And toddler made three for a ladies lunch with heart and soul - Hayley Matthews

Now that a lot of places have opened up again, I've had to choose wisely on how to best spend the little time I have when the wee one is in his play group.
To cut down your drinking and adult conversation, take a small child along with you to meet your girlfriends for lunchTo cut down your drinking and adult conversation, take a small child along with you to meet your girlfriends for lunch
To cut down your drinking and adult conversation, take a small child along with you to meet your girlfriends for lunch

He's only in a few days and everything hangs on him going in and having a good day for me to get on with my to do list . The list is as long as my arm: clean this, clean that, wash this, wash that, ironing, plucking chin hairs, napping, sweeping and seeing friends.

And now I've added a fitness journey in to the mix, I really need to manage my time carefully. I haven't been out for a lunch for a long long time and when I say lunch I mean cocktails, half a bottle of wine and three courses!

Read More
My quest to get beach-body ready is starting soon – Hayley Matthews
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So on deciding that lunch with a good friend was a priority, I booked us in to Rabble on Frederick because, well, the food is amazing. Do you know that way when someone else cooks for you and it always tastes amazing? Well that's what I love about eating out and I've missed it. And extra points go to Rabble for their low and slow dishes, cooked over white oak charcoal in a Josper oven! (Don't ask me how I know that fact - but trust me, I know).

During the week can be tricky to get out for a girly lunch, but I booked it on the promise both kids would be in school/nursery and that Mr Hayley could do the school pick up because well, nobody wants to see me in the playground after half a bottle of wine and a cocktail because I'd let rip to a few. I was excited about letting my hair down a little however, with kids, things never go to plan.

My toddler was very tired and was having none of going in to nursery. He was snotty, tired from the heat and the previous long day and was very clingy shouting to go home for "boobies on the sofa. So a lunch for 2 turned in to a lunch for 2 with a toddler in the high chair and PAW Patrol on repeat. We still had a wonderful time and enjoyed some incredible food. The girls were great with us and did their very best to keep the wee guy happy. He even got a plate of strawberries on arrival to keep him quiet - VIP treatment indeed.

My friend had the soufflé that would have given Mary Berry a good run for her money and a huge Orkney Burger that I'll be going for the next time I'm in. For ten minutes my two year old sat still as I tucked in to the tank beer battered bubble prawns, whilst sipping on a champagne piña colada and it was bliss.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I only had one cocktail but next time I'll be making up for it and booking in for their "Boozy Brunch" which runs on a Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 3pm. Also, who doesn't love a bit of drunk shopping after a ladies lunch? I don't know where I'd cause more damage after a boozy lunch though - the playground or Harvey Nicks!

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.