THE BUBBLE RATINGS
Fawsley Hall
Grand Jersey Hotel and Spa
Holm House Hotel Spa
Historic Fawsley Hall is tucked away in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside overlooking a peaceful lake. The spa is in a separate renovated coach house. Guests can enjoy a quiet relaxation room with lots of snuggly blankets, a 17-metre pool, steam room, sauna, a gorgeous outdoor hot tub where you can soak up the view and a range of Elemis treatments. There’s a conservatory area and compact kitchenette stocking hot and cold drinks and a selection of muffins and biscuits.
The Grand Jersey is a classic hotel on the esplanade in St Helier, overlooking the bay and Elizabeth castle. The spa is in the basement and offers Elemis treatments in an oasis of calm. The relaxation room has six sumptuous cream loungers with velvet throws – help yourself to home-made cakes. The 15-metre pool has underwater lights creating ripples on the ceiling. There is also a Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and two experience showers. Enjoy lunch in the Champagne Bar with sea views.
Holm House Hotel is a former Arts-and-Craftsstyle mansion on a clifftop in Penarth, South Wales, with views over the Bristol Channel. The spa is small but pretty, with white walls, and soft grey and teal furnishings. There is a 15-metre hydropool, a hot steam room with soothing purple lights and fresh aromatherapy scents, and a relaxation lounge with French doors opening onto a sun terrace with garden views. We loved the customer service, treatments using Sultane de Saba products and the coastline setting.
01327 892 020 www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/fawsleyhall
01642 706 634 www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/grandjersey
02920 713 502 www.holmhousehotel.com
L’Horizon Hotel and Spa
Lion Quays Hotel and Spa
Macdonald Craxton Wood
Built in 1850, L’Horizon is right on St Brelade’s Bay one of the most beautiful of Jersey’s beaches. The health club has a beachside 15-metre pool, Jacuzzi, small sauna and steam. The large and buzzy spa brasserie is on the same floor, overlooking both the pool and beach. Head upstairs to the shiny new Elemis spa is on the floor above, with a chic little nail bar, treatment rooms and two stylish relaxation rooms: a dark post-treatment sleep room with headphones, and a large, stylish chill-out space.
Lion Quays is a modern resort on the Welsh border. The spa is in a huge red-brick building with a bright reception and metal lion sculpture. The thermal area has a wonderful pebble-edged hydropool, emerald steam room, wooden sauna and a snow cave – great fun if you dare. Head through a door to a 25-metre pool and Jacuzzi. After a Decléor treatment, doze in the dark relaxation area or read in the brighter one. In summer, lunch outside and watch barges and ducks drift by.
A country house hotel set in 27 acres of woodland, with a modern leisure-oriented spa next door. The 18-metre pool and fitness facilities form the leisure club, while a stylish café area is shared by the spa. The quiet thermal facilities and relaxation rooms are restricted to spa guests only. There are four tasteful rooms offering Elemis treatments; a darker relaxation room with extra-squidgy beds; a serene garden room; and thermal suite with two saunas, a steam room, footbaths and separate rasul.
01642 706634 www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/lhorizon/
01691 684 300 www.lionquays.co.uk
0844 879 9038 www.craxtonwoodhealthclub.co.uk
Northamptonshire
Jersey
www.thegoodspaguide.co.uk
Jersey
Shropshire
Cardiff
Chester, Cheshire
SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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