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RUGBY & BIRMINGHAM WEEKEND GETAWAY

March 13, 2019 in TRAVEL
lunch in birmingham

If you follow me on social media, you’ll have seen that I spent the weekend in Rugby and Birmingham. David and I were given UK break vouchers as a gift, so I chose to go to Rugby as I drove through the town last year and thought it looked nice. It turns out however, that there aren’t actually many things to do in Rugby, so we took a 40 minute train to Birmingham for the day.brownsover hall exteriorbrownsover hall outsideWhen I say that there aren’t many things to do in Rugby, what I really mean is that there is NOTHING to do. There are no nice places to eat, no interesting shops and no visitor attractions except a rugby sport museum. We stayed in the nicest hotel in the area – Brownsover Hall. It’s a nice hotel that’s had a recent overall and styling update; but it does have a few issues. It’s not that much of an issue that there isn’t much to do as you can get the train to Birmingham, or you can get it to Bletchley Park, which I am so sad I missed on this trip. I’m fascinated by the code breaking there during the Second World War.brownsover hall receptionlaura pearson-smithThe hotel looks really nice and the building has a very interesting history. There is also a very smart dining room, but a very peculiar-looking bar. They offer cocktails, but the bar staff don’t know how to make them properly. They aren’t a very busy hotel, so I think some of the staff were a bit startled that guests were actually ordering things. The menu in the restaurant is varied and offers something for everyone. The food is average, but the desserts are amazing. I had the best chocolate brownie that I’ve ever had! It’s a comfortable, smart hotel; but it’s not somewhere you would go for a special occasion – it’s somewhere to stay on a work trip when you can be treated to more than the Travelodge down the road.

We had dinner at the hotel on the Friday night, as it was part of our package. It was nothing to write home about, except from that chocolate brownie that I’m still dreaming of! However, on the Saturday, we headed into Birmingham for some shopping, wandering and a delicious lunch*.hema birminghamThe first place we hit up was the Hema store at Birmingham New Street train station. I love some of the stuff that this bargain Sweedish brand make, and the only other physical store i’ve seen is at London Euston. I bought some confetti for blog post photos. We then headed to Selfridges in the Bullring shopping centre. Their food hall is amazing, and if you love cake like me, it’s heaven.selfridges birmingham cakeslola's cupcakesselfridges birmingham food hallSelfridges have their own cake counters, with everything from mini cheesecakes and huge celebration cakes, to pretty flavoured meringues. There is also a Lola’s Cupcakes counter. We knew their stuff is yummy, so we got a box of 8 mini cupcakes so that we could try a good range of flavours. It was a bit overpriced at nearly £15 for one-bite cakes, so I wish we’d just got a box of four normal sized cupcakes instead. They were nice though!blood orange mojito cosy clubthe cosy club birminghamDavid and I then went to have some cocktails in a bar before lunch. We chose The Cosy Club, which is a stylish but chilled and cosy bar. I had one of the best cocktails that i’ve ever had – their Blood Orange Mojito. It was so refreshing and fruity.bar + block birminghambar + block birminghamWe then headed a few doors along to Bar + Block for lunch*. They are a steak restaurant, with lots of other yummy options too. Steak is their speciality and is what they are most proud of though. The staff here are so friendly and are really passionate about the menu and about recomending what’s good. I think next time we’ll stay in a Birmingham serviced apartment if we’re visiting this area again, so that we can spend more time here. bar + block grazing plate mini tacosbar + block grazing platesred wine to go with beefWe started off our meal with three of their grazing plates to share as a starter – we went for Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bites (£3.75), Mini Beef Tacos (£4.95) and the amazing, stand-out Asian Crispy Beef (£5.50) . I need to know how they make the Asian Crispy Beef as it was incredible and so full of flavour. Our waiter also chose a bottle of red wine for us that would go well with what we ordered, and he picked very well.bar + block The Mighty Block BurgerFor our main courses, I went with the Bar + Block signature The Mighty Block Burger (£13.50) – Our signature beef burger. 8oz hand-ground beef patty with oozy cheese sauce, crispy onions, pulled beef brisket, pickled cucumber spear, shredded lettuce, tomato and our fiery black sauce.

However, i’m quite picky with salad, sauces and condiments, so I asked for it without the pickles, lettuce, tomato and fiery black sauce. The burger was so thick and made with such great quality beef, but the burger patty and the pulled beef was quite dry because I had got rid of the sauce. So, I think this is one to order as it’s supposed to come, as I found it too dry and meaty to finish.bar + block mixed grillDavid went for the Mixed Grill (£19.95) – 4oz rump steak, half a pork chop, half a grilled chicken breast and a giant pork sausage, served with a grilled flat mushroom, tomato, apple slaw and French fries.

