A horde of photographers, journalists and devoted fans set up camp in the cold outside Cottons Hotel, while inside a troupe of clowns entertained their baby Brooklyn at his first birthday party.
About 30 children frolicked in a room bursting with balloons and marvelled at magic tricks before tucking into a feast of burgers and chips.
Their mums and dads, meanwhile, are believed to have dined on a sumptuous banquet washed down with champagne.
The couple's relatives rubbed shoulders with a glittering array of guests including Victoria's fellow Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Mel G, who arrived with her baby daughter Phoenix-Chi.
Many of Manchester United's stars also showed their fatherly side as they carried their excited children into the hotel.
But at least one guest got past the bouncers without an invite - for a while.
It is believed a national newspaper reporter booked a bed for the night only to be ordered out when hotel staff cottoned on.
Police patrolled the car park throughout the afternoon and eventually Mr and Mrs Beckham came out briefly to greet fans and sign autographs.
On Monday morning guests, who had stayed overnight at the Shire Inns' hotel, eventually left, as did Posh and Becks.
After the last car sped off, the few remaining journalists, photographers and television crews packed up too.
The booking, only arranged three weeks earlier, was a scoop for Cottons who were chosen by the celebrity couple above Manchester's prestigious Midland Hotel.
"I think they probably preferred the appeal of a provincial hotel who could provide a one-to-one service," said manager Mark Bowers, who charged the hotel's normal rates for the party.
"We were over the moon when they decided on us and were both a real pleasure to deal with."
He and his restaurant manager Neil Frith created the circus theme for the Beckhams which had included a 9ft clown made of balloons.
Yesterday (Tuesday) little ones at Goostrey pre-school enjoyed the last of the party after the hotel gave them the clown.
Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
