In all honesty I haven’t been to a Beefeater in a few years, therefore when I was invited to go along and review the newly refurbished The Long Reach Beefeater in Whitstable I jumped at the chance to see what they were like these days, I have seen lots of Beefeater restaurants pop up alongside Premier Inn’s as their resident eatery so unless I went in stayed there I probably wouldn’t think of going in to try it. Also Whitstable is one of my all time favourite places to have a day out so it was a good excuse for a little afternoon at the coast.
This particular Beefeater is attached to Premier Inn just outside the main town, but had undergone a huge refurbishment at the the end of Oct 2015 when it closed for just a week for the work to be done.
I was recently invited to have lunch at my local Marriott Hotel in Bexleyheath and having only been in there once before many years ago for an afternoon tea with friends I took the opportunity to go and have a look at what was there. It has always ‘appeared’ quite business like to me as an outsider however, once you are inside the spacious and open reception area automatically that view is changed.
Love these light trees dotted about the hotel areas
We were directed to the bar area which is much more informal than the restaurant looked and also had a different menu on offer. The bar had a welcoming feel with a mix of table styles, smaller ones with straight backed chairs as you would expect but also lower style tables surrounded by lovely comfy sofas for those who were just having a drink rather than eating.
While my friend and I was there we saw two other groups having an afternoon tea, as well as two ladies in their spa robes ( yes they have a spa here too) who wandered casually in for a drink and snacks in between their treatments which in fact we thought they were very brave to do so!
I will admit the only time I have used a Brewers Fayre is when I have stayed in a Premier Inn. It was a branch of the restaurant attached and each time we have been happy enough with the style of food and the choice offered.
Recently, in my local area a new Brewers Fayre has popped up next to a new hotel branch in Bexleyheath and I was lucky enough to get the chance to try out their menu.
In general there is a good varied choice of dishes available. But along side that there is a ‘midweek value’ style offer which allows you to get 2 mains off the list for £10.99, with the bonus of 2 starters for £2.50, and 2 desserts for £2.50. Their fizzy soft drinks are also sold as a refillable option which offers amazing value when you have teenagers that eat and drink like adults. They also have added some new menu choices under an ‘Autumn range‘ throughout the main menu such as Cock- a – Leekie soup, Chicken and ham pie or even Smoked Haddock Florentine to name a couple.
I recently had the pleasure of reviewing the afternoon tea that is available at the Tudor Park Marriott Country Club near Bearsted.
To be perfectly honest I did have a pre conception of what a Marriott hotel would offer as there is one local to me in Bexleyheath, which seems business orientated and built for that purpose in that particular are. However, at the Tudor Park I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised. The entrance alone did not look like a standard hotel front and was very welcoming.
This particular hotel and country club has a comforting feel to it even though the reception is open, spacious, minimalist and bright. It has several different bar areas, a swimming pool, a spa, a golf shop ( with golf professionals on hand for lessons) and an 18 hole golf course. Amazingly, you do feel like you are deep in the countryside even though in reality you are literally just off the M20.
I have definitely been thinking about this for a while now with regards to the blogging world.
It almost seems like companies and their PR’s are only interested in children under a certain age. Once they hit major the major teenage years it looks as though there are no need for reviews from any sort of company!
Yet I think this is an important part of the market. People are always talking online about their teens, how to engage them in activities with the family, how to occupy them over the school hols etc.
Gone are the days of walks in the woods, trips to the park and indoor craft days! Teenagers like technology, films, music, apps, online games, games for consoles all of which do not stop being interesting at the age of 12. So how do these products get reviewed, say games or films aimed at a 15 and above age group. Also, do companies then think that all teens do not want a day out with their family? Of course they do but they want a day out that is aimed at their age group, Theme parks, theatre shows, beauty and hair products, clothing, books, films , tourist attractions or even restaurants such as TGIF’s etc that are aimed at the teenage and above market.
When you get into your 40’s (refuses to admit it) birthdays and the years actually seem to fly by. That can’t just be me surely?
I have just endured mourned celebrated my 43rd birthday this week ( Jaysus pass me another Gin!).
