There may be a guy working down the chip shop who swears he’s Elvis or, so said English songwriter, Kirsty MacColl. However, I am delighted to report that he’s been promoted and is currently working at two hotels on the Esplanade at Weymouth!

Or, to be more precise, Wednesdays in the Russell Hotel and Tuesdays in the neighbouring Prince Regent and, such is his popularity, some guests have been known to sneak into both performances courtesy of the communal corridor that links both hotels!

Welcome to Daish’s Holidays where coaches, sustainable travel, Las Vegas’ biggest export and meat and two veg have a curious way of co-existing!

The company, which was the original brainchild of late founder Jeanne Wilson, whose photo can still be spied in each of the company’s 12 hotel receptions, was established more than 40 years ago and, as a continuing family business, has firmly secured its position in the UK holiday sector with a very straightforward offer: superb value-for-money coach holidays with simple, quality food, and bingo and entertainment at some of Britain’s premier seaside destinations.

And, by owning its own chain of hotels that span from Blackpool to Weymouth, Llandudno to Scarborough, Daish’s Holidays, have followed a seamless ‘vertical’ marketing strategy: buy the coaches, buy the hotels, run them well, control the quality and they will come!

And they do: in their droves.

“A chap I was talking to the other day has been on 60 Daish tours,” said Mary during our 8-hour journey to Weymouth, including two hours of service station stops, with pick-ups in Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield.

“They are stunning value,” she added. My 91-year-old Auntie Pat, was quick to chip in. “Absolutely. Super!”

Needless to say, there were three of us bound for Dorset including me, Mrs Hopkins and mother’s sister, the indomitable ‘Auntie Pat’: philosopher, Daish advocate and determined owner of two walking sticks, with no desire to take advantage of the motorised scooters, invariably on hire at the group’s hotels!

“Ooh it’s lovely,” she cooed, “and it’s brand new.”

The Russell Hotel, with its coffee shop and large sea-front lounge, has 87 rooms and 28 in the ‘annex’ have just been refurbished including 3 twins, 2 single rooms, 4 trebles and 19 doubles.

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• One of the older seafront view room.
• Daish's Russell Hotel on the Esplanade

Much to her delight, Auntie Pat had secured one on the ground floor. We had a sea view in an older second floor room: a little more tired perhaps but, nevertheless, clean and tidy with crisp laundry and soft towels!

Weymouth was one of the country’s early holiday resorts, thanks largely to Ralph Allen, one of the founders of 18th century Bath, who decided to make the town his summer residence from 1750-1763.


Rising from humble beginnings, he would go on to become one of the richest men in the country and, by entertaining some of the most influential people of his time at his harbour side home, including Royalty, he helped establish Weymouth’s reputation as a healthy seaside resort for the well-heeled.

You can follow the town’s ‘story’ courtesy of the Beach and Harbour History Trail floor ‘plaques’, learning about an array of interesting tales and artefacts.

There’s Weymouth’s Victorian Nothe Sea Fort, originally built to protect Portland Naval Harbour.

If your legs are weary, then for a couple of quid, you can take advantage of the rowing ferry across the river Wey if you don’t want to walk back to the bridge.

Before the town’s first opening bridge was built between 1590- 1597, crossing the river was by a rowing ferry boat, usually reserved for retired fishermen, seafarers and ex-lifeboat men as a way of earning themselves a 'pension'.

It has been known to be referred to as the 'Penny Ferry' and is one of the oldest of its type in the UK, though costs slightly more than a penny per crossing nowadays!

Then there’s the Weymouth Clock on the seafront. It was erected to commemorate the Jubilee of the reign of HM Queen Victoria.

And, further along the coast, are the award-winning Greenhill Gardens with their brightly coloured borders, winding paths and floral clock.

A true delight. Look out of the programme of free events that take place throughout the summer.

“Hello darlin. How old are you then?” asked our wonderfully chirpy breakfast waiter in the refurbished Wessex Restaurant.

“I might be nearly 92,” teased Auntie Pat.

“Ello, ello. I fink I pulled!” came the reply!

Breakfast is a communal affair with all guests required to eat at 8.30am (dinner’s at 6.30pm on the dot).

You chose the following day’s breakfast whilst eating your evening meal, courtesy of a simple pen and paper ticking system, and dinner is chosen at breakfast, again via a paper-based system.

Choices aren’t endless but are perfectly adequate for a four-night, five days stay and the food is simple, very ‘English’ and tasty!

It is a seamless affair, honed over years, and piping hot food arrives on the nose with any problems resolved instantly by an incredibly helpful serving team.

And there lies one of Daish’s Holidays secret weapons: don’t get your primary market – the 65+ - bogged down in technology. Even the customer feedback card in the bedroom – momentarily threatening a QR code – suggests that anyone feeling a little perplexed should simply give their feedback at reception!

And it works, which is why people go back time and again.

“We’re going to Poole & Swanage,” said our driver Sid in his droll Burnley accent. “It may be cloudy,” he added before a momentary pause, like a comedian waiting to deliver his punchline, “but we’re still going to Poole and Swanage!” The entire bus roared.

For £12 you can book a place on one of Daish’s fleet of coaches for a day trip.

Sustainable Travel

The company operates a fleet of Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coaches, designed for sustainability with features that reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Coaches, says the company, emit far less carbon dioxide per passenger when compared to cars, making them a more environmentally friendly option.

Relaxing on the journey to Poole it also became apparent that there is another hidden benefit: let someone else take the strain of driving!

Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, attracting visitors with its large natural harbour, history, the Lighthouse arts Centre and a Blue Flag beach.

You will find the headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution there along with a statue to Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement. He held his first experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Poole in 1907, widely considered to be the start of the Scout and Guide movement.

Next stop Swanage, the traditional Victorian seaside town set at the heart of Purbeck and built around a beautiful bay, sheltered from the north by Ballard Down and at the south, Peveril Point.

Swanage Pier, with its ‘What the Butler saw’ machines, offers some of the finest views of the town, whilst its famous Swanage historical railway affords an opportunity to see old-fashioned steam engines still plying their trade.

So, whether it’s a cruise along the beautiful Jurassic Coast - a World Heritage Site – a day out on First’s Jurassic Coaster buses to the likes of Abbotsbury, Bridport and Lyme Regis, or a quick visit to Portland Bill lighthouse at the southern tip of the Isle of Portland, then Dorset, via Weymouth, has much to offer.

And, you can access a large part of it with the assistance of Daish’s Holidays and its easy access vacations to numerous destinations across the coast of southern England.

English cricket may well have its own ‘Barmy Army’, supporting the country in its matches across the world, however, there is a veritable opponent on the horizon: Daish’s Holidays equally powerful Army of satisfied customers, all standing shoulder to shoulder in support of a brand that’s been around for more than 40 years, and which hundreds of them truly love.

Thanks to a simple marketing strategy and an equally ‘no hidden tricks’ holiday offer, something tells me that Daish’s will be around for a long time to come! Jeanne Wilson will be proud in her Heavenly resting place!

FACT BOX: The Russell Hotel

135-138 Esplanade, Weymouth, DT4 7NG Telephone: 01305 789348. Customer Reservations Team: Tel: 01202 638840.

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