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Bloggerlodge in Birmingham!

This week’s word is Bloggerlodge!

A while back, I remember a spreadsheet popping up on Facebook asking people if they wanted the chance to stay in a local Travelodge for free, in exchange for a review and post. I bunged my details in for Birmingham and thought not much more until I was contacted to do it!!

Hubby and I were going to see Years and Years in Birmingham and thought we could coincide the stay and have a weekend away. We were going to get music, food, drink, shopping and 2 night’s sleep. Bliss. Thank you Grandma and Grandad who looked after the little gremlin.

We stayed in the Birmingham Central Moor Street Hotel. This, as it sounds was close to Moor Street Station and really close to the Bull Ring. It was also away from the party side of Birmingham, which was fab as we wanted to sleep without drunkards outside our window!

We were not expecting luxury but the room had everything we needed. Clean, reasonable size, tea and coffee making facilities,  a  shower and a plug by the mirror! The views were cool and it was quiet.

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Hubby doing his usual

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The mirror has a plug!! Always a plus!

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We were in a bit of a rush. I had to leave my car at the hospital and train in and hubby met me. We legged it over to the AMAZING new Grand Central station and had a quick burger each and grabbed some healthier snacks from M&S.

#date #weekend begins! #bloggerlodge #hubby #selfie

There was already a queue forming at the O2 Academy as doors opened at 6pm. We hadn’t got a reserved seat so we went early and managed to get good view. A pint of cider initiated some ridiculousness and made the 2 hours we waited for Years and Years to actually come on, go a tad quicker! The majority of you reading this probably won’t of heard of them (no one has who is 30 plus apparently) but they were amazing and we had a blast.

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It was amazing to come back to hotel and know we weren’t going to get woken up! We managed to sleep until 7.30am which was heaven in gremlin terms and we lazed about in no rush to get out. The hotel did provide a breakfast box for us but in true, annoying, Sarah, dietitian style, I wasn’t going to eat it. Waaaaaay too much sugar and I was missing my eggs.

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Can see the Bullring

Hmm the #dietitian in me will be nipping elsewhere for #breakfast needing some #protein. A yummy #breakfast but a lot of #sugar #bloggerlodge #travelodge #saturday #brekkie #foody #health #mblogger

We decided to head over to the local Spooners (Weatherspoons) where it tickled me people were on the razz at 9.30am. We had some eggs at a decent price.

A better #breakfast #eggs #salmon #protein #filling #health #bloggerlodge #date #weekend #break #birmingham #mblogger #blogger

It was then shopping time! Hubster was starting to feel a bit unwell which was rubbish but he let me drag him around New Look and then spend 90 minutes in the Carphone Warehouse as on the “off chance” I went to look at the iPhone 6s and ended up getting conned into getting one 4 months early.

We were in a massive rush (again) as we had booked into the National Trust Back to Back Houses at 1pm. This was such a shift. Hustle bustle, people and technology one minute, to being thrown back in time and learning how hard some people in Brum really had it. I didn’t manage to get any piccys as had no phone at this point but it was brilliant and really added a different spin to the day.

We were starving after this so a cuppa and scone was next, followed by picking up my phone and a bit more shopping. I then wanted to go back to the hotel room and chill so we did.

We decided to get ready and try out a Syrian and Lebanese restaurant called Syrianas. It wasn’t in the best part of town but the reviews were ace and I love that style of food. It was great to get glammed up a bit and we found some parts of town on the way that we had not seen before.

#datenight number 2! #birmingham #bloggerlodge #travelodge #weekend #hubby #selfie #love #mbloggers #blogger

Me and the hubster

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Loved this setting

Getting the #pins out #birmingham #bloggerlodge #leggies #weekend #saturday #datenight #mbloggers #redhead #blogger #pose

Feeling very leggy here

The food was just fab at the restaurant. We had bread, hummus, salad and halloumi to start. I had sea bass and hubby has chicken for mains. We could bring a bottle so we took some wine to share. Delicious and I just felt so happy to have some time with the hubster and chat.  The service was great and it was really reasonable in price. We will be going back.

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Starters

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Lots of food!

Hubby was unfortunately starting to feel a tad naff by this point so at 9.30pm we decided to go back to the room so he could rest a bit. I bought a small cheeky bottle of wine from the Tesco on the way back and in true classy style, drank half out of a plastic cup in bed and had a tinker with my new phone.  Lights out by 11pm and we enjoyed another good sleep.

The next morning we had to pick up my car from my work but we decided to go for a breakfast at All Bar One in Grand Central Station. This was amazing. The bar was beautiful and food great. It was double the price of Weatherspoons but I guess sometimes you do get what you pay for and the experience comes with this.

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Smarties and tea…yay!

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We had such a lovely weekend. I forget what Birmingham has to offer sometimes. There are so many places to shop, eat, see history and your favourite bands. The Travelodge was perfect for a weekend break. A comfortable base, close to everything you would need for a great weekend.

What are you waiting for?