This isn’t a special birthday of any sort so the kids were at school as normal and the OH worked his normal early shift. I spent the morning in bed ( M.E related and not just spoiling myself LOL) and then got ready for the day. The boys were home early as they had their sports events that day, but being teens they just grunted as usual when they came in, raided the fridge for food and then disappeared into their room without a second’s thought.
So I decided I could either sit in and wallow or take myself out into the sunshine on my own. That’s what I did. I headed out to the local park where they have water activities going on, a lovely cafe and lots of people passing through to watch as I enjoyed a yummy cappuccino. This sounds quite sad but actually it was lovely and relaxing, sitting by the lake and watching the world go by. So after chatting to my mum and thanking her for my fab new Tassimo coffee machine ( love a Costa latte and cappuccino) I sat in the sunshine, switched my phone on silent and just enjoyed the hour or two on my own!
When I did get home, everyone was in so I got to open my pressies. Now I don’t know about you but I’m not really one for big expensive stuff, I don’t really do brand names or designer stuff and generally am happy with little bits as I like the thought that goes with it.
Therefore I was chuffed with my Tassimo machine that my mum and brother got me via my exclusive deal with Costa were it only cost a 1/3 of the normal price!! ( Oh I love a good bargain).
Tassimo in action with a Costa Cappuccino!! ADDICTED
I was chuffed to get a super duper electric toothbrush from my MIL ( something I have always wanted but refused to spend out on). Then came the pressies from my OH and boys:
Les Mis DVD……LOVE IT
New V shaped support pillow…..LOVE IT AND NEED IT
A new Ladyshave………..SO NEEDED IT
**** and a surprise**** an MP3 player……………LOVE IT………I DONT DO IPODS!!!! LOL
Then my friend popped round with a new Cath Kidston purse and sunglasses case……………SO LOVED IT AND HAVE CHANGED MY SMALL PURSE INTO MY NEW BIG ONE!! I will never go back to a small purse ever again.
Thankfully I didn’t have to cook ( seriously that would have just been WRONG) so we popped up to Bluewater and into Wagamamas, one of my favourites.
By the time we got home I was too tired and full to do birthday cake, so in true diva fashion I extended my birthday and we planned a day out to Whitstable the next day (without arguing kids), were we enjoyed a fab plate of fish ‘n’ chips and the required Mr Whippy ice creams!!
Gotta be done at the seaside.
After a cold Kopperburg in the garden I then had room for 2 big slices of b’day cake ( well it was my birthday after all).
Thankfully they didn’t put all 43 candles on it otherwise my face might have melted!!
All in all a good birthday was had and I know that the next one will come round far too quickly!!!
I can see the point behind it, really I can, but to be honest it has become BIG BUSINESS!!
Florists and shops increase the prices of everything, and if you are materialistic then this is a concern as things get more expensive for this one day.
However, I personally think that it’s the little things that make the bigger impression. No this is not an excuse to be a skinflint or unromantic.
We as a couple do not take the day off or head out to dinner on that day. Today for example, my OH is on late shift starting at lunchtime. So there was no option of going out for lunch or dinner, and generally we do Valentines dinner as a family where everyone has a hand in it. My boys are 12 and 14 so it would be nice to show them a simple sense of occasion.
So back to today, what did we do?
We got the kids off to school, went to our local high street Wetherspoon pub and had a breakfast together! Not exciting, obviously not over romantic, but it was time to ourselves and a meal eaten without disruption/ arguing etc. It was washed down with a good ol’ mug of tea and it totally went down a storm.
We did exchange cards in the morning and the boys had a card each. But that’s it, and if I’m very honest it was really nice, chilled out, relaxing and enjoyable.
Now my OH is at work , my dinner is with the boys before taking my eldest to his Explorer’s club tonight!
I don’t feel unloved, under appreciated or anything else because I didn’t get over priced flowers, or chocolates that I’m trying to cut down on or something fancy JUST because it is Valentines day today………………..DO YOU?
So I haven’t posted for a while since my trauma in London a few weeks ago- if you haven’t already then check it out here . It has taken me a while to get over the shock.
But I have also had a lot of mundane normal stuff going on. My youngest is in yr 6 and due to leave so we have been organising the Leavers party
We wont mention the Ralph Lauren Polo top I had to drive to Ashford for on my birthday!!
