The ultimate girlie birthday treat …
A PRINCESS PAMPER PARTY AT THE TUDOR PARK MARRIOTT HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB
BY SAMANTHA READY
IT ’ S OFFICIAL , I HAVE A TWEENAGER . MY LITTLE BABY IS HITTING DOUBLE FIGURES , THE GRAND OLD AGE OF 10 , EEK ! AND WITH THE MOMENTOUS OCCASION ALSO COMES THE ISSUE OF JUST WHAT TO DO TO CELEBRATE . GONE ARE THE DAYS WHERE A COUPLE OF HOURS ON A BOUNCY CASTLE AND A FEW ROUNDS OF PASS THE PARCEL WOULD SUFFICE ; INDOOR PLAY IS OF COURSE “ TOO BABYISH ” AND INSTEAD HOPEFUL EYES LOOKED AT ME TO PULL OFF A BIRTHDAY TREAT MIRACLE - ARRRGH .
Thank goodness for the Tudor Park and their new Princess Pamper Parties . Tapping into the clear gap in the market , the spa team have put together a neat little package just right for my little ‘ grown up ’ and her closest buddies .
You know you ’ re onto a winner when , invites sent , the mums express their jealousy and the impending birthday celebrations become the talk of the playground for a good few weeks prior !
And so that is how one rather dark December afternoon I found myself with a six 9- and 10-yearold screeching , giggling girls en route to the Tudor Park . And the best bit ? All they needed to bring was a swimming costume – everything else is taken care of !
Our afternoon schedule was slightly changed due to the mass of festive events but the concept worked equally well , so on arrival we headed straight for the leisure reception and then upstairs to the leisure club lounge where the girls were wowed by their high bar stools and table bedecked with crystal rimmed glasses ( pink sugar ), pink petals , and pink napkins . They were soon offered a choice of drinks and not long after were presented with an afternoon tea fit for a princess : little finger sandwiches with children ’ s favourites of ham , cheese and turkey ; plain scones with jam and clotted cream ; and a tasty selection of cakes and treats including chocolate eclairs , mini walnut cakes and mini cream horns – delicious !
After devouring their plates and with excitement mounting , it was time to hit the spa !
Each child is given a towel , and there are free lockers and a cosy poolside lounger for mums and dads to relax on whilst the girls make the most of the swimming pool , rocky waterfall and kidfriendly pool , before they are whisked away in pairs for the ultimate treat : a mini nail shape and polish .
What a credit to the spa and beauty team – the girls were treated like any other spa guest , welcomed by the friendly therapists , allowed to choose their own polish colour and then treated to a full 20 minutes of filing , shaping and polishing .
Reluctantly they all left the pool and plush treatment rooms to head home after about three hours of total pampering and preening , the journey home filled with nail colour comparisons , spa tales and murmurs of ‘ best birthday party ever !’
One happy birthday girl and five happy friends made for one happy mummy – couldn ’ t ask for anything else !
Princess Pamper Parties are available for children aged between 8 and 14 years for a minimum of four and a maximum of 12 guests , and priced at £ 35 per child including access to the swimming pool , nail polish and afternoon tea .
Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club Ashford Road Bearsted Maidstone ME14 4NQ 01622-632007 www . marriott . com / hotels / travel / tdmgs-tudor-park-marriott-hoteland-country-club /
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