WhatSpa? Magazine - Issue 17

32 About WhatSpa? Why we are the UK’s most trusted consumer hot tub guide

34 Spa Buyer’s Guide Professional and independent pre-purchase advice

40 Spa Masterclass Our jargon-busting guide to hot tub equipment

62 Lounger v All-Seater The two main hot tub seating styles compared

66 Online Danger Avoid the bait and web scam traps of online bandits

88 Energy-Saver Reduce heating costs with the latest air source heat pumps

104 Plug & Play? The pros and cons of 13-amp ‘plug & play’ hot tubs explained

14 Health + Wellness Create your health and wellness tonic retreat at home 22 Spa-rty Time! Our step-by-step guide to arranging the ultimate hot tub party

28 Stress Buster How hot tub hydrotherapy can relieve stress and anxiety

46 Sleep Matters Why hot tubs are providing essential sleep benefits

52 Stars in their Spas We turn the spotlight on celebrity hot tub enthusiasts

56 Digital Detox How to gain enhanced tech-free family time

74 Back Trouble How a regular soothing soak can ease chronic back pain Installation

78 Grand Designs Get the taste for in-spa-rational hot tub installations

96 Pre-Delivery Guide How-to-guide to planning for delivery day Products

10 Hot Products The latest UK offerings of outdoor products and spa accessories

110 2023 Best Buy Awards Our verdicts on the best 50 hot tubs in the UK market

142 2023 Best Buy Heat Pumps Six of the best hot tub air source heat pumps unveiled

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to our 17th edition of WhatSpa? magazine. Our aim is to provide you with an independent and comprehensive guide to enable you to make an informed and stress-free choice while selecting the hot tub of your dreams.

While hot tub popularity has scaled record heights in recent years many leading manufacturers have been busy creating a new wave of designs with advanced energy-efficiency. These latest models now provide top quality hydrotherapy, with the added benefit of minimal power consumption.

Top quality hot tubs have never been cheaper to run, but it is critical to use our guidance and conduct research about your prospective hot tub’s insulation and how efficiently it operates all-year-round. Air Source Heat Pumps can also combat rising energy bills by radically reducing heating costs, which we focus on from page 88.

Wellness is your ultimate benefit from hot tub ownership to prevent and alleviate physical and mental health problems, so our Health and Wellness feature explains all of the lifechanging health and wellness benefits that good quality hot tubs deliver from page 14. Experts have been advocating the health-boosting benefits of hot tubs for good sleep patterns and we highlight why Sleep Matters on page 46, with the help of hydrotherapy that can also provide supportive treatment for chronic Back Trouble (page 74).

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in children and young adults becoming ‘ghosts’ to the natural world, trapped within an unhealthy online existence, but families are now utilising hot tubs as a ‘social hub’ to achieve greater communication as part of a Digital Detox (page 56).

For total peace of mind purchasing, it is important to avoid Online Danger (page 66) by gaining the advice and extensive professional guidance from our Spa Buyer’s Guide (page 34). For a sound understanding of hot tub features, you should also check out our jargon-busting Spa Masterclass on page 40, which will give you the knowledge and confidence to visit your local WhatSpa? Approved and WhatSpa? Professional hot tub showrooms armed with all the latest technical information.

As part of your first venture into hot tub ownership, extra practical tips are provided in our Pre-Delivery Guide on page 96, but before you start planning your garden design, see our selection of award-winning ‘in-spa-rational’ hot tub projects in the Grand Designs section from page 78.

Finally, from page 110, we reveal our coveted Best Buy Awards, which highlight the very best hot tubs in every price category from £4,495 to £20,000+. Our 2023 Best Buy Awards acknowledge the hot tub models that stand out from the crowd within a range of criteria, including design, hydrotherapy, energy-efficiency, and value-for-money. So be sure to include them in your list of showroom viewings.

We hope you enjoy this issue and look forward to receiving your emails and photos of your fabulous new hot tub installations. Happy hot tubbing!