He really enjoyed this and thought that all of the meats were of such a high quality and cooked to perfection. We also got a side of onion rings, which were crispy and perfect.Sticky Toffee Apple CrumbleTriple chocolate brownieEven although we were stuffed, we couldn’t leave without trying their desserts. I went for a warming and sweet Sticky Toffee Apple Crumble (£5.95) and David had the Triple Chocolate Brownie (£5.95). Both were amazing. We were so happy and well-fed after our meal at Bar + Block in Birmingham, and we were so well looked after by the amazing staff.birmingham city centre churchThe meal at bar + block was complimentary for review, but all opinions are my own.

You can see more of what i’m loving, and what i’m doing, over on my Instagram.

Rugby guide

 

Tags : birmingham, birmingham restaurant review, rugby, rugby hotel review, shopping in birmingham, things to do in birmingham, things to do in rugby, Travel

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ABOUT ME

ABOUT ME

Laura Pearson-Smith is an ex beauty journalist that's obsessed with luxury skincare and makeup. She's all about that glow! She is also a luxury travel writer and always has a trip planned. Laura has a chic style and enjoys sharing her life and loves.

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@fentybeauty Eaze Drop in 1 Light
@paiskincare The Impossible Glow Drops
@narsissist Full Dimension 1 Cheek Palette
@rmsbeauty Living Luminizer 
@lancomeofficial Idole Mascara 
@tomfordbeauty Cream & Powder Eye Colour in Golden Peach
@narsissist Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balm in Touch Me
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It’s time for a look at this month’s @mintdbox It’s time for a look at this month’s @mintdbox - a monthly luxury skincare subscription in the UK! {PR giftAD}  This month’s box is the Conscious Skin edit - all the products inside celebrate natural ingredients and are environmentally friendly. Sustainable skincare has become so popular & this is a great chance to try some brands from the sector.  This month’s box is worth £220 and is yours for just £70 if you subscribe. There are 5 full-size products inside - the @odacite Bioactive Rose Gommage (an exfoliating treatment), the @farmacy Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturiser (a fresh, calming gel moisturiser), the @theorganicpharmacy Lifting Eye Gel (a light, plumping eye gel), the @versoskincare Antioxidant Turmeric Booster (a protective, hydrating serum) and the @visvivaskincare Honey & Vanilla Hydrating Lip Balm (a rich, nourishing lip balm).
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How beautiful are these new makeup items in my lif How beautiful are these new makeup items in my life?!
{PR gift/AD—Some products gifted, but under no obligation to feature. Those items are marked with an * below}
The new Fenty base product is right up my street and I’m looking forward to trying out some sheer looks with it. I adore the new matte tinted lip balm formula from NARS too! So sheer and I’m enjoying the lack of shine for once that seems to always come with balms and glosses!
Have you tried any of these?  @narsissist Claudette St Germain Des Prés Eyeshadow Palette 
@narsissist Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balm in Touch Me* (head to my Stories for a swatch!) Exclusive to @bootsuk 
@fentybeauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint in 1*
@lauramercier Secret Camouflage Concealer Duo*
@tomfordbeauty Cream & Powder Eye Colour in Golden Peach
@dolcegabbana Solar Glow Illuminating Duo in Peach Blossom 
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It’s #friyayfaves time (# by @the__glow__girl)! It’s #friyayfaves time (# by @the__glow__girl)! 
{PR gift/AD—Products gifted, but under no obligation to feature}.
My March monthly favourites will be up on my blog this weekend, featuring this beautiful array of makeup, skincare, haircare & fragrance. Spot any that you love too?
💗  #patchology #iwantchoo #glowrecipe #glossier #decreeskincare #fentyskin #charlottetilburymakeup #lauramercier #volition #volitionbeauty #glowyskincare #glowyskin #skincarefavourites #makeupfavourites  #beautyfavourites #beautyfavorites #beautybloggers #skincarebloggeruk #instaskincarecommunity #bbloggersuk #ukbeautyblogger #makeupcollector #skincareblog #igtopshelfie #beautyfeed #skincareaddicts #newskincare #newskincareproducts
