Serving up an ace Tennis break in Nottingham for our guest blogger David

This week we’re delighted to share a guest blog from one of the lucky prize-winners from our recent competition to win one of four fantastic Nottinghamshire breaks. David tells us about his VIP tennis break with his partner that included delicious food and adrenalin pumping live action from the Aegon Open Nottingham ATP men's final! You get an email in your inbox which says you’ve won a prize.  I was unsure whether to open it or leave it in case it was a Spam email asking me to just ‘give them my bank details and they will credit my account with X millions’.  I’m so glad I didn’t hit delete this time though!  I had actually won a fantastic prize taking me and my partner back to a city we love and have lived in before. I really had won a prize of 2 tickets to the Aegon Open Nottingham Tennis finals, a fantastic stay at the Orchard Hotel (more later), a 3 course dinner for 2…with wine, and some great tennis gear!  It’s not fair to just say it was all great, so I will say a little bit about each one of the prizes. Tennis finals: The sun beamed down, wine was drunk, Dennis Istomin won his first title and wasn’t his mum pleased judging by her shouting! Tennis gear: Still got to try it but it looks fantastic! Hotel: The Orchard Hotel was on the University campus and was brilliant. It was all we could ask for and more really. The staff were very welcoming (especially with the ‘Welcome Plate’ in the room with chocolates all over it!). There was a big bonus in our stay because of the location of the hotel.  My partner studied at the University of Nottingham, so we went back to her old halls where we were helped by one of their staff in locating an old University Year photo with my partner on it which they have since emailed over to us. Brilliant! Dinner and wine: I didn’t know what to expect from The Larder on Goosegate, although my partner had previously been when it was called Jesse Boots. We were also joined by some friends at the table and the meal was absolutely fantastic and could only be bettered by the service we got.  The chef knows how to cook and does it with aplomb and the front of house are really attentive. We will definitely go back, pay for it with our own cash next time and get great value and service again I’m sure. Leaving the hotel:  I almost forgot to mention that the buffet breakfast the next day was just right in preparation for our journey home. In summary, a weekend to savour which was full of laughs, fine food, fine sights, great friends, and fond memories all with the backdrop of the great city of Nottingham!