Birthday Weekend…

This year wasn’t even a big birthday (I turned 32)-I know, I look 25 right, but it’s true, deal with it. Seriously though, I feel super lucky that I was so spoilt by family and friends.

The highlight of what was a ‘milked out’ week of celebrations, was escaping for a night with the husband to The Chambers in Leeds to stay in a luxury serviced apartment in the centre of town. The stunning suite had a New York loft style vibe and was a perfect location for our dinner à deux that night at nearby French restaurant (the oldest in Leeds) La Grillade.

The Chambers is home to leisure and business travellers and even actors filming in the city, having had Billie Piper and James Nesbitt among others, stay there.

It’s been voted No 1 out of 93 hotels in Leeds and the accolade of 7th best hotel in the UK by Trip Advisor… and from the photos my husband took below, I’m sure you can see why!

…So after a long soak in a bath I could quite frankly live in, we took our time getting ready: spanx on, hair curled (results above) and made our way to dinner. The restaurant was the perfect romantic destination for us and every sumptious course was mouth wateringly delicious-and boy did we eat! King prawns in brandy, French onion soup, lamb cutlets, fresh tuna, frites and salad followed by dark chocolate mousse, crème brûlée and the obligatory cheese board (I thought we were in Paris to be honest) so was quite suprised to find Leeds waiting for us as we tried to nagivate our way back to the hotel, a little tipsy from all the champagne!

I actually don’t think I’ve laughed so much in ages and Peter and I felt like newlyweds- just the two of us, without the kids, having fun. We did of course miss the boys (who’d been in Mum’s capable hands overnight) and literally raced home the following day for lots of cuddles with the 2 year old toddler and 8 week old baby.

Oliver planted a million kisses on my cheeks as I came through the door and declared that he’d thought he’d lost us last night. My heart slightly broke for a moment there but it was worth it for one night away…

Photographs © Peter Broadbent.