After 13 weeks of homeschooling and lockdown at home, this week I headed out on some socially distanced outdoors activities with the girls at an attempt to bring back a bit of normality. After seeing some great reviews on social media, we headed along for some socially distanced strawberry picking at Manor Farm Fruits in Hints, Staffordshire (just outside of Tamworth). I had NEVER been strawberry picking in my life, despite them being my favourite fruit in the world and I think I was even more excited than the girls were!
Manor Farm Fruits has been family run by the Clarke family for over three generations and is one of Staffordshires longest established fruit growers. With over 55 acres of soft fruit, there are over 12 acres of pick your own fields, currently growing strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries.
How does social distancing work at Manor Farm Fruits?
Due to COVID-19, Manor Farm Fruits have had to make some small changes to the way they work. Firstly they have the Strawberry Drive Thru’ – simply drive up to the kiosk and make a contactless payment for your fruit and a member of the Manor Farm Fruits team will pop it into your boot.
Alternatively the Pick Your Own fields are now open. You must book a time slot in advance (they are releasing three days at a time) and can have up to 4 people per booking. You will then be emailed your tickets which come with a scannable barcode which you must show at the kiosk on arrival.
Our experience of Strawberry Picking at Manor Farm Fruits
We booked a slot for 11.30am on a Tuesday morning and were lucky that the weather was very kind to us – it was a glorious day and the sun was shining. I had never been to Manor Farm Fruits before, but when we arrived, parking was very clearly marked, with directions for those who were coming to collect from the Strawberry Drive Thru’ which did have a small queue of cars and seemed very efficient for those who are more comfortable with a collection option.
There was a small queue of people waiting for the pick your own outside the kiosk, but everyone was adhering to the social distancing guidelines and spaced at least 2 metres apart. I didn’t feel concerned at all, despite having not left my house at all for 13 weeks bar a trip to Baddesley Clinton the day before.
When we reached the kiosk, we simply had to show our tickets to the lady behind the desk (which could be done from a distance) and she scanned the tickets. Payment for punnets is in advance, and there is the option of a 1kg punnet for £6 or a larger 2kg bucket for £12. The larger buckets looked amazing, but the girls really wanted to have one each to hold, so we opted for the two 1kg punnets instead.
As payment is taken in advance, you do not need to return to get your fruit weighed as you may have done in previous years, meaning that exiting the fields is really efficient. It is also worth noting that the entry fee is not refundable off the cost of the fruit this year which I believe it has been previously, as they have had to reduce the number of visitors due to the current climate. I felt this was completely fair enough, as after all a £2 fee per person isn’t a huge amount to pay for the experience.
Once we had collected our empty punnets, we were directed to the hand sanitising station where we were asked to wash our hands before entering the fields. We were then directed to a specific ‘lane’ or row of strawberries where we had it entirely to ourselves so we didn’t have to worry about people coming towards us or in the opposite direction. Obviously there are potentially people in the lanes either side of you, but the team are conscious of this and try and avoid people being in close lanes at the same time, and they are long enough that this can be managed relatively easily. We didn’t have anyone next to us at any point during the time we were there.
The girls had an absolute ball picking the fruit from the hanging plants, and they were just the right height that even Neve who is 3 was able to grab them herself and pop them in the punnet. It did take a while for Neve to grasp the fact that she shouldn’t squeeze too hard when trying to pull them off the plant (resulting in a few squished ones along the way) but before we knew it we had a huge punnet full of beautifully bright red strawberries.
There were a mix of sizes, some bigger than others, but the colours were so bright and vivid that I was salivating at the prospect!!
There are signs up in the fields reminding people that due to the current climate you shouldn’t eat the strawberries or fruit you pick along the way, but instead take it home and wash it throughly first. The girls were pretty good at resisting, but I have to admit it took every ounce of my being not to shove one in my mouth on the way around, particularly as I hadn’t had breakfast rushing out straight after my morning shift at work!
To leave the fields, we were directed to walk around the back and down the (wider) side of the field by a hedge, before washing our hands again on the way out.
I was really impressed with the set up at Manor Farm Fruits, the reality is that you won’t be there the full hour you are allocated; as we probably only spent about 15/20 mins in the field before our punnets were full. My only regret from the day was not ordering some raspberries too, as I clocked someone else’s and they were ginormous and looked amazing. Something to bear in mind!
Overall, they’ve put a lot of thought into making this work despite the restrictions; and I felt comfortable that the elements they had put in place kept us safe and socially distanced during our visits.
And the strawberries? Well, not only will I be having them for virtually every meal for the next week, but they taste bloody amazing.
Thanks Manor Farm Fruits – a good job well done! 🙂 You can check availability for fruit picking slots here.
