Pauline & Jim Gibbons

Tour Manager

Pauline, accompanied by her husband Jim, enjoy being part of the Cultural Breaks team, always looking forward to leading our many interesting and varied trips. They have a passion for seeing new places, as well as old favourites, visiting concerts, theatres and museums alongside our members, with whom they are very popular. Nothing is too much trouble for this couple, who take great pleasure in helping everyone make the most out of their holidays.

Nick Thorogood

Tour Manager

Nick worked for 30 years in the television industry making well known programmes and running much loved channels. Outside of tour managing he is involved in the charity sector and works creating events in his local community. Alongside a passion for culture, theatre and exploring the UK, Nick gets great pleasure from meeting Cultural Breaks members and helping them to enjoy their holidays. 

Sue Leader

Tour Manager

I have worked for the last 15 years in Primary Healthcare for the NHS. Having decided to take early retirement in April 2025, I have been filling my time with gardening and dog walking/dog sitting for family and friends when needed. I have also become a Chaperone for my niece's dance school. Travel is at the top of my list, visiting various places around the UK and much further afield when I can. My last big trip was Australia & New Zealand which was top of my list as I have family there. Cultural breaks gives me the opportunity to meet members from all walks of life and to ensure that they enjoy their holiday with us.

Sallyann Harrison

Tour Manager

My work-based path has led me to some of the world’s most magical experiences. I've enjoyed SCUBA diving among vibrant marine life, ziplining high above forest floors, and trekking mountainous glaciers and volcanoes. But it's not just about exploration and adventure - it’s about the people I meet and the cultures I encounter. I believe life is for living, and I look forward to sharing great memories with you on our next holiday together.

Christopher Coleman

Tour Manager

My name is Christopher Coleman, I like to be known as Chris and it is my pleasure to be joining Cultural Breaks as a Tour Manager. When I am not flying with British Airways as an Inflight Manager, I enjoy travelling, going to the opera, the arts and attending the ballet. It will be my pleasure meeting the members of Cultural Breaks and hope that they will leave their holiday with lasting memories.

Sarah Halstead

Tour Manager

I have been a Tour Manager for most of my working life. I lived and worked in Greece for 20 years, before returning to live and continue Tour Managing in the UK. In my free time I enjoy returning to Greece to visit family and friends. I love travel and enjoying different cultures, along with enjoying film, theatre, swimming and tennis. I love being a member of the Cultural Breaks Team, sharing my love of the UK and other destinations with Cultural Breaks members.

Batilda Moutou

Tour Manager

My name is Batilde. I have been a Tour Leader for over four years and my passion for history got me to become a London Westminster Tour Guide. I am a strong believer that travel, history and food bring people together for the best. I grew up in a very multi-cultural district of Paris and have lived in London for a decade now. I have been touring with diverse age group in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and Scotland. I really look forward to being on tour with you and help make your trip an unforgettable experience. 

Morgan Pagano

Tour Manager

Originally from France, I have been living in the UK since 2019 and working in tourism since 2018. Passionate about history, culture and languages, I love creating memorable experiences and connecting with people from all backgrounds.

Alongside my work as a Tour Manager, I am also involved in tourism projects for the Francophone market and am a member of the Clerkenwell & Islington Guiding Association in London.

Known for my bubbly personality, warmth and positive energy, I enjoy making guests feel welcome, comfortable and genuinely looked after throughout their journey.

Olivia Gonzales

Tour Manager

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Jackie Harrison

Office Manager & Tour Manager

I have worked with Cultural Breaks for 13 years and have been fortunate to enjoy some fantastic breaks and experiences along the way. My role as Office Manager and Tour Manager has given me the opportunity to travel to many wonderful places across the UK and abroad, creating lots of happy memories along the way.

One of my highlights has been discovering my love of opera. I attended my first opera at the Royal Opera House in London, and since then I have enjoyed performances at Glyndebourne, Garsington, Aldeburgh and Gilbert & Sullivan productions.

I have also had the pleasure of escorting holidays to Jersey and Madeira, as well as river cruises in Portugal and Venice. Every trip brings something different, and I really enjoy helping our members make the most of their time away.

