Important announcement ● 2026 season
Norbreck arena costs & new accommodation system
Two changes affect every team entering in 2026: the room hire the hotel now charges for the arena, and the way hotel bookings are handled. Both are explained in full below.
As announced last year, the cost of hosting our event at the Norbreck has risen sharply, mainly due to the Britannia Group’s new policy of charging room hire fees for the Norcalympia Arena. This is a head office decision from the hotel and applies to all events using the Norcalympia, regardless of the amount of event guests staying at the hotel. The current going rate for the room hire is £5,000 per day.
Why we’re staying at the Norbreck
We have explored alternative venues, but:
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Most suitable options also have high room hire charges.
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The Norbreck setup works perfectly. The arena is ideal and has hosted many of our most memorable tournaments.
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Sound, lighting, and arena facilities are top quality.
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Hotel staff know our event well, making setup and coordination smoother.
Rather than move or cancel, we believe the best option is to stay at the Norbreck and share the extra cost fairly across all teams.
Pro-Am price changes
To soften the impact, we spread this increase over two years and increased the prize fund:
2025
£225 per team
already announced
2026
£285 per team
final increase, extra £15 per player cost for 4 person team
We do not expect further rises after 2026. Prices should remain stable for the next few years.
Changed for 2026
New accommodation booking system
From now on, we will manage all Norbreck hotel bookings directly. This is how the hotel works with other large events, and they have asked us to follow the same system.
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We are effectively hiring the whole hotel for the event.
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Sharon will be handling all bookings, payments, and room allocations.
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All players will book accommodation through us, not directly with the hotel.
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Standard room cancellation policy remains, if cancelled 8 weeks or more prior to the event.
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Payment will be taken in full at the time of booking (no deposits or chasing balances).
While this increases our workload, it gives us full control over allocations and ensures everyone gets the best possible service. Our aim is to make this process smooth, efficient, and as stress-free as possible.