Introducing Family Friendly Holidays at Sands Resort Hotel and Spa… When it comes to family holidays here in the UK, I find there is some kind of magnetic pull to the glorious Cornish coastline. Having spent many a childhood family holiday in Devon and Cornwall in the 80s and 90s, it’s so lovely to be able to return as a grown up with my own family of four. Since the girls were born, we have spent many a Summer visiting Newquay and Watergate bay – a beautiful location for making memories, and as a city dweller, there is nothing better than to escape the mad hustle and bustle of Birmingham and enjoy the sound and sight of the ocean.
This summer we were invited to Sands Resort Hotel and Spa in Newquay for a two night stay (which we extended for another two nights at our own expense). Boasting a great location and packed full of family friendly facilities, I couldn’t wait to see what Sands Resort Hotel & Spa had to offer.
About Sands Resort Hotel and Spa
The Sands Resport Hotel and Spa is located just three miles away from Newquay airport and is ideally located between the beautiful family friendly beaches of Porth and Watergate Bay.
A family owned hotel for more than 40 years, Sands Resort Hotel & Spa prides itself on offering a whole host of family friendly facilities but the ideal balance of support for parents who may also want some adult alone time and peace and quiet.
With a range of rooms to suit all family sizes and budgets, and stunning sea views so you can watch the sun set before you go to sleep, Sands Resort Hotel and Spa offers the ideal base for enjoying everything Newquay has to offer.
First Impressions of Sands Resort Hotel & Spa
We arrived at Sands Resort after a fairly epic four hour drive down from Birmingham and arrived in the middle of a huge downpour, running into reception a little like a small family of drowned rats. Despite the weather initially not being on our side, we had a warm welcome and were greeted at reception by a very friendly staff team. We arrived prior to the allocated check in time of 3pm, but they took our details and advised that they would call us as soon as our room was ready, and that we were welcome to explore and use any of the facilities whilst we waited.
The layout of the hotel at first can appear a bit of a maze, with lots of long corridors and doors which lead in all different directions, however once you have learned your way around it becomes far easier to navigate. There is no lift and quite a few stairs, however the hotel do have porters if you need assistance with your luggage. There were quite a few people inside when we arrived due to the weather, with lots of comfy communal areas for people to sit and relax.
As we were pretty wet already(!) we decided to take the girls for a swim, and were surprised to see that despite the rain, the indoor pool was not busy at all. We collected our towels from reception (you borrow these and pop these in the laundry when you are done) and headed straight to the pool. We then had a missed call around 1.30 to advise that our room was ready, which was a really pleasant surprise.
Read on to learn more about our stay or if you prefer to see it in the flesh, check out our video review of Sands Resort here:
Accommodation / Rooms
We stayed in a Contemporary Sea View Suite, which comes with 2 separate bedrooms to suit families with two children (with a cot as well if you have a third). We had an absolutely gorgeous view of the ocean with a wide large floor to ceiling window that gave us the ideal vantage point to watch the sun set and rise from our bed. This was a stunning sight to wake up to and a real positive of the suite at Sands Resort.
The Contemporary Sea View suite was a large two bedroomed suite, with a huge queen size bed in the main bedroom and then two singles in the second room.
For some reason our rooms front door didn’t dead lock, and as the children’s bedroom was closest to that door, we ended up with both girls sleeping in with us – I didn’t feel comfortable at the thought of Erin opening the door on her own during the night. We didn’t report this, so I imagine this could have been easily fixed with a call to reception, but we were happy having them in with us as a holiday treat. As the main bed was MASSIVE and the mattress so comfortable, I slept the best I have slept in weeks, despite the two extra additions!
The Contemporary Sea View Suite also came with a small fridge and tea and coffee making facilities, a TV in both bedrooms, a DVD player and PS2. Games and DVDs can also be loaned from reception, which is great option if the weather really does take a turn for the worst. For those traveling with younger children, you can also hire baby equipment from reception free of charge including cot linen, pushchairs, baby carriers and bottle warmers. This is a real positive, particularly if you struggle to pack everything you need into a small family car!
The bathroom is the suite was very small, with no windows or natural light and in all honestly was looking a little tired. It also felt a bit clinical with toilet roll dispensers like you would find in a public restroom and as such, this felt a little less luxury than I would have expected from a suite.
Despite this, we were really pleased with the rest of the room. There was a large sofa at the end of the bed and two chairs with a table, meaning lots of space for the girls to chill out and relax before tea or after a busy day at the beach. The room had plenty of storage space, with a large warbrobe and shelving unit which could be hidden away behind a curtain, and even a small desk area, which I did actually use for catching up on emails whilst the girls and Mike were still snoozing!
