Thursday 11th December 2025

Thursday 11th December 2025

Paul Smith and Warrington Guardian editor Gareth Dunning were back on Mix 56 with another lively Warrington & Knutsford Guardian Review – and you can hear the full audio of their chat alongside this write-up.

Daresbury Park Hotel’s big comeback

Gareth started with a story that’s been rumbling on for years: the Daresbury Park Hotel.

Once a go-to venue for weddings, gala balls and conferences, it slipped badly after being taken over by Britannia, even earning a reputation as one of the worst hotels in the region – one guest compared staying there to being at Chernobyl.

More recently it was in the headlines as an asylum seeker hotel, housing people for around five years until the government ended that contract ahead of the Runcorn by-election, when it became a political flashpoint.

Now the site is in the middle of a dramatic, multi-million-pound refurbishment and is due to reopen to the public around March 2026 as a four-star Elite Venue Selection hotel, complete with revamped rooms, conference suites, health club and coffee lounge.

With its location close to Daresbury Science Park and Sci-Tech Daresbury, Gareth said it will be fascinating to see whether it can reclaim its status over the next five to ten years, especially given Warrington’s long-standing shortage of good-quality hotel space for business visitors.

Clare Roberts’ epic charity trek

Paul then picked up on a feelgood story about someone he described as “always doing something big for charity” – Clare Roberts, CEO of Kids Planet.

This time Clare has taken on a 100km trek through Jordan to Petra, one of the wonders of the world, raising nearly £60,000 for UK charity Girls Out Loud, which supports and mentors teenage girls.

Gareth noted this isn’t her first extreme challenge either – she’s also previously climbed Kilimanjaro – and praised her ongoing efforts to use these adventures to bring in serious money for good causes.

RSPCA appeals for adopters, not impulse pets

With Christmas approaching, Gareth’s news feature this week focused on pets – and a reminder that animals aren’t just for the festive season.

The RSPCA branch covering Warrington, Halton and St Helens is dealing with a surge in animals needing care and is encouraging anyone seriously considering a new pet to think about adopting a rescue cat or dog rather than buying on impulse.

Nationally, the charity has reported sharp rises in neglect and abandonment over recent years, with cost-of-living pressures a major factor, so local centres are under real strain.

In the paper and online, readers can see some of the success stories, including Persian cat Harvey and Springer spaniel Tilly, both now happily rehomed – plus more heartwarming pictures on the Guardian’s website.

Nativity pull-out and festive what’s on

Gareth also flagged one of the paper’s most popular seasonal traditions: the big school nativity photo pull-out.

The team has been out across dozens of schools, capturing everything from classic Mary and Joseph scenes to more modern takes on the Christmas story, making this week’s edition a real keepsake for families with children taking part.

And if you’re looking for things to do before Christmas, there’s no shortage. Gareth name-checked the Dickensian festival in Lymm this Saturday, ongoing light trails, and Tatton Park’s Christmas mansion experience, alongside big nights out at Chester Zoo’s lanterns and the RHS Garden Bridgewater lights in Salford. With just two shopping weekends left, he said listeners are “spoilt for choice” if they want something festive, from cosy local events to major attractions.

Sporting spotlight on Luke’s title defence

On the back page, the focus is on Luke as he defends his world title, with Gareth promising plenty of coverage across this week and next as the action unfolds.

Paul signed off by reminding listeners that next week’s slot will be the final Guardian Review before a well-earned Christmas break – and you can catch this week’s conversation in full in the audio version linked with this piece.