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For richer or poorer: hotel chain's £58 honeymoon deal
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor20.08.09
IT'S FAR from the most romantic start to married life but is probably a lot cheaper than staying at home.
A chain of budget hotels normally filled with junior sales reps is offering a two-night honeymoon package including dinner and "all you can eat" breakfast for £58.
The deal for newly marrieds also promises rose petals on the bed, a bottle of sparkling wine, strawberries and luxury chocolates - all from Asda - a Boots hamper of spa treatments and what it describes as "glamorous nightwear" but is in fact a set of pyjamas and a nightdress from Primark.
The offer is available at 10 Premier Inn hotels until the end of September for couples who have got married or registered a civil partnership since the end of July. The locations include some of Britain's less obviously romantic spots, including Belfast, the old County Hall near Waterloo, Hull and Llanelli.
Initially only two of the packages are available at each of the locations on a first come, first served basis but Premier Inn says it will roll out the offer if it proves popular.
The chain, which has Lenny Henry as its "face", said it decided to launch the offer following research showing that three quarter of young couples are stressed about the cost of their honeymoons and half plan to ditch the traditional post-wedding break to save money. Almost four out of 10 said they would rather allocate the money to a deposit on a house.
Gemma and Chris Brooks, from Clapham, who got married in June, had not taken a honeymoon because of budgetary constraints. Gemma said: "We spent about £15,000 on a beautiful wedding day for our friends and family but it left us with no time or money to enjoy a break for ourselves."
Premier Inn marketing director Steve Conway said the locations had been chosen to give a good geographical spread over Britain. He said: "Didn't someone once compare Hull to New York? It's quite close to the coast and there's lots to do in that part of the country."
