Trick Count

Negative Doubles

One evening is a competition night run as a standard duplicate session, where prizes and EBU master points will be awarded. Other evenings are either assisted or unassisted bridge, depending on players' confidence levels. We tailor these holidays to suit the players' abilities.

Afternoons are free for you to relax or explore the area.

Above all, this will be a friendly holiday and everyone will be found a suitable partner.

Come along and give it a go! If you are at all unsure whether this holiday is suitable for you, please call us on 01656 747-700 and ask to speak with Simon.