Category: Reviews

1. Splosh & Nosh : Village Hotel Coventry : Review

   Posted on 9:47am Friday 14th Dec 2012

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   Regular blog readers may remember we were treated to a "Pamper Package" at the Village Hotel, Coventry quite recently and whilst we had a fabulous time, I had a niggling guilt that we hadn't shared this with the children, so were delighted when we were asked back to try out their "Splosh & Nosh" package.

   The main premise of the package is a family day pass to the leisure club and a meal for 4 - all for £39.99* (Saving at least 40% on the usual prices). The Splosh ‘n’ Nosh deal is only available up until Christmas and is a great family day out.

   Both of my girls go to swimming lessons, one at a local shool and the baby with Water Babies but I rarely get the chance to get in the water with them. I loved that my eldest was excited to show us how well she can swim and it was lovely that the little one was happy bobbing around in the water. This is a far cry from them both clinging onto my neck when they were tiny.

   The pool was lovely and warm and not too deep, so I wasn't concerned about them getting cold or where in the pool we were and it was only when I looked up at the clock, I realised we had been in the pool for nearly an hour. We had been having too much fun! So I went back to the family changing rooms (which were great) and eventually we managed to get the big one out of the water and all went to the Victory Pub for something to eat.

   We had definately worked up an appetite and were genuinely surprised that we weren't given a specific menu, we were able to choose a meal from the main menu and the food, as we found last time, was delicious. My eldest daughter said before we even got there that she wanted prawns for lunch, so she was thrilled to get the biggest prawn cocktail she has ever seen!!

   This is the second time we have been to the Village Hotel, Coventry now and I genuinely can't sing their praises highly enough. We were asked to review the Splosh & Nosh package and as a fun and food loving family, it was perfect for us. It is a great way to spend an afternoon all together ..... and much warmer than traipsing round Christmas shops!!

   *T&Cs apply

   Offer is for 2 adults and 2 children up to the age of 14

   Adults have access to all leisure club facilities

   Children have access to the pool only and must be supervised at all times

   Victory Menu is subject to change. Drinks not included

2. We are going on a Bear Hunt ..... to the Build A Bear Workshop!

   Posted on 9:05pm Thursday 13th Dec 2012

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   We all know the story about going on a Bear Hunt but we didnt have to go through any woods, or mud or caves, we were simply invited to the Build-A-Bear Workshop in Solihull to enjoy the whole "Build-A-Bear" experience.

   At Build-A-Bear Workshop^®, their mission is quite literally to bring the Teddy Bear to life and thats what we planned to do. I was originally taking my two daughters but my eldest (in her infinite wisdom) decided that the youngest was too little to enjoy it and could we take her best friend instead? How can you argue with that kind of reasoning from a 7 year old?

   Both girls were beyond excited at going to the Build-A-Bear Workshop^® and even more so when they realised that we were going to have someone "helping" them to make the very best bears. We were introducted to Olga, who told us that Evie was going to be looking after us during our visit. Evie was just brilliant with the girls and they were totally captivated by her enthusiasm as she filled the bears with their stuffings ..... and with a specially selected heart too!

   

   Once the bears were suitably cuddly enough, they had a wash in the bear wash ..... where else??

   

   Now it appears that my daughter has inherited my desire for shopping, either that or the bear really is part of our family as it "needed" a dress, a cardigan, shoes and a bag. I actually saw that you can buy a bear wardrobe to keep all of those clothes in and I suspect that Father Christmas may need to be considering one of those!!

   

    So eventually the bears needed to be "officially" brought to life by creating their very own birth certificates and I therefore proudly introduce you to ......... Super Star and Twinkle Star!

   

   The team at Build-A-Bear Workshop^® in Solihull were supportive and encouraging without being intrusive and the girls had a totally un"bear"liveable time! Its a great experience for any child and with some fantastic festive friends to be made, it would make a perfect Christmas treat for any little girl or boy!

