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OULTON HALL
The Frozen Northerner is not averse to the odd city break, which, this weekend has taken us to the west Yorkshire city of Leeds. The Contessa has chosen the four star Oulton Hall Hotel for our short break, which, is about about 20 minutes from Leeds city centre.
This grade 2 listed building was built in the eighteenth century and was once the home of the well to do Blayds/Calverley family, now it belongs to the Q Hotel group who have turned it into a golf and spa resort. I have to say with it’s beautiful gardens and superb interior it looks like The Contessa has come with another winner. It’s an ideal place to chill out and relax after spending the day in Leeds itself. As a shopping venue I think Leeds is pretty good, lots of shops to keep the women happy and one or two places that I enjoy. Places like the Corn Exchange with it’s quirky little shops (especially All Blues Co) is a must to visit, as is the Victoria Quarter, with it’s breathe taking arcades and slightly more upmarket shops (Harvey Nicks etc), but avoid Trinity mall which is bloody awful.
After spending a good day shopping, you are going to need food and drink, you can head up Greek street where there are loads of pubs and restaurants or go down by canal where there is more of the same, personally I’m heading to ” Friends of Ham” a very nice award winning charcuterie, not too far from the station. With it’s wide range of craft beers and delicious food you can’t go wrong, after leaving there we head to “The Head of Steam” for more good beer (the place has a great range of Belgian beers). As it’s a Sunday it’s jazz night, this week featuring Brendan Duffy’s Jazz Collective, the place is buzzing, as Mr D works a bit of Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan, into the mix, myself and The Contessa have had a great day and we head to our hotel’s champagne bar to finish off the evening with a cocktail.
Now, Leeds might not be everyone cup of tea, but, on a Sunday it really is a great place to be.
thefrozennortherner 