Loved-up Leigh hits town in style with Take That's dancers

ACTRESS Leigh Arnold made the most of her visit home to Dublin, hitting the town with Take That's backing dancers on Sunday night.

The Diary spotted the brunette beauty with the band's crew following their second and final performance at Croke Park.

The large group, which included Irish backing dancer Ciaran Connolly, had moved from their previous base of the Four Seasons to the Morrison hotel in the city centre, where they kicked off their night with drinks in the hotel's bar.

They later moved onto the upmarket new Kitchen nightclub, located in the Clarence Hotel, owned by U2 rockers Bono and the Edge.

Former star of RTE's The Clinic, Leigh and her fellow revellers were given the red-carpet treatment at the up and coming venue, enjoying a complimentary drinks reception in the club's VIP section upon arrival.

The Foxrock beauty (31) was in the mix thanks to her friend Claire Malone, the brains behind new company Create Your Night, which planned the night out for the group.

Leigh's new love interest, British businessman Steve Davies (43), was noticeably absent however, returning to London early for work.

Originally from Manchester, Steve is a director for Stanton Fisher, a company that specialises in financial claims and he joined the brunette beauty for the first half of her visit to Dublin.

Things appear to be going from strength to strength between the couple, who were spotted showing their support for musician Dave Browne at the Temple Bar pub, as he set a new world record for the longest continuous guitar-playing session last week.

They were also seen on the town alongside Leigh's pal Izabela Chudzika at the Mercantile bar on Dame Street last Friday night.

The Polish beauty has just taken over as marketing manager at the newly refurbished hotspot and was keen to show her close friend a good time during her brief stay, which will come to an end today.

Izabela previously worked at the Sycamore club in Temple Bar, which played host to Take That's support act, The Petshop Boys on Sunday.

The five members of Take That were nowhere to be seen however, with the reformed manband flying straight back to the UK on a private jet following their performance.

The Diary has been reliably informed that the group did however let their hair down together while in Dublin, jetting into town a day early to soak up the Irish culture.

After flying into the capital on Thursday afternoon -- a day ahead of schedule -- Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange enjoyed a top-secret trip to an Irish cabaret, featuring veteran performer Noel V Ginnity.

The generous foursome, who partied without newly rejoined band member Robbie Williams, treated their entourage of 45 people to dinner and drinks at Taylors Three Rock in Rathfarnham before the show.

Jason Orange is said to have been so impressed with the venue that he returned again the following evening.

Posted in Herald.ie on Tuesday June 21st 2011
http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/lovedup-leigh-hits-town-in-style-with-take-thats-dancers-2801279.html