Credits

Published by

WhatSpa? Media Group

Bridge House, Gainsborough Road

Bawtry, Doncaster DN10 6HT Tel: 01302 714257

Editor-in-Chief

Nick Clamp nick@whatspa.com

Editor

Andrew Slater andyslater71@gmail.com

Production Manager

Karen Clamp info@whatspa.com

Contributors

Alan Titchmarsh

Alex Saxton

Amanda Holden

Andrew Doody

Andy Wroot

Chris Anthony

Chris Brady

Dave Gibson

Denise Van Outen

Dr Bettina Hohnen

Dr Ian Maidment

Dr Jane Gilmour

Dr Steve Faulkner

Jane Veysey

Manuela Ferreira

Marilyn Devonish

Matthew Walker

Michael Phelps

Peter Andre

Phillip Edwards

Sally Gunnell

Tim Hutchful

Photography

Front Cover: Villeroy & Boch / Marquis

Alan Titchmarsh / Jo Marshall

Amanda Holden / Christian Vermaak / Hot Tubs Oxfordshire / Marquis

Denise Van Outen / Riptide

Michael Phelps / Master Spas

Peter Andre / Euphoria Lifestyle / Jacuzzi

Sally Gunnell / Euphoria Lifestyle / Jacuzzi

Designer

Matt Dettmar www.magazinedesigner.co.uk

Printer

Manson Group Advertising Sales

Karen Clamp info@whatspa.com

In memoriam

In loving memory of Lawrence Slater

WhatSpa?

©WhatSpa? magazine. All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in WhatSpa? magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the advertisers, authors, contributors or publishers. Neither the company nor its agents accept any liability for loss or damage. While we make every effort possible to ensure that everything we print in WhatSpa? is factually correct, we cannot be held responsible if factual errors occur. Please check any quoted hardware specifications with your supplier before purchase.

Hot Products

Solus power

Bowling over the competition after a decade of success by its Solus outdoor Hemi fire bowl siblings is the new High Output burner for the Solus Hemi 36 and Solus Hemi 48 fire bowls with an extra 31kW of heat output. The 36 is the flagship product and the first fire pit Solus ever produced and has now evolved with the higher level of heat for your ‘spa-rty’ gatherings to enjoy. There are 12 Solus High Performance Colours to help your choice blend into the hot tub surroundings for a stunning attraction either on or off.

www.solusdecor.co.uk

Navy splash

Splash out on these Navy MultiPrint Swim Shorts by KangaROOS before you hop into your hot tub. The washable pair of print swim shorts has a fashionable print design to make them perfect for hosting a ‘spa-rty’ and comfortable for enjoying a soothing hydrotherapy session. Along with an elasticated waistband with outer cord, the swim shorts also have side pockets and an inner lining with a small inner pocket.

www.swimwear365.co.uk

Stretch out

Flame proof

Increase the temperature around your hot tub with an eco-friendly alternative to gas patio heaters in the form of the Firestorm range of wood pellet patio heaters. Along with being carbon neutral and costing significantly less to run than any traditional patio heater or firepit, these British produced Firestorm Patio Heaters have an output of up to 15kW of heat, and have a low smoke output as the flame spirals inside the 1.5m glass tube to produce a warm focal point. A heat guard kit provides an extra peace of mind safety feature.

www.pinnacle-agri.co.uk

When the best hydrotherapy seats are taken then stretch out and relax on the comfortable Novellini Chaise Longue that is available in various colour combinations to perfectly match the exterior of your hot tub. As part of the Outdoor Spa collection designed by Marco Pellici for Novellini, this chaise longue is manufactured with a sturdy steel frame, complemented by a structure in lacquered birch plywood and finished off with a padded mattress for the whole of your body.

www.outdoorspa.novellini.com

Safe tunes

Stream your favourite music wirelessly while soaking in your hot tub or away from home by tuning into this Sonos Roam portable waterproof speaker. Whether stood upright or horizontal, protection against water damage is assured with an IP67 rating that protects it from hot tub water splashing. A rechargeable battery ensures playback for ten hours at moderate volumes with the Bluetooth® capability through the lightweight precision-

Ninja warrior

Rather than battling to fix up a bite in your kitchen, instead become an alfresco cooking warrior with the versatile Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill, Smoker and Air Fryer technology. The integrated smoker box burns 100 per cent natural wood pellets for authentic woodfire flavours and the technology allows low and slow smoking to produce tender and juicy dishes for your ‘spa-rty’ crowd to get their teeth into including ribs and pulled pork. In addition, you can impress guests with alfresco cooking infused with smoky BBQ flavours, from air fried corn-on-the-cob to roasted vegetables.