PR sample — How beautiful is the @milkmakeup Mil PR sample — How beautiful is the @milkmakeup Milk Makeup Flex Highlighter in Iced?! 💫 
I don’t add a lot of powder highlighters to my collection, but this one is really lovely! It contains real crushed pearls & gemstones and also has Hyaluronic Acid spheres, which stops it looking powdery.
Think this will be my highlighter of the summer! 
🙌🏻  #milkmakeup #glasgowblogger #ukbeautyblogger #bbloggersuk #ukbblogger #scottishblogger #highlighters #textureshot #texturetuesday #instamakeuplovers #makeupdaily #beautyfeed #newmakeupproducts #makeuptexture #makeupstash #makeupcollector #allatexture #makeupdaily #highlightergoals #highlighteraddict #glowymakeup #goldmakeup #goldhighlighter #makeupcommunity #makeupreview #makeupaddicted #makeupobsession #goldengram #goldgoldgold #goldenmakeup
{PR giftAD} Time for my #friyayfaves (# by @the__g {PR giftAD} Time for my #friyayfaves (# by @the__glow__girl) that are on my face! I have honestly fallen head over heels in love with the new @paiskincare The Impossible Glow Hyaluronic Acid & Sea Kelp Bronzing Drops & the new @fentybeauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint!  I never thought I would find a base that I love as much as my ride or die Bare Minerals CC Complexion Rescue, but the new Fenty Eaze Drop is dreamy. Such a light & thin formula but it really evens out your skin & neutralises redness and it’s buildable from light to medium coverage. Really hydrating too.  I am so pale, even in summer. I use the tiniest amount of facial tan mixed in with my skincare, just to warm my skin up a tad and stop me looking ghostly. I rarely bronze though as it’s hard to find one that totally works for my pale skin. These PAI glow drops are INSANELY GOOD though! As thin and hydrating as water and you can really layer it up or leave it so sheer. They do not disturb any of your base (I don’t know how but it’s an AMAZING formula) and they give a natural warm glow. In love!  @glossier Futuredew
@fentybeauty Eaze Drop in 1 Light
@paiskincare The Impossible Glow Drops
@narsissist Full Dimension 1 Cheek Palette
@rmsbeauty Living Luminizer 
@lancomeofficial Idole Mascara 
@tomfordbeauty Cream & Powder Eye Colour in Golden Peach
@narsissist Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balm in Touch Me
🥰  #nars #narscosmetics #glossierfuturedew  #fentybeautyfoundation #fentybeautybyrihanna #paiskincare #glowyourway #rmsbeauty #lancôme #lancomeidole #tomfordmakeup #tomfordbeauty #paleskinmakeup #paleskingirls #paleskin #summermakeup #summermakeuplook #frecklesfordays #freckleface #freckled #makeuplooksgood #makeuplookoftheday #makeupcommunity #discoverunder20k #beautycommunity #bbloggersuk #ukbeautyblogger #glossier
It’s time for a look at this month’s @mintdbox It’s time for a look at this month’s @mintdbox - a monthly luxury skincare subscription in the UK! {PR giftAD}  This month’s box is the Conscious Skin edit - all the products inside celebrate natural ingredients and are environmentally friendly. Sustainable skincare has become so popular & this is a great chance to try some brands from the sector.  This month’s box is worth £220 and is yours for just £70 if you subscribe. There are 5 full-size products inside - the @odacite Bioactive Rose Gommage (an exfoliating treatment), the @farmacy Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturiser (a fresh, calming gel moisturiser), the @theorganicpharmacy Lifting Eye Gel (a light, plumping eye gel), the @versoskincare Antioxidant Turmeric Booster (a protective, hydrating serum) and the @visvivaskincare Honey & Vanilla Hydrating Lip Balm (a rich, nourishing lip balm).
😍  #mintdbox #towerthursday #theorganicpharmacy #farmacy #farmacybeauty #odacite #verso #versoskincare #visviva #beautysubscription #beautysubscriptionbox #beautyboxes #luxuryskincare #luxuryskin #luxuryskincareproducts #luxurybeauty #sustainableskincare #sustainablebeauty #cleanbeautyproducts #cleanbeautyrevolution #cleanbeautymovement #cleanbeautycommunity #beautycommunity #skincarecommunity #skincareuk #skincareblogger #skincareaddicted #skincareaddict #bbloggersuk