The room was cleaned daily, and the standard of the housekeeping was very high, with even the sofas and chairs being vaccumed (leaving a pretty design) and towel creatures created on our beds!
The room also comes with complementary Wifi, however as is common in Devon and Cornwall, the connection, at times was a little on the slow side, but as we spent very little time in our rooms, I didn’t find this a problem. . The stay has really made us want to explore a list of campsites in Cornwall for next time.
Facilities at Sands Resort Hotel & Spa
When it comes to family friendly facilities, Sands Resort Hotel & Spa really does go all out – with pretty much everything you can think of to entertain the children, whatever the weather. With a great maintenance team (who we saw out and about every day looking after the grounds), the resort has something to offer for every age group and every energy level.
For those wishing to visit one of the two local beaches (both just a short walk or drive away), Sands offer free hire of wetsuits, bodyboards, buckets and spades. We felt this was a really lovely touch, as not living by the sea at home, we always seem to spend a fortune buying them at the beach and have no room in the car to take them home with us! We visited Watergate Bay beach a few times during our stay, both during the day and early evening to watch the tide come in. The beaches are dog friendly yet super clean and tidy, and the girls had lots of fun jumping in rock pools and building sand castles whilst we took in the glorious view!
We were really lucky that the only day we had rain in Cornwall was on the day we arrived, but Sands Resort have lots to do even when the sun isn’t shining.
Outside of the nursery and creche times (after 12pm) there is a large indoor play area with a (very deep!) ball pit and climbing nets, teamed up with cozy coupe cars and a toy kitchen for creative play.
There is also a huge soft play zone for children under 4, with loads of huge obstacles to climb and clamber over, and this went down a real treat with Neve.
The indoor games area has lots of fun activities including table tennis (free to play) air hockey, pool and table football, the latter of which just required a £1 coin to play. Erin was a big fan of the air hockey, and would quite often ask to head down to this area for a while before bed. Again despite the hotel being fairly full during peak season, the variety of options for families meant that nothing ever felt busy or crowded – this was a real positive.
Outdoor Fun
The fun at Sands Resort Hotel & Spa continues outside, with a wide range of options to keep us all entertained.
The girls were massive fans of the Enchanted maze, which I thought was really beautiful and something a bit different to the usual facilities you can expect to find at a family friendly hotel.
We picked up a copy of the Enchanted Maze quiz at reception, which had a number of questions and riddles to solve as we worked our way around spotting magical creatures, giants and fairy gardens. Once complete (and once we’d finally managed to locate the way out!), we were able to hand it back in, with the girls exchanging their correct answer for a prize (a lollipop). You can see more of the maze in our video above!
There are two large outdoor playgrounds at Sands Resort, the first including swings, rocker chairs, a 3 seater seasaw and a sand pit, as well as a huge pirate ship boat with portholes and steering wheels.
The second children’s playground is perhaps more suited to older children (Erin was in her element here), with wooden obstacle courses and climbing frames as well as a huge zip wire which was a real hit with all of us (including me and Mike!)
For active families, there is also a large football, tennis and basketball courts with a fantastic view across the Cornish countryside behind. The girls also really enjoyed the on site Bouncy Castle (weather dependent) which had benches opposite, allowing us to chill a bit in the evening sunshine whilst they bounced off their last bit of energy!
Evening Entertainment
Being more used to self catering accomodation, one of the elements of Sands Resort that we really appreciated was the addition of a daily entertainment programme, with a different activity on every evening between 5-6pm in the main room off reception. We found this was a lovely way to draw the day to a close, and Mike and I were able to have a drink and watch as the girls played and enjoyed the show.
We visited twice during the week, attending both the magic show and the silent disco, both of which went down an absolute storm with the girls.
The magician, whilst very cheesy, was a real hit, and both Erin and Neve sat happy as larry watching as Billy Wiz and his cheeky assistant Dusty the rabbit as they raised lots of laughs. Watching the children in the audience shouting out and calling Billy Wiz out when he tried to trick them (some of whom did so with quite some personality!) was really amusing to watch, and it was lovely to see even Neve at just 3 years old sitting cross legged and mesmerised, giggling away.
The silent disco was absolutely hilarious and I can honestly say I hadn’t laughed so much in weeks! Watching the children all dancing around to two different tracks at the same time, singing out loud and at one point doing a “runaway conga”, was just brilliant, and I can hand on heart say that I think the parents enjoyed this one as much as the children did!
The Pools at Sands Resort Hotel & Spa
There are two swimming pools at Sands Resort Hotel, one indoor and one outdoor, which although are relatively small in size, were never particularly busy during our stay. Both of the pools were heated but the indoor pool was slightly warmer than the other.
