For the best part of a year, whilst working away, I called the Marriott Hotel Leeds home.
Tucked away in a cute, quiet square just off Boar Lane opposite the new Trinity shopping centre, you can escape the hubbub of central city noise whilst still being a mere 10 minute walk from the train station and for me, the all important Harvey Nichols!
When purchasing a new Land Rover or Range Rover you are given a Land Rover Owners Experience Day (£225) held at one of the Land Rover accredited off roading sites across the country. For us, Yorkshire was the closest so we found ourselves booking a midweek stay at the Coniston Hotel who host the site. You can read a full review of our stay HERE.
On arrival, we were welcomed by friendly staff and shown to the abundantly supplied waiting area. After a quick cuppa and obligatory custard cream, our tutor for the day came to collect us. We felt instanly at ease with our instructor and Katie was fully included just as much as I was.
As I had just bought a brand new Freelander and I am new to the Land Rover family I chose to do the Land Rover Owners Experience Day in the same model so that I could really find out what the car can do – without breaking mine; I am well aware of the merits of the Freelander on paper but I really wanted to put it through it’s paces in person! Of course Katie would have chosen the Defender. I’m sure if you cut her in half, she’d say Defender through the middle.
This coming weekend sees the annual Grassington 1940s Weekend held in Grassington, Yorkshire. The entire village gets in to the retro spirit and embraces the yesteryear festival.
We visited last year and are going back for the weekend this year.
The 1940s weekend features Spitfire flyovers, tea dances, Lookalikes, Military vehicle parades and musical entertainment all from the period.
The park and ride is operated on vintage buses and there is a great re-enactment camp where they fire up a stationery Spitfire engine. My gosh that sounds insane!
This year’s 1940’s weekend is to include:
A full size 18 ton tank in Grassington Square
West Yorkshire Austin / Classic Car Club parked around the village
Re-enactor camps and displays in YDNP Car Park to include:
A large selection of Vintage Military Vehicles
Fox Commando Royal Navy and Combined Operations Unit
American encampment
German 21st Panzer Div LHG
German 1st Kompanie GD
German Heer Signals Unit
Russian 13th Guards ‘Poltavaskaya’ Rifle Division
West Riding 28th Battalion Home Guard – ‘C’ Company
Some displays will include pyrotechnics. There is also a help for heroes stall where you can practice your shooting practice (I perfected my shot last year on a print out of the Go Compare man right between the brows!)
The best thing about the1940s is the atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly and the businesses have really embraced the weekend with everyone dressed up to get in to the swing of things.
You will find American airmen having a pint with a german soldier, with a land girl serving behind the bar. Costumes aren’t a requirement but they certainly add to the fun!
It is just brilliant and I wholeheartedly recommend making a trip over the weekend. You can find more information on the Grassington 1940s Weekend on Grassington website here.