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33 Comments

  1. Tracey Abrahams
    October 16, 2015 / 7:01 am

    The travel lodge room looks really comfetable, I have always been a bit worried that they wouldnt be as nice as advertised on telly, but clearly my fears are unfounded.
    Its odd, but I have always thought of Birmingham as being a modern city so dont associate it with history, but really I should take the time to find out what it has to offer in terms of historical places.
    #Binkylinky

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 16, 2015 / 8:06 pm

      It was really nice Tracey – we got comfy very quickly. It was odd as I said going from shopping to history but yes worth a look! Thanks for hosting xx

  2. October 16, 2015 / 7:24 am

    Looks like an amazing time away – we’ve stayed with travel lodge a few times and never been disappointed. You can tell they’ve really spruced it up tough.

    I love the pic of you too laid down? its so gorgeous! x

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 16, 2015 / 8:05 pm

      They are really good…get what you pay for and it was fab. Aww cheers lovely xx

  3. tracey at Mummyshire
    October 16, 2015 / 11:38 am

    That looks like amazing value and really good quality stay. I haven’t been in a travelodge for a little while, I think the last one we stayed in was a little old and run down, then again it was in the middle of sleepy Somerset! Looks like you had an amazing time
    #WoTW

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 16, 2015 / 8:03 pm

      It was really good value!! Aww I bet Somerset was awesome. Thanks lots x

  4. October 16, 2015 / 12:08 pm

    You had a great time! Looking gorgeous as always, ergghhh, I have leg envy haha! #binkylinky #WotW x

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 16, 2015 / 8:02 pm

      Thanks hun….well I have BOOB envy!! x

  5. October 16, 2015 / 1:47 pm

    Looks like you had a fab time, a whole weekend with 2 nights off, heaven!! I have to admit I had to google the years and years but do know the songs even if I didn’t know who sung them!! Glad you had such a good weekend xx

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 16, 2015 / 7:57 pm

      It was amazing!! haha most people know who they are when they google Years and Years. Thanks hun x

  6. October 17, 2015 / 1:16 am

    Blimey! What a busy weekend, but a fab one by the looks of it. I cant believe you managed to pack so much into it, but I guess you have to make the most of those date day/weekened opportunities dont you ;-). Loved reading your post and your blog. Emily #BlinkyLinky

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:24 pm

      We were busy! Good fun though…you do need to make the most of it!! x

  7. October 17, 2015 / 7:01 am

    We are massive y&y fans in our house, particularly our 3yo! So v jealous, Esp of two decent nights sleep!!! X #justanotherlinky

  8. October 17, 2015 / 12:51 pm

    Sounds like a fab weekend. The room looked lovely and clean and that’s really all you want on a weekend break where you aren’t going to be there much. You really made the most of your time there! #justanotherlinky
    Debbie

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:32 pm

      Thanks Debbie it was great! We packed a lot in 🙂 x

  9. October 17, 2015 / 4:30 pm

    What a fabulous weekend! All of your meals look gorgeous & the hotel looks lovely & clean. It’s really nice that you & your hubster had some quality time together. #JustAnotherLinky x

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:31 pm

      It was great Becky 🙂 So nice to have time withe hubby x

  10. October 17, 2015 / 4:38 pm

    It’s great to have some time out without the children isn’t it? especially when someone else makes breakfast! #justanotherlinky

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:30 pm

      Oh totally that’s the best bit! And no washing up! x

  11. October 17, 2015 / 9:04 pm

    Sounds like you had a lovely grown up weekend escape. Bliss! …. All those breakfast pics have made me hungry though. Eggs for supper I think!?

    We love a Travelodge bargain! #justanotherlinky x

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:30 pm

      Ah it was lovely thanks! Hope you had your eggs xx

  12. Nige
    October 18, 2015 / 9:19 am

    Looks like you both had a fab weekend food looks yummy thanks for linking to the binkylinky

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:28 pm

      Great food Nigel 🙂 Thanks for hosting x

  13. Something Crunchy Mummy
    October 18, 2015 / 4:44 pm

    Sounds like the perfect weekend – hubby and I are so in need of some us time! #binkylinky xx

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:27 pm

      Oh you def need a break hun…so worth it x

  14. Emily
    October 18, 2015 / 7:01 pm

    I like Travelodge. I’ve stayed in one a few years ago and was very clean and comfortable. Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 18, 2015 / 7:24 pm

      They are pretty nice and so easy! xx

  15. Tracey Abrahams
    October 18, 2015 / 10:17 pm

    Coming back from #abitofeverything. Thanks for linking up xx

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 19, 2015 / 1:01 pm

      Thanks for hosting hun x

  16. becca farrelly
    October 20, 2015 / 8:46 pm

    Ahh looks like a lovely weekend away! I have never stayed in a Travelodge but we stayed in a lovely Premier Inn a couple of weeks ago and we were more than happy! I haven’t heard of the band you went to see (iam 28!) but looks fab! 🙂

    #justanotherlinky

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 20, 2015 / 9:29 pm

      They are quite good too I think eh? haha I think you would have heard of Years and Years if you heard the music xxx Thanks lots x

  17. Something Crunchy Mummy
    October 21, 2015 / 10:23 am

    Popping back from #justanotherlinky. Thanks for linking up lovely xx

    • RunJumpScrap
      Author
      October 22, 2015 / 9:02 pm

      Thanks for hosting x