The indoor pool was clean and well maintained, with lockers to stash belongings safely away, a number of family sized changing rooms, showers and a range of poolside seating areas for those preferring to sit and watch.
Mike enjoyed spending some time relaxing in the steam room whilst the smaller baby pool was great for Neve, who enjoyed running around in circles and making waves in an area shallow enough for her to stand up and splash.
We were lucky that we had some really lovely sunny days during our stay, and so the girls were keen to check out the outdoor pool too.
Split into two parts, one a more traditional swimming area and the other a fun splash pool, the girls had a fab time zooming down the slide and splashing around in the water jets. I’m not gunna lie, I even had a go on the slide myself, taking a moment to embrace my inner child. It was lots of fun!
There were a good number of seats around the pool area to sit and watch as well as a huge expanse of sun loungers and seats on the grass behind the pool, which I imagine in the height of Summer would be a great place to soak up some sunshine whilst the children play. That said, neither of the pools are manned by lifeguards, so you need to take responsibility for supervising your own children.
Food and Drink at Sands Resort Hotel & Spa
We stayed at Sands Resort Hotel & Spa on a bed and breakfast basis, and with breakfast served until 10am, it was definitely something to look forward to when we woke up and a great way to fuel the busy days ahead.
Breakfast time included a self service hot buffet with your traditional sausage, eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and beans as well as a wide range of cereals, yoghurts, fruit and toast, and more continental options like croissants and pain de chocolat. There was a huge amount of choice on offer, and at times the breakfast service could feel a bit hectic, but nothing that I wouldn’t expect in a family restaurant. A couple of times we had to ask for milk or butter as they weren’t obvious or had ran out, but the restaurant team were very friendly and efficient, and very quickly bought things over to us when asked.
At Lunch time we ate out on the Atlantic terrace, which offered a range of lighter options such as paninis, jacket potatoes and wraps. We really enjoyed this as it felt very chilled and relaxed and meant the girls could get up and move around if they got restless or full. My roasted vegetable pannini was delicious, served with vegetable crisps on the side and Mike particularly enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding, demolishing what was quite a generous portion!
In the evening, the Beachcomber Restaurant has a couple of dining options, including an early dining service for those who prefer to eat early with the children between 5pm and 6.15pm. This early service has a hot buffet for the children with chips, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, pasta and other child friendly options, but does come with a more restricted menu for adults. If you prefer to have the full adult menu, you can visit after 6.30pm.
6.30pm was a little late for the girls, and if you want to enjoy a sea view whilst you eat, the Beachcomber Restaurant reserves this side for the adults only dining. We found this a bit of a shame, as whilst we completely understand the joy of having a more peaceful dinner, it would’ve been nice to share the epic views with the children too. For that reason we chose to eat elsewhere in the early evening, making the most of the sight of the ocean before we returned home to the city.
Family Friendly Support
Sands Resort Hotel & Spa take the view that family holidays aren’t all about the kids and offer a range of options for parents who may want to get a bit of child free time too.
There is an on site creche and Ofsted approved age appropriate kids clubs at Sands, both with trained and experienced childcare staff. Each child has a free daily morning childcare session should you wish to use it. As we were only visiting for a short break, we decided not to make use of these, but saw many families that did and spoke highly of it, with children coming back smiling and laughing showing off something they had made during craft club! You can also pay £5 per session for additional visits, which is ideal if you want to book in for a spa treatment or two.
Sands also offer a baby listening service in the evening (from 7pm-11pm) so that you can head down to the restaurant whilst the children are asleep. I will be honest and say that this is not something I would personally feel comfortable with doing, but it is good to have the option for those that would.
Overall Experience at Sands Resort Hotel & Spa
Overall we had a really lovely stay at Sands Resport Hotel & Spa, and when it comes to family friendly facilities, I think you would be hard pressed to find a hotel that offers anything more; there really is something for everyone, come rain or shine.
With friendly and helpful staff, a great central location and so many places to explore right on its doorstep, Sands Resport Hotel & Spa is definitely somewhere we would visit again.
Pros –
The huge range of child friendly facilities is fantastic -even when the weather does take a turn for the worse.
Great location close to some of Cornwalls most beautiful beaches.
Glorious Sea views – without a doubt this is something that is an absolute joy to wake up to!
Friendly, family feel about the hotel with the entire staff team from the reception to the restaurant staff being incredibly friendly and polite.
Cons –
Some of the hotel is in parts a little dated, and in particular the bathrooms in the suites could do with a bit of modernising in my opinion.
Whilst the restaurant does offer flexibility of dining times, we would have loved to have been able to enjoy a sea view with our girls too, as we enjoy all eating together. We instead opted to venture out into Newquay where we were able to do this.
