Couple finally get wedding breakfast... after 60 years
THE Midland Hotel in Manchester has stunned a local family with a generous act of kindness.
Staff from the luxury hotel recreated its legendary breakfast - complete with crockery and a personal chef - for a 60th wedding anniversary, free of charge.
The couple in question, Josephine and Ted Betts, have waited almost six decades to get their Midland breakfast after oversleeping after their wedding night all those years ago.
Josephine’s father had saved up for months to treat the pair to an overnight stay at the hotel, and missing it is something she has regretted ever since.
The Betts’ daughter Sallyann had planned to book her parents into the
Midland again for their diamond anniversary, but lockdown, and her mum’s ill health, put those plans on hold. Instead, Sallyann reached out to the hotel hoping to organise a breakfast delivery to her parents on their anniversary.
She says she could never have predicted the lengths its staff would go to commemorate the occasion. The Midland’s kitchens were closed for refurbishment with no cooked breakfasts available - for guests or for special delivery. So instead the hotel’s executive chef Brian Spark headed over to their home in Davenham, dressed in his chef’s whites and armed with everything he’d need to recreate the full Midland experience - and personally prepared the meal for the whole family. Having been filled in on Josephine’s post-polio syndrome, he even brought a tray in case she’d be more comfortable having breakfast in bed. Sallyann and Brian planned everything to a tee, and it was only then that she asked for the bill and was told there would be no charge.
The special day took place the day before Greater Manchester was put under stricter lockdown measures. Sallyann said: “The chef was here for about three hours.
“He’d brought all the crockery, cups and saucers, teapots, sugar bowls, branded mats, butter pats, bowls with all the preserves in. He just kept unpacking more and more things!
“He’d even prepared brioche and croissants and pain au chocolat before he arrived so they were fresh.
“It literally was like having the table settings from the hotel - they recreated the Midland’s restaurant in mum and dad’s dining room.
“I did tell them in advance - mum doesn’t like surprises and I knew she’d kill me if she’d not got her make-up on and her hair done!
“Because of her health she needed to get her carer in at the right time, she could get her hairdresser in the day before, and similarly that my dad could be in his smarter gear rather than the gardening gear he’s normally in!
“They were really thrilled, and had a fabulous time. It was just spot on.
“I don’t get the impression for one second that this was any kind of PR ploy. They never shouted about it, it was a genuine act of kindness.
“It was a really hidden but a very powerful gesture, which is why I wanted to post about it.”