CD photo books and after school picnic’s and water fights!!
In between that I had my birthday. Yes *groan* another year older and wiser. Although I had to drive to Ashford designer outlet for my son’s Leaver’s party shirt (typical) I had a great day. It was very chilled, me and the OH had a lunch out and did my pressies when the boys came home from school.
A nice roast dinner out with the boys!Complete with dessert
Sorry for the bad pics they were taken on my phone by my youngest in poor light!!
Anyway, moving on I came home to these…………
I also managed to squeeze a relaxing day fishing with the OH ( YES I DID SAY FISHING!) and I caught………………………………….wait for it……………………………….57 fish!!! AMAZING!
Ok I will admit some of them really were tiddlers however I was pleased to be catching some slightly bigger ones too.
Now concentrate on the size of the fish rather than the state of my barnet!! It had been raining people!!!
Sadly, I really have got into this fishing malarkey- even to the point of taking the hooks out after the catch!!! Something I thought I would never do.
Then we had some Groupon vouchers to use up for Namco up in London. I must say the deal was fab as we got over £50 in tokens for only £14!! Now I wasn’t expecting too much of the place, never having been there myself. I thought we would be in and out in an hour. How wrong could I be we spent several hours in there enjoying bowling, bumper cars, and arcade games!!!
The boys racing each other on the bikes!The 3 of them gearing up for the race!
So that’s me caught up I think. I’m now preparing myself for an emotional week as my youngest goes through the traditions of the last week of primary school!
Yesterday was my 18th ( yes you read it right) wedding anniversary. I became Mrs B at the age of 23 after meeting in the Royal Air force. To be honest you don’t think of how long you are going to be together, back then you got married and that was that. It was taken for granted that you would be together forever.
We have had lots of ups and downs just like any couple.In reality being married is never a bed of roses. But whatever we have had to deal with along the way he has always been there, he’s chilled, he goes with the flow, dependable ( meaning not very spontaneous!) and reliable.
Anyway, back to the best anniversary ever. We saw the boys off to school and had decided to take a drive down to Tunbridge Wells for a wander and a nice pub lunch.
So it started with these:
18 red roses for 18 years- gorgeous!
Then when we arrived at Tunbridge it was this:
Vanilla Lattes and Tiffin!
Then after a lovely mooch around the shops and town it was time for:
Of course mines was the G&T as OH was driving! YAY
Early I know but it did accompany a lovely plate of pub grub which I actually forgot to take a picture of.
Up until then I had a really lovely relaxed time but things were about to take a turn in a strange direction.
Earlier during our meander we happened upon a great little pet shop ( can you see where I’m going with this), were we had seen some lovely little KITTENS! As regulars will know I already have one cat who totally rules our house and is treated like a princess even though she is only 2 yrs old. Anyway, there had been an unwanted litter brought into the shop on Friday at exactly 8 weeks old. There were only 3 left, a little black and white one and 2 tabby’s.
So, to cut a long story short- AND TO BE HONEST I STILL DON’T KNOW HOW I GOT Mr B TO AGREE- we ended up bringing this one home!
I DEFY ANY CAT LOVER’S ABILITY TO LEAVE HIM IN THE SHOP!
Anyway, we got him and brought him home ( and who said Mr B wasn’t spontaneous?) and because we were married on St Georges Day we thought that George was a fitting name for him. How can you resist the cuteness.
HOWEVER THE PRINCESS (AKA THE TERRORIST) WAS NOT AMUSED!
Today has been a lot better and they are still checking each other out- but he needs to leave her food alone or she will be having serious words.
But the day hadn’t finished there, oh no. My eldest ( now 14) decided to make us a celebration cake complete with decoration icing and yummy buttercream.
Decorated in the RAF emblem as that is were we met……..aaahhh!TOTALLY DELICIOUS!
That brings me back to my original statement……….BEST ANNIVERSARY EVER!
Normally, this day is usually marred each year as I married on my dad’s birthday and he passed away almost 10yrs ago. Really my anniversary hasn’t been the same since. However, this year for whatever reason I was determined for Mr B’s sake that it wouldn’t take over the day. It was difficult but worth it.
So now we have to go some to make next years anniversary even better………………..best I stay away from pet shops next time.