You can learn more about Sands Resort Hotel & Spa and their family friendly Cornish breaks on their website here.
*Disclosure: We stayed at Sands Resort Hotel and Spa for two nights on a bed and breakfast basis in exchange for this review. We paid for the additional two nights stay and all other expenses. All images, thoughts and opinions are my own*
When I asked Erin what she wanted to do during the summer holidays, there was one thing that came out top of the list – trampolining. We have only been trampolining once before last summer for Erin’s birthday, and she had an absolute ball, jumping and leaping around doing star jumps and flips as if her life depended on it. As well as having a great time whilst we were there, it came with a hidden silver lining from a parent’s perspective – she was so exhausted when we got home that she slept like an absolute dream! 🙂
Jump In Trampoline Park Summer Passes to the rescue!
We all know that school holidays can be expensive, and it can be super hard to find fun activities to entertain the youngsters during the school holidays, and the cost of going out on day trips and meals out can soon add up. That’s why at Jump In Trampoline Parks they have recently created their Summer passes, which can be purchased NOW and used up until 31st August 2019.
Saving a massive discount on the usual entry fees, Jump In Summer Passes can be purchased in advance, choosing from £35 for five one-hour jump sessions or £60 for 10 one-hour jump sessions. Even better, you can share the fun around as the passes can also be used by friends and family to enjoy Jump In together.
With three weeks of the Summer Holidays left here in the Midlands, Jump In Summer Passes are a great way to keep the little ones busy this Summer without blowing the budget!
Last week we headed along to Jump In Trampoline Park in Warwick with Erin and her two cousins to see what the Jump In Summer Passes can offer in terms of family friendly fun. Firstly let me apologise for how blurry these photographs are – clearly my equipment isn’t up to the challenge of photographing children that are moving at lightning speed!
Our Experience at Jump In Trampoline Park Warwick
We headed along to Jump In Warwick for when it first opened at 10am and this seemed like a good time to go, as it wasn’t too busy at all.
When you first arrive you are given wrist bands to wear and some special Jump In socks which are required for health and safety reasons and have special grips on the bottom. These cost £2.50 each, but can be kept for your next visit, so you only need to buy them once.
Just before your session time, you are invited to watch a short group safety briefing video which outlines some behaviour guidelines for using the trampolines, including having one person per trampoline to avoid bumping in to other people.
There is a small cafe on site where you can purchase reasonably priced food and drinks (ideal as all that bouncing around can work up quite an appetite!) and a large number of small lockers where you can stash away your bags and belongings before you go on to the trampolines.
The Jump In trampoline park is split into different zones, some of which have age or height restrictions, and with three kids in tow ranging from 4 to 7 years, we worked our way around the majority. There is also a small special trampoline area for toddlers with balls and soft play characters, which is great if you have little ones who want to jump but are nervous about some of the older skaters jumping close by.
In addition to the trampoline activities, there is also a small soft play area on site at Jump In Warwick for under 5’s, which was great during a two hour jump if younger children get a bit tired or want a small rest bite from the bouncing.
Jump In Open Jump
The largest area at Jump In trampoline park in Warwick is the zone of interconnected trampolines – with each child being able to jump in their own space, and not get flicked around by or bump into other people! Nathan and Erin absolutely loved having little competitions jumping off the ledges at the count of 3, and seeing who could bounce back up off their bottoms!
At one point Erin did land a little funny on her foot, and a member of staff very quickly came over to see if she was OK. He had a great manner with her, very quickly calming her down and asking her to rate how much it hurt on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being so bad we need to chop her foot off). This very quickly made Erin laugh, and before we knew it she was up and about and bouncing around again! I found the staff really friendly and although parental supervision is required at all times, it’s good to know there is another pair of eyes looking out for your family too.
Jump In Foam Pit
As well as the free jump area, Nathan and Erin were also big fans of the foam pit – which consisted of two trampolines where you could bounce straight into a giant pit full of soft grey cubes. They loved having a bit of a run up and doing their best star jumps, and with a guaranteed soft landing they didn’t to worry about the descent!
It was really funny watching them try and scramble their way out of the foam, with an almost quick sand like effect it was easier said than done!!
Jump In Battlebeam
One of my personal favourites at the Jump In trampoline park was the Battlebeam – which took me straight back to the 90’s and my Saturday night evenings watching Gladiator. I had to resist the urge to shout 3,2,1 READY when Erin and Nathan battled it out in their safety gear! The Jump In Battlebeam allows two players to try and knock each other off using the padded pugel sticks. Erin was surprisingly good at this, knocking Nathan off twice before he even had chance to take a retaliating swing! For older children, and to make this a bit harder, you can stand up on the balance beam to really put your balance and coordination skills to the test!
