Kerry, Why Not?: Why Not go to 40 Winks Hotel for Story time

Why :
1) The Nudge suggested we try out Bedtime Stories
2) I needed some PBFF time with my mate Nisha
3) I love Stories

Where: 40 Winks Hotel, near Stepney Green

When: 17 November 2011

What happened:
The emails that we received after we had reserved 2 places were delightfully charming and witty, and seductive in a way that made you intrigued, curious and very welcomed. It made you feel you were going to be spoiled with all you could want in luxury, warmth and comfort, plus being served drinks, nibbles...and being entertained. Perfect. Why Not?

However, one big issue...Neither Nisha or I owned nighties, pyjamas or anything that could be seen in public...I.e. all I have is shorts that my eight year old neice would prob wear, and a tank top..or a huge t-shirt, hardly they sophisticated adult sleepwear that you could wear to lounge in luxury in public.

Shopping time with Nisha. and what we discovered :

a) baby grows are back in fashion.. Definitely a NO...as the note from 40 Winks said that if undesirable sleepwear was worn you were put in a naughty corner , or made to change into something they had.
b) Anne summers sleep wear....do people actually wear that stuff, apart from in porn movies?
c) Nisha and I should design sleep wear, as most was minging..
d) M&S was the winner : After women in the changing rooms started staring at us as we commented on each others boobs and so on in our nighties, we felt we had to explain where we were going..

What happened next:
We had a riddle to solve and were greeted at the door by Mr Carter, who owns and has designed this boutique hotel, he is in fact a well known interior designer.

Mr Carter is an eccentric and charming chap, and commands your attention, and made everyone feel welcome. The Hendricks Gin cocktails and nibbles also helped. Around 30 people were cosily drinking and chatting in the basement kitchen after changing in to Pjs upstairs in the 2 bedrooms.

As we had thought, most people there were females, however there were several couples and one single guy, we were impressed he came alone to this event. He was there checking it out as his mates might reserve the hotel as a hunnymoon destination in London. I agree it would be a very romantic hotel to stay in.

The Bedtime story theme this night was " the guide to the perfect relationship".

We were split into 2 groups, Losers and Lovers...though, this wasn't due to who we were...But Nisha and I were LOSERS first :)

The losers went into one living room, on the middle floor, whilst the Lovers went with another storyteller upstairs. After stories we had more cocktails and nibbles, and the groups swapped, and we became lovers, Yay.

The storytellers... Nell Phoenix (Losers) and Xanthe Gresham (Lovers)

At first I was a little, oh god, here we go, I know this one...but I decided to just roll with it...
They encouraged us to Ohh and Ahhh and Awwwwh, and Ewwww at different parts of the story...
There were many chuckles and after I had stopped try to guess the punchline in my head, or think I had heard it before, I relaxed and felt like I was 5 again, sat cross-legged in school being read a story by my favourite primary school teacher, captivated on every word and different voice they made...however, this time I was a little tispy, lying on cushions in a sexy nightie..

Nisha and I both agreed that sometimes it wasn't the actual story, but how they told them and we especially loved the Lovers Storyteller and the frog princess story, however, the ending didn't add up...but it was still our fav.

After stories and so on were completed, we all met up in the main living room and prizes were given out for sexiest nightie, sexy toes ad so on,. I came runner up with sexy nightie...and was quite happy I had been picked, but you can't win them all. At least I have a sexy nightie that will be enjoyed at a later date :)

The night ended off with the talented singer / songwriter Oli Deakin playing accoustic guitar (tbc) and promoting his two bands..His music was very chilled and he had a great voice, so relaxing that the one dude who was on his own passed out for a few songs, bless.

Suggestions: I definitely thought it was worth the £25, for entertainment and drinks and nibbles, and everyone was very friendly. However, we wished we could have explored the rooms and house longer, as there was soo much to look at, and every inch was lavishly decorated. Both Nisha and I also wished we could have taken several pieces home for our own flats, but we wouldn't know where to start. The whole place was dimly lit and was very cosy and comfortable, maybe I will have to come back again..

Why not rating : 7 / 10