Hanbury Manor, Ware, Hertfordshire

Friday 7 November - Sunday 9 November 2025

Following last year’s highly successful first Strong Notrump and Five-card Major weekend at Hanbury Manor, we are returning for more of the same in 2025. Actually, Andrew is adding a seventh lesson, and for the after-dinner supervised play on Saturday night, he has also devised eight extra boards for you to practice the themes you've been learning. While this is not a follow-on from last year (most of the lessons are the same), Andrew has changed some of the deals and introduced the supervised hands for extra value.

So this weekend is highly recommended for both new attendees and those who came last year. Andrew’s 1hr 20-minute lessons include Opening One Club/One Diamond, Responding to One Club/Diamond, the Wide-ranging 1NT Response, Artificial Major Raises (new), Two-over-One,  Strong Notrump and Responding, and Defending against Strong & Fives. Our maximum group size is 100 people, ie 25 bridge tables, so we recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment. 

Note, Andrew’s main teaching method remains Weak Notrump Acol and he has no plans to teach Strong and Fives at his Parsons Green Club (too confusing). However, more and more people are playing Strong and Fives, as indeed Andrew does in tournaments, and he would like you to learn it the best way. The weekend is aimed both at those familiar with and new to Strong and Fives – whether you attended last year’s weekend and are looking to build on your understanding, or you have never played Strong and Fives before, there will be plenty that’s new here for you. (But the weekend is not for those who are beginning to learn how to play bridge.) You can purchase Andrew’s book on Strong Notrumps & Five-Card Majors here – and his Strong & Fives Flipper here but it is not necessary to have read the book or looked at the flipper before you attend the sessions

 
 
 




Cost per person

Based on double occupancy £685pp

Based on single occupancy £785pp

Based on non-residency £385pp

Booking:

Pay a £135 deposit per person and fill out the booking form to secure your place: 

Reservations are made on a first-come-first-served basis. Please note that we will refund deposits wherever we are able to find a replacement for you.

For any queries, call 07787 505072. 

Cost includes

  • Two nights’ accommodation at the four-star Hanbury Manor Hotel, inc breakfast*

  • Seven bridge sessions with Andrew

  • Two optional supervised play session

  • Three-course sit-down dinner on Friday** 

  • Three-course sit-down dinner on Saturday**

  • Full use of Hanbury Manor’s leisure facilities, including swimming pool, gym and access to the golf course (green fee payable)

* Breakfast included for residents only

** Drinks are not included

Weekend itinerary

Friday 7 November

·   4.10pm Tea and coffee on arrival. Optional teas and coffees in the Assembly Hall, a chance to mingle before the first of your learning sessions begins.

·   4.40pm-6pm Opening One Club/One Diamond

Andrew favours the modern approach whereby a One Diamond opener guarantees at least four cards, so the One Club opener may have only two. We’ll talk about 4441s too.

·   6.30pm Three-course set-menu dinner.

·   8.15pm-9.45pm Bridge with Supervision (optional): Andrew and his team supervise play in the Thundridge Room. (Random deals, shuffled and dealt at the table.)

Saturday 8 November

·   7am-9.30am Breakfast (for residents)

·   09.40am-11.00am Session Two – Responding to One Club/Diamond

In this action-packed session, Andrew will guide you through four important treatments/conventions, key to good Strong and Fives bidding: Walsh, Checkback Stayman, Support Doubles and Inverted Minor-suit raises.

·    11.20am-12.40pm Session Three – The Wide-ranging 1NT response

This is best played as non-forcing, even though it can be up to 12 points – a corollary of playing Two-over-One (ie that a Two-level response is forcing to game). We explore the method and realise it’s very playable!

·    3.20pm-4.40pm Session Four

Artificial Major Raises. It is best (on frequency grounds) to play Three-level jumps to response to a 1H/S opener as showing different kinds of supporting hands. In this new session, Andrew shows you his preferred method.

·    5pm-6.20pm Session Four – Two-over-One

This is the best part of the whole system. Playing a Two-level response in a new suit as game-forcing is a great arrangement, eliminating such perennial issues as reversing and how far bids are forcing. It certainly facilitates slam bidding …

·    6.30pm Three-course sit-down dinner.

·    8.15pm-9.45pm Bridge with Supervision (optional): Andrew and his team supervise play in the Thundridge Room, featuring eight set deals for those who wish to play them to give you an opportunity to practice the themes you've been learning.


Sunday 9 November

·   7am-9.30am Breakfast (for residents)

·   09.40am-11.00am Session Six – Strong Notrump and Responding

In this penultimate session, we explore the 15-17 Notrump range – the same basic structure as over a weak Notrump but partner needs less for game and slam (spoiler alert, there will be at least one of those!)

·   11.20am-12.40pm Session Seven – Defending against Strong & Fives

Whether you decide to play the system, you definitely want to learn how best to play against it. In this last session we do precisely that.

·   Depart at your leisure

 

HANBURY MANOR:

Set in 200 acres of Hertfordshire parkland, the historic Hanbury Manor, Marriott Hotel & Country Club is a four-star hotel within an hour’s drive from London. Dating from the 16th century, this English country estate is the perfect place to relax.

DELUXE HOTEL:

Stay at the four-star Hanbury Manor Hotel, with breakfast and dinner included in your stay. The hotel is furnished to a high standard: all rooms are en suite, with television, mini-bar, tea and coffee-making facilities. You'll have complimentary use of Hanbury Manor’s leisure facilities, including its gym, swimming pool, steam room and sauna. The hotel also has an 18-hole championship golf course.