UTOPIA
SPA
Alexander House Hotel, Turners Hill, West Sussex, RH10 4QD (01342 714914; www.alexanderhotels.co.uk)
USP A serious destination spa in the heart of Sussex that has nearly as
many treatment rooms (25) as bedrooms (38) – and some of the latter have spa
suite bathrooms with fancy walk-in three-way showers and a tub for two.
WALLET WATCH One-night spa escape packages from £185. Relaxation days
from £89 for a half day to £295 for the Ultimate experience. Oatmeal and
Orange Treat is £36 for 25 minutes and the Serenity massage is £60 for 55
minutes.
THE
VINEYARD AT STOCKCROSS
Newbury, Berkshire (01635 528770; www.the-vineyard.co.uk)
USP As the name suggests, the Vineyard at Stockcross focuses
on wine. The owner, Sir Peter Michael, owns the eponymous winery in
California but there are no actual vineyards at the Berkshire hotel, just
seriously good wine, and it isn’t only served at the bar. Nope, you can get
it in the spa, too. A comforting glass of Californian red should be drunk
during several of their vinotherapy treatments, while lotions made from
Chardonnay grapes, exfoliation masks made from grape juice, serums from red
grapes and toning creams from Pinoit Noir are slathered over face and body.
The decadence doesn’t end here. There are also chocolate facials where
chocolate mousse is eaten during the therapy, which uses tiramisu serum,
chocolate and vanilla milkshake cleanser and a chocolate mask. And for those
with more of a savoury tooth there is the truffle facial. If you aren’t full
up after your treatment, there’s always dinner at the Michelin-star
restaurant.
WALLET WATCH My hour and 25 minute treatment cost £90, which
I think is quite reasonable. An hour-long deluxe pedicure costs £50 and an
eyelash tint costs £18. A one-night spa break which includes a night’s
accommodation, full English breakfast, three-course evening meal and use of
all the spa facilities, plus half-hour treatment costs £225 per person.
SPA
6
Four Pillars Hotel Cotswold Water Park, Lake 6, Spine Road East, South Cerney,
Gloucestershire GL7 5FP (0845 500 66 66; www.four-pillars.co.uk/cotswoldwaterpark/index.html)
USP A lake with the unromantic name of Lake 6 is the main attraction at
the Four Pillars Hotel, opened in August 2007. Several of the conference
rooms overlook it, a wooden deck adjacent to the bar nestles up to it, some
of the guest rooms face it and on-site Spa 6 takes its name from it. It’s
part of a leisure compound at the newly built Cotswold Water Park, which
extends to 40 square miles of countryside, 140 lakes, holiday apartments,
boats and canoes, cycle lanes, cable waterskiing and paintball facilities.
It is Disney goes to Gloucestershire.
WALLET WATCH The pricing structure for the spa is complicated, with
peak and off-peak prices listed. The Orange Blossom Sheer Indulgence (2
hours and 15 mins) costs £135 off-peak, £145 peak. Facials start at £35
off-peak for a half hour, £50 for 55 minutes. Massage starts at £60 off
peak, with packages for couples, friends, mums to be, and men on offer.
Rasul starts at £55 off-peak for one, £85 off-peak for two.
The room pricing is straightforward in comparison. Standard rooms are £155
room only but a promotional rate is currently on for the summer: £118 for
dinner, bed and breakfast. Upgrading from a basic room to one with a private
balcony is £40 on top of whatever rate you pay for a standard room,
including specials.
SERENITY
SPA
Seaham Hall, Seaham, Co Durham (0191 516 1550; www.seaham-serenityspa.com)
USP An Asian-style spa in the North East, in a gloriously
isolated hotel with beach views.
WALLET WATCH A chocolate facial costs £85 for 90 minutes.
Full board, including one treatment, is £170 per person per night.
AMBERSPA
The Lodge on Loch Lomond Hotel, Luss, Argyll (01436 860888, www.loch-lomond.co.uk).
Open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, and treatment rooms from 10am to
6pm.
USP The Romans didn’t hang about in Scotland, and given the wildness of
the weather and native tribes it’s hardly surprising. But they bequeathed
the novel concept of hot baths, along with all sorts of hydro and heat
therapies.
The best of the lot was arguably the laconium, which is a welcome addition to
a spa on the shores of Loch Lomond. For those unfamiliar with the device, it
is essentially a warm bench of mosaic tiles through which heat flows up
through the nether regions to induce a gentle sweat and profound sense of
wellbeing.
My partner Claire, experiencing it for the first time, approved: “This is
really lovely, it’s like a hot day.” In fact rain was sheeting sideways
outside, but within the Amberspa at The Lodge on the Loch Hotel all was
peace and warmth.
WALLET WATCH A classic facial with neck and shoulder massage costs £43,
and full body aromatherapy comes in at £55. Half day packages with body
brushes and massage start at £80, and full day treatments with facial, body
scrub and massage are from £130, both including lunch.
For more than 100 reviews of spas in Britian visit Times Online's Good
Spa Guide