www.ninjakitchen.co.uk

Sure footing

Cold embrace

Embrace the cold water treatment benefits of an ice bath concept by plunging into the purchase of a Chill Tub for regular low temperature sessions that have been proven to help reduce muscle soreness by constricting blood vessels and reducing inflammation, while enhancing immunity, improving aerobic capacity and endurance, as well as increasing resistance to fatigue. Produced from aluminium, with a teak top and a black aluminium surround, the Chill Tub is suitable for indoor or outdoor use and incorporates a built-in patent pending ozonator for clear water, while the insulated cover helps to reduce running costs.

www.superiorwellness.co.uk

Head warmer

Ensure the wellness warmth of your hot tub session is not lost quickly with a Unisex Hydrocotton Hooded Robe. It is produced with ‘low-twist’ technology for cotton that feels thicker and softer than normal, while remaining light, moisture-wicking and fast-drying. A generously oversized style is not too long or heavy, while the design incorporates bound trims on the hood, collar and cuffs.

www.thewhitecompany.co.uk

Alfresco sizzle

Put the sizzle in your outdoor socialising hub and get cooking with this stunning Sizzler Outdoor Kitchen unit that offers a complete kitchen with everything included – even a built-in sink! Reinventing the outdoor kitchen, the Sizzler features a large BBQ grill (LPG) with a rotisserie, integral side burner, and a built-in glass-fronted fridge. The unit is over 2.7m long and is stylishly finished in a beautiful black powder coated stainless steel casing with black marble counter. Integrated castors ensure that, despite its size, the Sizzler can easily be moved when required.

www.sizzleroutdoorkitchens.co.uk

Water wrap

Make stylish waves in and out of your hot tub with the Blue Ombre Wrap Effect Swimsuit by LASCANA. This washable blue swimsuit has a dynamic wrap style which is then exaggerated by the print that fades out to a glorious turquoise shade. For extra comfort it has integral soft cups, a shapewear insert, adjustable straps and an elasticated under bust seam at the front.

www.swimwear365.co.uk

Caddy comfort

Turn the tables on the problem of where to place drinks or food by splashing out on the SpaCaddy that is designed to swivel towards and away from your hot tub water. Manufactured with a sturdy reinforced polymer tray on an aluminium post, this accessory mounts on almost any hot tub with a single composite mounting bracket and eight screws to ensure you can conveniently enjoy nibbles or fizz without having to interrupt your hydrotherapy session.

www.leisureconcepts.com

Health

WELLNESS

WhatSpa? Editor Andy Slater delves into the latest health research to reveal how regular hydrotherapy can improve your mind, body and soul.

Hundreds of thousands of UK hot tub owners are embracing a healthier lifestyle following the COVID-19 pandemic by turning to regular use of their hot tubs to provide natural hydrotherapy and enhance their overall sense of wellbeing.

Physical and mental health issues are increasing during a time of economic uncertainty, while fruit and vegetable supplies are running low and NHS waiting lists are getting longer. Yet those that have embraced the advanced water wonders from a top-quality hot tub are now ensuring an ‘open all hours’ recuperation retreat for themselves and their families. This reduces medical intervention requirements with a

perfect hydrotherapy prescription from a soothing spa sanctuary to boost physical and mental wellness, while escaping the demands of daily life.

Gone are the days when hot tubs were basic boxes of hot water to splash around in for fun and socialising. Manufacturers are utilising the latest technology with form-fitting moulded seating and modern hydrotherapy jets that mimic the health benefits of the best deep tissue massage.

As wellness spas and beauty salons were in forced closure for much of the pandemic, Britons took their health into their own hands and invested in good quality hot tubs for much needed therapeutic respite during a difficult and mentally testing period for everyone.

Unlock wellness

Now, as a way of preventing our minds and bodies from being frazzled by physically and mentally demanding jobs, many UK owners have discovered that their hot tubs can provide a convenient wellness sanctuary away from the turmoil of daily life; either as a solo soak or as part of quality social interaction with family and friends.

After you take ownership of a hot tub, you can unlock the many benefits of enhanced physical and mental wellness in the comfort of your own surroundings, without the hassle and inconvenience of having to make the journey to your local gym to enjoy the down-time offered by commercial spa facilities.

As well as proven health benefits, such as improved sleep patterns,

Photo © Artesian Spas

Photo © HotSpring

which we highlight in our Sleep Matters feature on page 46, owning a quality hot tub at home can continue to provide a Digital Detox (page 56) for couples and families seeking quality tech-free time together after becoming immersed in a world dominated by digital platforms and relentless social media communications during the COVID-19 lockdown measures.

