Have small children? Remember those long gone heady days spent lounging around in hotel bars and dancing the night away with your loved one? Miss them. So do I *sob*.

So when Nana Cooper-Abbs offered to have the youngest member of the All Words team (Mia – 19 months) for a night I jumped at the chance.

A few months ago I had the pleasure of joining a friend for drinks at a smashing boutique hotel called Great John Street in Manchester. I thought it would be the perfect getaway for a night off from toddler chasing. I checked their slickly designed and easy to use website and noticed they had a late availability offer for £135. For a city centre hotel (overlooking Granada Studios and a stones throw away from Deansgate) that’s pretty reasonable.

I booked over the phone (online booking isn’t available for late deals). A few days later I received an email from a member of staff informing me that there would be a function on the roof terrace the night we were staying in the hotel, nicely reassuring us that we wouldn’t be disturbed. I didn’t fancy joining in that party as well so requested a room as far away as possible.

On an unseasonably hot Saturday afternoon we arrived at the hotel to a very warm (‘scuse the pun) welcome. The receptionist checked us in, asking whether we need wake up calls or papers in the morning. All very efficient, yet calm and unhurried. She mentioned there had been some confusion when booking as my address hadn’t been taken, but it was quickly resolved.

We went up to our room (Baby Grand) which was stunning. Sumptuous decoration, bathroom upstairs complete with roll top bath and classical music playing gently in the background. Unfortunately it was directly under the roof terrace and opposite the staircase to the soon-to-be-filled-with-revellers-terrace. With mild irritation I made my way back down to reception and explained we had requested not to be near the roof terrace, and emails had been exchanged to confirm this. The very lovely, if slightly flustered receptionist, told me that the notes on the computer said I had requested a room on the second floor under said roof terrace.

But she immediately rectified the mistake and moved us to the best room she could find on the same floor. It was yet another beautiful Baby Grand with queen size bed and a cooling breeze of air conditioning. We’d just managed to find the mini bar and kick off our shoes when there was a knock at the door. Earlier flustered receptionist was now red cheeked receptionist who confessed that she had booked us into someone else’s room who was now standing in reception. Ummm.

Before we even had a chance to express annoyance she whipped out the trump card, free upgrade. Don’t you just love those words?

Once again we took a little trip down the corridor to our new, Boudoir Grand room. This one featured a king size bed, a natty flat screen television and more room to scatter the mini bar remnants around.

Five minutes later the phone rang and we answered (presuming news of some toddler hi-jinks) only to be asked if we would like some complimentary drinks to compensate us for all the inconvenience. We thought it rude to decline.

A restful, very quiet night followed with no party noise. If you’re looking for the kind of hotel where you are treated with personal service and every staff member does their absolute best for you then give Great John Street a whirl.

We’re looking for a babysitter so we can go back. Any volunteers?