Jump In Giant Air Bag
For taller or older guests, the Giant air bag zone at Jump In trampoline park is a fab opportunity to really put your bravery (and fear of heights!) to the test. With two high bases to jump from and a giant air bag to catch your fall, you must be able to climb on to the bases without assistance in order to jump. Obviously the kids were a little too young for this one, however Mike very quickly volunteered to give it a go!
Jump In Twist Ladder
Erin was also a massive fan of the Twist ladder – a real test of upper body strength, determination and balance. The aim of the game is to climb the ladder (which easily twists and turns) all the way to the top and ring a bell – much harder than it may first appear! At only 6, Erin didn’t quite have the body length to ring the bell at the very top, but bless her heart was so determined to get to the top!
At times there was a little queue of children waiting for the turn (only four or five at a time) and it was actually really lovely to see the children supporting who ever was having a turn, giving them little shouts of encouragement and a big cheer when they made it to the top. We watched a little girl who was only a little bit older than Erin who absolutely put her heart and soul into ringing that bell, not giving up even when her hands kept skimming past the edge of the bell just millimetres away from her target!
Overall we had a fantastic time at Jump In trampoline park in Warwick, and despite being a little sweaty, bedraggled and exhausted, the kids all left with huge smiles on their faces. With the Summer weather being so unpredictable, I think the Jump In Summer Passes offer a great way to entertain the children whatever the weather and ensure that you can fill multiple days with an activity that will help them burn off some pent up energy!
With a wide range of different zones to suit every age, there really is something to entertain every child – in our case Immy was quite happy in the free jump zone and spent most of her time in there, whilst Nathan and Erin were happy to embrace their inner Adrenalin junkies and set themselves more of a physical challenge.
With lots of areas to stand on the side lines and watch / support / snap photos, adults don’t have to jump but it’s a lot more fun when you do!
This Sky by the Water Review was a visit I paid for myself
As a Mum of two children, it’s pretty rare that Mike and I get to spend some child-free time, and whenever I catch up with friends, most of our conversations are half conversations, normally interrupted by one of our children who needs a nappy changing, tries to get into a dangerous situation or starts to have a tantrum right at the crucial moment. It makes having quality adult conversations just that little more tricky and I really miss going out just as Lucy and not having to concentrate on being a Mum – for just a little while at least.
We were recently given vouchers for an experience in our home town, and with my friend coming over from Oz for a couple of weeks, it was the perfect opportunity to go out and spend some time together, no children allowed! We LOVE going out for afternoon tea in Birmingham, so having heard about the new Secret Garden and Afternoon tea offerings at Sky by the Water Birmingham, it was the obvious choice to go and check out!
Sky By The Water Birmingham is a rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant on the 5th floor in Resorts World, just off the M42 and next to the Resorts World Arena and National Exhibition Centre (NEC). I am already a huge fan of Resorts World for their outlet shopping, bars and restaurants, and with rumours of Sky by the Water boasting fantastic views over our city, I was excited to carry out a Sky by the Water review and see what it had to offer.
Our Sky by the Water Review
As soon as you walk in, it’s clear that the interior of Sky By The Water is pretty impressive, with a mass of bright low hanging lights descending from the ceiling. We visited during the late afternoon on a Monday, so it was relatively quiet apart from a few small groups and couples – I imagine on the weekend the view would have been somewhat different, with the waitress advising that they tend to be extremely busy on Friday and Saturday nights.
The whole one side of the Sky By The Water Birmingham restaurant is a wall of glass, offering pretty amazing views across the lake by the NEC, and I will be honest I had never appreciated just how big it was until I saw it from above.
We were seated right at the rear of the restaurant in a corner with glass floor to ceiling on both sides and it was really bright and light. On one side we could see the NEC and Resorts World Arena, the lake and the small beach like area, and on the other, we were able to watch the planes coming in to land at the airport. We were lucky that it was a lovely sunny day, and I imagine at night times the views are equally impressive as the city comes to life.
I was really looking forward to afternoon tea, with Sky By The Water afternoon tea being able to boast an ex Channel 4 Bake Off: The Professionals Finalist – Darryl Collins as their Head Pastry Chef, so was hoping to see lots of beautifully presented sweets – it didn’t disappoint!
There are a variety of different afternoon teas to choose from, from a traditional afternoon tea (£22.50 a person) through to the Cocktail Afternoon Tea (at £29.50 per person or £26 for a mocktail). As it was a special catch up with my best friend, we opted for the Cocktail option, keen to check out the drinks range too!