Can you guess what @lush product this is? 🌚 🌙  #texturetuesday #lushcommunity #lushcosmetics #lushuk #lushlife #lushreview #lushaddiction #lushaddict #lushaddicted #allatexture #textureshot #skincareuk #skincareaddict #skincareobsessed #skincarecommunity #ukbeautyblogger #ukbeautybloggers #skinfluencer #instaskincare #beautycommunity #bbloggersuk #bbloggers #textureart #texturephotography #texturesandtones #beautyinfluencer #beautyobsession #beautyobsessed #glasgowbloggers #scottishbloggers
How beautiful are these new makeup items in my lif How beautiful are these new makeup items in my life?!
{PR gift/AD—Some products gifted, but under no obligation to feature. Those items are marked with an * below}
The new Fenty base product is right up my street and I’m looking forward to trying out some sheer looks with it. I adore the new matte tinted lip balm formula from NARS too! So sheer and I’m enjoying the lack of shine for once that seems to always come with balms and glosses!
Have you tried any of these?  @narsissist Claudette St Germain Des Prés Eyeshadow Palette 
@narsissist Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balm in Touch Me* (head to my Stories for a swatch!) Exclusive to @bootsuk 
@fentybeauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint in 1*
@lauramercier Secret Camouflage Concealer Duo*
@tomfordbeauty Cream & Powder Eye Colour in Golden Peach
@dolcegabbana Solar Glow Illuminating Duo in Peach Blossom 
👄
It’s #friyayfaves time (# by @the__glow__girl)! It’s #friyayfaves time (# by @the__glow__girl)! 
{PR gift/AD—Products gifted, but under no obligation to feature}.
My March monthly favourites will be up on my blog this weekend, featuring this beautiful array of makeup, skincare, haircare & fragrance. Spot any that you love too?
💗  #patchology #iwantchoo #glowrecipe #glossier #decreeskincare #fentyskin #charlottetilburymakeup #lauramercier #volition #volitionbeauty #glowyskincare #glowyskin #skincarefavourites #makeupfavourites  #beautyfavourites #beautyfavorites #beautybloggers #skincarebloggeruk #instaskincarecommunity #bbloggersuk #ukbeautyblogger #makeupcollector #skincareblog #igtopshelfie #beautyfeed #skincareaddicts #newskincare #newskincareproducts
PR sample — How beautiful is the @milkmakeup Mil PR sample — How beautiful is the @milkmakeup Milk Makeup Flex Highlighter in Iced?! 💫 
I don’t add a lot of powder highlighters to my collection, but this one is really lovely! It contains real crushed pearls & gemstones and also has Hyaluronic Acid spheres, which stops it looking powdery.
Think this will be my highlighter of the summer! 
🙌🏻  #milkmakeup #glasgowblogger #ukbeautyblogger #bbloggersuk #ukbblogger #scottishblogger #highlighters #textureshot #texturetuesday #instamakeuplovers #makeupdaily #beautyfeed #newmakeupproducts #makeuptexture #makeupstash #makeupcollector #allatexture #makeupdaily #highlightergoals #highlighteraddict #glowymakeup #goldmakeup #goldhighlighter #makeupcommunity #makeupreview #makeupaddicted #makeupobsession #goldengram #goldgoldgold #goldenmakeup
PR samples — Happy Easter! 🐣 I though I’d d PR samples — Happy Easter! 🐣 I though I’d do another #sundaysix (# by @bekah_sun) post! The products I’ve been reaching for all week and the week before...!  @honest_beauty Magic Gel-to-Milk Cleanser 
@jimmychoo I Want Choo Eau de Parfum 
@cadburyuk Mini Eggs
@mynuface Trinity
@decreeskincare SOS Revitalising Mask  The texture of this Honest Beauty cleanser is glorious and it is coming very close to my holy Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. It’s a dream to use and leaves my skin so hydrated.  I’ve been using the NuFace for just over a month and I definitely feel that the contours of my face are more defined. My cheeks are plumper and more toned, as are the areas around my mouth. This micro-currant device stimulates facial muscles to tighten, tone & eliminate fine lines. It’s super expensive but I definitely feel I can see results already.  This new fragrance from Jimmy Choo is a sweet floral (with vanilla and peach6 so is perfect for this time of year. I’ve also been loving this milky retinol from Sunday Riley and addicted to the new Decree bio-cellulose sheet masks that sit like a second skin.  Have you tried any of these?
🐇  #nuface #honestbeauty #sundayriley #jimmychooperfume #decree #minieggs #eastertreats #beautyinfluencers #skincareinfluencer #selfcaresunday #glasgowblogger #glasgowbloggers #ukskincare #skincarefirst #skincareobsessed
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