New medical evidence has shown that chronic illness and obesity lowers our immune response to dangerous viruses and other illnesses, including COVID-19; so hot tub ownership has gone through the roof as the healthconscious amongst us have resolved to improve both mind and body in an effort to raise our resilience against future medical emergencies.

Back trouble

An evening regimen of muscle-soothing massage in the bubbling warm water of their own hot tubs has become a routine daily ‘must-have’ for Britons that are working in physically demanding jobs; including those in the building trade, nurses, teachers and care workers, who are constantly on the move.

Before the pandemic, a new study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine highlighted that sitting at a desk for up to eight hours a day was taking its toll on a growing proportion of the UK workforce and this new ‘silent killer’ is increasing with people sitting for even longer while working from home.

Chronic back pain caused by poor posture and the strain of sitting for long

periods in front of computer screens affects people in all age groups but the over-50s are worst hit, according to figures by the UK Statistics Authority that reveal the shocking extent of the nation’s back pain problem.

“Many people are completely unaware that staying in the same seated position can cause unnecessary strain on the back and neck. Whether at your desk, on your tablet or sitting watching TV, it’s really important to take regular breaks to relieve the build-up of tension in your lower back; sitting causes up to twice as much pressure on discs on the spine as standing so, as a nation, we’re vulnerable,” says Tim Hutchful, a British Chiropractic Association (BCA) chiropractor (see Back Trouble on page 74). ➧

Submerged joy

Whilst organisations like the Arthritis Foundation recognise the benefits of hydrotherapy massage and warm water exercise to help relieve arthritis pain, clinicians now agree that a host of other ailments, including chronic back pain, can be mitigated by incorporating regular hydrotherapy massage into people’s lives.

When you are submerged in warm water, you will begin to benefit from the life-enriching power of weightlessness. Immersing your whole body in a hot tub reduces body weight by approximately 90 per cent, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, especially the spine which bears the brunt of modern living.

Just 20 minutes immersed in warm water at around 37oC also dilates blood vessels and improves circulation, which helps move inflammatory substances away from the joints, muscles and tendons. Hydrotherapy massage also allows muscles to become relaxed, stimulating the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkiller.

This explains why hydrotherapy is becoming a major treatment for athletes, allowing them to gain improved recovery rates following strenuous training sessions. This is due to the fact that warm water helps to raise body temperature and allows our pores to naturally eliminate toxins as the body perspires. They are promoting hot tubs as a way of recovering from the daily strain of training; which is also a blessing for millions of amateur sports enthusiasts, from runners, to cyclists and triathletes.

Fast living

Leading medical professionals and health experts have stated that we are at risk from our constantly ‘switched on’ culture and the fact that it is virtually impossible to escape from the daily grind of heavy workloads, electronic stimulation, domestic chores and constant doom and gloom in the media, within our fast-paced 24/7 life routine.

To combat our modern lifestyles and the constant strain on our physical and mental health it is important to find suitable ways to recharge our batteries and reconnect with loved ones after a busy day. This will help to prevent burn out and most importantly, becoming emotionally and physically rundown, which can have a devastating effect on our overall health. An area of biggest concern is the effect of technology on children and teens, as they progressively become disconnected and isolated from their physical

surroundings and family members (see our Digital Detox feature on page 56). Since water and tech gadgets generally make unhappy bed-fellows, a regular family session in the hot tub has become the new ‘Sunday lunch’ for many families, and a welcome chance to reconnect without disruption from ‘beeping’ and ‘pinging’ smartphone alerts and story updates.

Modern indulgence

Visits to a health spa for a pick-me-up and massage session from time to time are often used as a stop-gap treatment to gain a boost for our bodies but they are usually too few and far between to make a real impact and do not address the important issue of how we maintain daily wellness. That is why hot tubs have become so popular for securing a wellness future for many age groups, including young and old, by putting a myriad of physical and emotional therapies at their disposal to enjoy whenever they choose.

Thanks to the hydrotherapy ‘treatments’ provided by modern hot tubs, we can tackle a whole range of ailments and illnesses, as well as prevent toxins from accumulating in the body that, if unchecked, can lead to inflammation and joint pain.