We couldn’t help but let out a little “Wow” when the Sky by the Water afternoon tea platter was presented. With the scones being almost bun like with smooth soft edges, and the bright vivid colours of the mango gateau, Victoria slice and key lime slice offering something just that little bit special. The sandwiches offered the traditional varieties you might expect and all were divine – cheese and onion chutney, ham and english mustard, smoked salmon and cucumber and egg mayo and watercress. They didn’t hang around for long.
The one thing I will say was that you despite being 3 of us, we didn’t get 3 of every dessert which is what I am used to seeing at other afternoon teas. I think this was because some of them were rather large and rich, and therefore it was more than enough to share between us. We had 3 macaroons and 3 scones, but the rest were in twos or large individual pieces which we cut up and shared between us. In a way this actually added to the experience, building a bit of anticipation as we shared the bits out and tried them at the same time!
The scones are almost brioche like in texture and quite different to a traditional scone (so if you are expecting a crispy edge and fluffy crumbly centre it might come as a bit of a shock). That said, they were absolutely delicious and served warm, which was lovely with jam and creme (jam first, obviously).
Our favourite was a pretty tough call – between the malted milk macaroon with salted caramel filling and the hazelnut and caramel tartlet (pictured above). With a chocolate ganache, hazelnut mouse and caramel, covered in a crisp layer of caramel and hazelnut chocolate, this really was divine and presented beautifully with an individual chocolate leaf.
The Cocktail Menu
The cocktail menu at Sky By The Water Birmingham was fairly extensive, including some locally named choices, and even though I was driving, I was able to feel like I wasn’t missing out by having a Fruititi, which was refreshing and perfect for a warm and sunny day. Again presentation was very good, with little garnishes and sugar rims on the glasses making them both visually appealing and enjoyable!
Sky by the Water Review – The Secret Garden
Sky By The Water was a great location for catching up with friends, and as a couple would be an ideal date destination. Once we finished our afternoon tea, we headed outside to check out the Secret Garden, the newest addition to the Sky By The Water restaurant.
The Secret Garden is just a short walk from the main part of the Sky By The Water restaurant. At weekends, there is a bar that opens in the garden itself, and at other times, you simply order from the main bar and take it with you.
The Secret Garden is a small and intimate outdoors location, with lots of trees and plants making you feel a little like you are on holiday. There are a number of large pods, each of which will house between 6 and 9 people, and can be hired out for private gatherings with friends. With soft cushions, a large table and even a Gin Dictionary in ours, I could certainly see myself settling down there for the night with friends and working my way through some more of the cocktail range!
We tried a few more of the cocktails off the menu outside, before capturing the perfect insta grid pic in front of their butterfly light – (sorry, but it simply had to be done!!)
Even the toilets at Sky by the Water Birmingham have an outdoorsy feel, really adding to that feeling off having been whisked away to somewhere a little bit out of the ordinary. I felt a bit strange taking a photo in the loo – but wanted to give you a fully rounded impression! 🙂
Overall, we had such a lovely afternoon at Sky By The Water Birmingham and I would definitely like to return. I have already said to Mike that a lunch there combined with a visit to the Santai Spa Twilight Spa would be an absolutely perfect date night in Brum (if our kids will ever let us go out after bedtime!!)
For me personally, the late afternoon vibe was just what I was looking for, and therefore if you want to experience it when its slightly quieter then an early evening visit in the week might be the way to go.
Here at Real Mum Reviews, we are MASSIVE Disney on Ice fans, having been to a number of the previous tours in Birmingham ever since Erin was a toddler. There is something really magical about seeing all your favourite Disney characters up close and personal, singing along with hundreds of other voices to classic songs and seeing your children’s eyes light up when something magical unfolds right in front of their eyes.
Last years Disney on Ice was pretty impressive, and without a doubt the best one I personally have experienced, in particular the scene where all of the Disney Princesses came out together which left both girls standing open mouthed in awe. It was a lovely sight to see and it remains to be seen whether that show can be beaten.
This Winter, from the 16-20th October 2019 Disney on Ice is back in Birmingham with their new show Disney on Ice 100 Years of Magic. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and pals take to the ice to honour the legacy of Walt Disney and take audiences on a magical journey through both classic and modern Disney tales.
Disney on Ice 100 Years of Magic features more than 50 unforgettable Disney stars, an amazing soundtrack of sing along scores, beautifully choreographed dance routines and beautiful costumes and sets, that will take the audience on a real journey. The journey starts in Africa with The Lion King, before following an adventure in friendship with the gang from Disney Pixar’s Toy Story, before watching Belle breaks the Beast’s curse in Beauty & The Beast. Next the magical kingdom of Arendelle from Disney’s Frozen will take fans up the North Mountain with Olaf and Kristoff, as they help royal sisters Anna and Elsa discover that true love conquers all.