Perhaps one of the best parts of my job is meeting so many different members over the years. Many have become familiar faces and friends, and some now feel more like family. It is this personal connection, along with the wonderful places and experiences, that makes working with Cultural Breaks so special to me.

Tracey Brennan

Holiday Planner

With a strong background in foreign government working within a contract and admin role, I have developed a wealth of experience in organisation, communication, coordination and managing detailed administrative processes. My career in government provided me with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities efficiently and professionally.

I later brought these skills into the travel industry, where I have become a Holiday Planner with a particular focus on the administrative and contractual side of the business. A key part of my role is managing hotel contracts, ensuring that agreements, rates, terms and conditions are accurately maintained and that strong working relationships are established with our hotel partners.

I take pride in being organised, thorough and dependable, ensuring that the important details behind the scenes are handled efficiently, ensuring everything runs smoothly for both our business and our customers.

Clare Steel

Holiday Planner

After 9 years in education, I decided to take my career in a new direction within travel. I am now working as a Holiday Planner within Cultural Breaks, in my role I enjoy helping clients with their bookings and assisting with their individual requests to ensure their travel plans are as smooth and as enjoyable as possible. Outside of work, I have a passion for travel and enjoying new destinations and experiences with friends and family. I also love attending concerts and going to the theatre, which reflects my wider interest in entertainment, events and creating memorable experiences.

Lexie Roberts

Holiday Planner

As an Assistant Administrator, Lexie is responsible within the team for helping customers with holiday enquiries, assisting with bookings and ensuring our guests have a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish. Friendly and approachable, she enjoys speaking with customers and helping them find the perfect trip.

Outside of work, Lexie is also an Aesthetics Practitioner with a passion for beauty and helping clients feel confident. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, spending time with family and friends, and discovering new places and experiences.

Hannah Roberts

Holiday Planner / Brochure Writer

With 25 years of experience across the travel and education sectors, I have had the privilege of helping people discover new places, create lasting memories and experience the very best that travel has to offer.

Travel has always been a passion of mine, and of all the wonderful destinations I’ve visited, Turks & Caicos holds a special place in my heart. I love discovering the character, history and culture of each destination, and I bring that enthusiasm and experience to every holiday I help create.

When I’m not travelling, you’ll usually find me indulging my love of history, Thai food and Motown music — three passions that perhaps say a lot about my curiosity, love of great experiences and appreciation of a good tune!

After 25 years in the industry, I still believe that the best holidays are the ones that become your favourite memories. I’d love to help you create yours.

Nicola Long

Holiday Planner / Brochure Writer

As a Holiday Planner my role is to research an area and locate places of interest for our members to explore and enjoy. I plan and prepare brochures for a third of the holidays, the other two thirds are prepared by my colleagues. During the planning stage we all strive to find the most suitable venues for our members to allow us to produce an interesting break away for groups of like-minded people.

Ellie Redshaw

Holiday Planner / Brochure Writer

Ellie is a travel writer, content specialist and broadcaster with nearly two decades of experience bringing destinations to life across print, digital and radio. Having visited (almost!) 30 countries, from Nicaragua to New Zealand, she also loves a great UK staycation, having lived by the sea in Cornwall and studied in London. At Cultural Breaks, she channels that passion into crafting accessible experiences that inspire curious travellers to explore closer to home.

Dave Roberts

Web & Brochure Designer

Dave is responsible for the design and management of the Cultural Breaks website, as well as the creation of marketing materials including brochures, advertisements and other promotional content. With over 15 years of experience working with Cultural Breaks, Dave has developed a strong understanding of the brand and its audience, helping to ensure that the company’s digital and printed communications are both engaging and professional. Away from work, Dave enjoys days out at football and playing golf.

Mike Roberts

Director

For more than 27 years, I’ve worked in the travel industry helping people experience destinations in a more meaningful way. For the past 23 years, I’ve been proud to build and lead the great team at Cultural Breaks, creating carefully planned tours and memorable travel experiences for our members who want more than just a holiday. My passion has always been combining excellent service, personal attention, and a genuine love of travel to help people discover the world and its cultures.