AHOY SAVOY! // the boots treat street blogger launch

So we pulled up outside the Savoy. That’s the Savoy, you know – the first luxury hotel in Britain, playground for the super-famous and the uber-rich.

I wrestled the double pushchair from the back of the Black Cab, and tilted my head towards the doorman, in what I hoped was a sophisticated nod, rather than a strange tic. 

He opened his mouth to speak, and I leaned forward expectantly. ‘Ummmm, your baby is eating cardboard,’ he whispered. My eyes flicked to the back of the Phil & Ted’s, where Lil Sis was chowing down on a brochure she’d dug out from the footwell. 

Chunks of slobbery pulped paper were stuck to her face, like multi-coloured measles. ‘Yeah, that…’ I blathered. ‘We can’t afford groceries, so we feed her junk mail instead.’

He laughed politely, in an ‘I can’t tell if she’s kidding…’ kinda way, and ushered us towards the door. After jamming the stroller into the door frame – twice – I finally burst into the Savoy’s lobby like a cork popping from a champagne bottle.

Then I took the lift to the wrong floor, and ended up wandering around the residential floor before a member of staff rescued me, and directed to my destination. Finally, I’d made it to the Boot’s Treat Street launch. 

Before I even had a chance to apologise for arriving late, Big Sis had spotted the children’s play area, and was off without a backwards glance.

Meanwhile I found myself irresistibly drawn towards a table heaving with cakes, and scones, and chocolate-covered strawberries.

I grabbed a coffee and took pole position by the afternoon tea table as the Boots team explained that Treat Street was their fab new incentive scheme. 

Now, rather than just being able to build your points by shopping in Boots, you could collect them from around 50 top retailers, from Monsoon, to Mothercare, Ticketmaster, to Toys R Us.

You simply need to log on to these stores via the Treat Street site, start buying and start earning points. You’ll get one for every pound spent. Then use those lovely points to treat yourself to some well-deserved goodies from any Boots store (not online).

If you’re already registered with Boots, you don’t need to do anything else – just sign in with your usual details.

I love the idea because I buy a lot of kids’ gear from Boots, and from many of the retailers signed up to Treat Street. I think most Mums put themselves behind the kids when it comes to spending – then, when the money inevitably runs out, we miss out altogether. By using your points to buy yourself a little pamper treat, it’s like getting something for nothing, so you don’t feel guilty!

And speaking of guilty pleasures, just look what they gave us to take home – the world’s largest box of Thornton’s chocolates. Although I must have got a faulty box, as some of the choccies were missing by the time I got them home. Ahem. 

So, Boots Treat Street, my wallet loves you – but my waistline hates you…

UPDATED 2017: BOOTS TREAT STREET SADLY NO LONGER EXISTS, BUT OF COURSE YOU CAN STILL EARN POINTS USING YOUR ADVANTAGE CARD.

• read about Big Sis and her favourite Poo Poo Pants (it’s not as gross as it sounds – honestly!) 

* Afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel was provided to bloggers attending the Boots Treat Street launch