Cherie Blair broke away from official duties at the Labour conference to enjoy a meal at Donatello restaurant in Brighton Place on Saturday night.

Soon after arriving in Brighton, she went upstairs in the popular pizza parlour with a large group including two of her sons, Nicky and Leo.

Many diners did not even notice her quiet arrival but later, when Mrs Blair was recognised, she happily posed with customers for photographs.

Joint owner Sue Addis said: "Her sons were in a group of about 20 people celebrating the 18th birthday of a Brighton lad who is a friend of the Blairs.

"It was lovely to see her in a relaxed social setting.

"She is always in the public eye but it was unusual and quite heart-warming to see her as a mother and a friend.

"She was lovely. We talked and she said how much she liked Brighton. I said it was a shame she was always being ushered around and could not really enjoy the city.

"Cherie kept saying she had to leave and was late for an engagement but she stayed for a good hour. It was a lovely atmosphere and a family occasion."

Monday, September 26, 2005