With the largest production to date and over 30 songs that audiences young and old will love from no less than 14 treasured stories, I can see myself and the girls singing along to Let It Go, A Whole New World and Hakuna Matata.
We will be heading to the opening night in Birmingham and I will be sharing stories on the night over Instagram so do follow if you want to have a sneak peak! In the meantime, tickets are available now and selling fast at www.disneyonice.co.uk
My tips for attending Disney on Ice in Birmingham include:
Make the most of it – we found it cheaper to park at Resorts World Birmingham and go for dinner before hand. If you spend over £20 in the resort you can get your parking validated making it just £2.50, which is far cheaper than parking at the arena itself.
Don’t get there too early, unless you want to spend a fortune. As per any concert / show, food and drink isnt cheap, and the merchandise is quite in your face, meaning that children are likely to ask for something. Unless you have strong willpower then you may prefer to arrive promptly and go straight into the auditorium!
When choosing seats, I personally prefer the side view of the rink, as you can see all the action of where the skaters move around the stage. That said, some of the set looks more impressive from face on, so being at the end of the rink probably gives you the best aesthetic in terms of the scene setting.
Whilst rink side seats may sound impressive, having sat in them once before, I actually preferred the view I got when I sat further back. That said, I did get to shake hands with Prince Eric, which probably made the extra cost worth while 🙂
It’s become a bit of a well known fact that I love a good floral backdrop! I love taking photographs of my girls as they grow up, and as backdrops go, there is nothing more beautiful than a blanket of colourful delphiniums at the Confetti Fields in Pershore, which has become one of my favourite annual traditions. The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company in Pershore (Wick to be precise), is the UK’s original wedding plant grower and has led the way in production of natural, biodegradable wedding confetti since 1997. At the Wyke Manor Estate, a giant field full of delphiniums and wildflowers are grown and harvester by hand, before being air dried and mixed to bespoke requirements. Each year they open to the public for a two week period so that locals can come and enjoy walking through acres of beautiful colour.
As soon as the dates were released for 2019 I popped them in my diary, being keen to visit again and recreate the blanket of colour that we witnessed last year. The weather however this year didn’t seem to be on anyone’s side. We were planning to attend the first weekend they opened, however due to the heavy rain and lack of sunshine, the bloom wasn’t quite at its best. The monsoon rain we experienced then caused the site to be closed for 2 days during their fortnight opening period, meaning that the final weekend was of course our final opportunity before they waved goodbye to the harvest until 2020!
Expecting it to be busy (of course they are in demand) we headed over to the Confetti Fields in Pershore on Saturday morning and got there for when they opened at 10. It didn’t disappoint! As soon as we walked around the corner and saw the fields ahead of us they took my breath away, It really is a stunning sight to see so much colour laid out in all its natural beauty!
As you can see the fields are absolutely stunning, with bright colours of pink, purple and white and ample photo opportunities where you can take a wander through the foliage, a full camera battery and memory is an absolute must. In comparison to last year, it felt that this year at the Confetti Fields in Pershore there was much more opportunity to get in amongst the flowers, without the risk of trampelling on any as they had popped little pathways through you could stand in. They also had a viewing platform if you wanted to take in the field in its entireity.
On Saturday the weather was divine, but a little on the warm side, so we stayed for just under an hour. Neve enjoyed having a ride on the vintage bus and tractor, and we treated ourselves to a well earned lolly pop to cool ourselves down!
I missed out on buying the flowers at the confetti fields last year as they had all gone by the time we arrived, so this year I really wanted to have some to take home. The bunches of delphiniums were £10 and they were absolutely huge, making a real statement in a vase in our lounge at home. It is recommended that you buy these as you are about to leave, as the heat of the sun can make them wilt quickly otherwise but I still managed to get a couple of snaps of Erin holding them in the fields before we left.
I’ve read a few mixed reviews this year stating that the Confetti Fields in Pershore had become a bit too commercialised and I have to say I completely disagree. I think it’s so lovely that the fields are willing to open to the public, and the £5 per adult entry fee is in my opinion very reasonable. They are a business at the end of the day, and are risking their main livelihood and source of income to allow the general public to experience their beauty. Children under 6 are absolutely free of charge, making this a low price day out and in my opinion worth every penny.
The fields are of course busy, they are a popular destination and were featured on Midlands Today this year so had been promoted a little more locally, and the short window of opening means that you have to expect there to be some queues. That said, for me personally it still remains on of my spring/summer highlights with the girls, and I will definitely be back again next year.
Did you head to the Confetti Fields in Pershore this year? What were your thoughts?
Hi, I’m Lucy, a thirty something mum of two from Birmingham. A memory maker, tradition keeper, stationery addict and Mr Men fanatic. HR Advisor by day and sleep deprived Mama by night!
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