I just took a small group of special education students for trip out to Braunstone Park and they were so good and so keen to take a look at Winstanley House I got permission to reward them with a breakfast out.
I was completely blown away by not only the historical experience for children, more importantly what we got included for £10 per person. The greasy spoon I go to at the bottom of the Narborough road costs more for a full english. We also got tea or coffee and a choice of white or brown toast included.
Winstanley House built in 1775 by Clement Winstanley stands in Braunstone park in Leicestershire. The house previously named Braunstone Hall, is a building of historical significance and is Grade II listed on the English Heritage Register. It remained in the Winstanley family for the next 150 years before being sold in 1925 to Leicester City Council, the current owner.
Now it operates as a hotel and restaurant, popular as a wedding venue however thwarted as a popular destination for tourists as it is situated in the middle of notorious Braunstone estate where ironically a few of my kids are from.
They couldn't believe it when I said we were going for breakfast in the big house, what many call it, having never thought they would ever step inside.
The restaurant is absolutely beautiful inside with a grand sweeping staircase, draped in flowers as you enter, to the right a pretty spectacular looking cocktail bar to the left the restaurant.
Fortunately for me (unfortunately for the business) we were the only booking for Breakfast, the waitress told us hotel guests had already been and gone by 9am when we sat down. The breakfast menu wasn't massive although they did offer a vegetarian breakfast as well.
The service was amazing, that could have been because it was only us and the kids devoured everything, full English breakfasts all around with tea and toast. There was a discretionary service charge added to the bill as we were a larger group which was fine.
The food wasn't gourmet, there again no way could anyone complain for the price. Not sure how they are making money but the kids absolutely loved it. And who knows they might have actually learned something. I got them all working out based on 12.5% how much service charge was added to the bill, not easy mental arithmetic, two people got right. Result.