    

   Disclaimer: We were asked to attend the Build-A-Bear Workshop^® to carry out the review. All opinions and views are both honest and true and even if we hadn't been given the bears to take home, we would still have had a fabulous time!

3. Should parents be pampered too?

   Posted on 8:38pm Monday 19th Nov 2012

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   I have a confession to make. Last weekend, we had a completely relaxing evening and a morning lie in, at a lovely hotel ..... just the two of us.

   This never happens.

   When presented with the opportunity to take advantage of a pamper package at the Village Hotel, Coventry, with an overnight stay and a 3 course evening meal (*whispers*) with wine, my initial thought was guilt. I know this sounds ridiculous but I genuinely felt guilty that we would be leaving the girls to go and indulge in some totally selfish "us" time. Obviously once I had sorted babysitters, the guilt subsided somewhat and a few butterflies of excitment fluttered in my stomach. 

   The pamper package we were offered included a 3 course dinner, accommodation for the evening in one of their 3 star rooms and full access to the Healthworks Spa and Leisure Club with a treatment included. I was delighted when I realised my gorgeous other half decided he would prefer to use the Leisure Club, so I got to have his treatment too. I will openly admit to being a bit of a spa addict and over the years have had some great spa experiences and some not so great but this weekend was perfect. I had a great therapist and we were chatting along (as much to do with me being nosey and a chatterbox) but as she worked on the knots in my shoulders, I was less chatty and more sleepy!

   

    

   David from www.future-focus.eu said: ‘A massage can be the perfect solution to stress and fatigue Whether it’s an overworked parent looking to relax, or someone simply looking to have some downtime, a massage could be the perfect solution.’

   My gorgeous man is a connoiseur of all things food related so he was really looking forward to the meal, he had already chosen his meal before we had sat down. Me, however, I was looking forward to sitting down, with someone else preparing the food, cooking it, serving it and most definately the clearing up. Add into the equation that it was delicious and you have two very contented parents.

   We enjoyed drinks in the bar, we laughed, we kissed and cuddled (sorry kids, I know you dont like it when we do that without you) and just enjoyed being us. 

   Did we have a great time? Definately.

   And should parents be pampered? Absolutely.

    

   Disclaimer: We were given the opportunity to review the pamper package by the Village Hotel but the views in this blog post are honest and our own!

4. Frankie & Benny's : The New Cocktail Menu : Warning - its delicious!

   Posted on 7:39pm Saturday 10th Nov 2012

   Everyone loves Frankie and Bennys dont they? Its a fabulous old fashioned family diner style experience so when they told us that they were launching a new cocktail menu, we were delighted at the chance to try it. Let be honest, being a mum can be a juggling act between cooking family meals, getting kids ready for school and running the house, plus often working a full time job, it’s easy to see how many mums never get any "me" time. So we were told that Frankie & Benny’s has launched its new cocktail menu to encourage mums to take time out and sip on a delicious cocktail.  Sounded almost like a challenge to me!

   The new cocktail menu has something for everyone, including non alcoholic cocktails ( which I hasten to add we didn't try as felt it would be a little insulting .... that's my excuse anyway!)

   Anyone that knows me, laughs that I love a cheeky martini, so it was almost predicatable that I would go for the French Martini. The menu tells me that it is the ultimate in chic (a little like me then - ahem), a pink and frothy concoction comprising of Eristoff vodka, Chambord black-raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice. It wasnt a strong drink, it was refreshing and VERY moreish, which wasnt ideal at lunchtime!!

   

   My gorgeous other half indulged with a Long Island Iced Tea, which was a combination of Eristoff vodka, Bacardi, Bombay Sapphire, Jose Cuervo tequila and triple sec shaken with fresh lemon juice and sugar, lengthened with Coca Cola. As a result of a bad experience with tequila during my mis-spent youth, I couldnt think of anything worse than a drink with tequila in it but he said it was delicious.

   The majority of the cocktails are reasonably priced around £4.95 and my only complaint about the whole experience? That I had no one to look after the children so we could spent the rest of the afternoon and evening tasting the whole cocktail menu!

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