Massage treatment

Once you purchase a top-quality hot tub, your health will be enhanced with the capacity to benefit from ‘full body’ hydrotherapy. This guarantee of an effective head-to-toe massage also has the extra advantage of eliminating the commute to a treatment room. For those that do take regular spa treatments then regular sessions in a hot tub can ensure the improved efficacy of the therapy.

Conventional massages generally involve a combination of different strokes to relieve the build-up of tension – particularly across the neck, shoulders and the back –while promoting lymphatic drainage and circulation. While a therapist will adjust their hand position and pressure to provide various benefits, there are different types of hot tub jets that are adopted in the design to produce an array of massages to target muscles throughout the body. Your hot tub hydrotherapy will help to relax muscles, increase circulation, decrease muscle spasm, relieve musculoskeletal pain and create a sense of holistic wellness. Here we have highlighted some of the benefits produced by hot tub jets and how they compare to health spa therapies and physical massage therapies.

Back, neck and shoulder massage

Sufferers of stress are already aware that the back, shoulders and neck are all areas of our body where stress symptoms create soreness and tightness in our muscles that never seem to subside, even with overthe-counter pain relief. It usually requires the expertise of a therapist to apply various amounts of pressure to alleviate these ‘stress knots’ and professional techniques that can relax muscles and ease tension.

Professional techniques are the deep and penetrating Petrissage strokes (kneading, knuckling and wringing) that invigorate tired muscles and also assist our bodies to reduce lactic acid. The Effleurage strokes (gentle, long flowing strokes, which are usually a source of treatment with the whole palm of the hand and fingers), meanwhile create an overwhelming sense of relaxation, which provides a physical as well as mental health tonic and improves our immune systems.

Photo © Marquis

Modern swirling jets of a hot tub that move the water around in a circular motion massage a wider area in a similar way to Effleurage. Traditionally installed in the back of a hot tub’s lounge seat they relieve tension in the neck and back by targeting the muscles of these two body areas. The moving massage jets in a hot tub, meanwhile, which are generally installed two or three in a row, provide a deep back massage, the elongated oval jet creates this effective massage by pulsating the water back and forth.

Defined as Tapotement, rhythmic tapping using the edges of the hands, can be replicated in hot tubs with advanced jet systems located in appropriate seating settings to pulse the water to gain a similar benefit. Firm pressure can also be applied by whirlpool jets that are concentrated to an area by redirecting pressure from the other jets, providing a powerful deep tissue massage to provide welcome relief for our tired or aching muscles. While Swirl Jets and Pillow Jets create a ‘beneficial neck massage and soothing cushion’ and are traditionally installed above the hot tub water line.

Reflexology & foot massage

Our hard-working feet take the strain of our entire weight on a daily basis. Even after squeezing our feet into all shapes and sizes of shoes we rub salt into the wound by hammering them for hours at a time. Yet, as most of us realise, our feet are extremely sensitive because of a massive concentration of nerve endings that can stimulate numerous benefits with correct treatment and care.

One of the best tonics for tired feet is reflexology, which is a complementary therapy that is based on the understanding that certain areas of our feet are linked to organs, and that applying pressure on these areas produces benefits for the related area of our bodies. For example, it is believed we can give the frontal sinus a boost by massaging the tips of our toes.

Now, a significant percentage of footwell areas in high-quality hot tubs currently include jets that reproduce this health improving reflexology-type pressure, while also creating the added benefit of reducing pain and soreness in feet and ankles along with stimulating our feet’s many pressure points to super charge our organs and areas of our bodies that have been neglected. ➧

Healing hot tubs

A good soak can do wonders for your health and can be used to both prevent and address a range of issues:

Stress

Stress is known to cause headaches, fatigue and tense, knotted muscles. The combination of heat, massage and buoyancy in a hot tub can relieve tension and stress, ease pressure on the joints and stimulate natural endorphin production.

Insomnia

Soaking in a hot tub prior to bedtime will help you fall into a deeper, more relaxed sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to depression, poor concentration, mood swings and memory lapses.

Sports injuries

Leading physios say a soak aids recovery from post-match aches and more serious muscle and joint injuries. Top sportsmen and women have installed hot tubs to keep themselves in peak mental and physical condition, and to speed-up rehabilitation.

High blood pressure and stroke

Research suggests that soaking in a hot tub for 15 minutes will lower a person’s blood pressure. New studies also reveal that hot tubs enhance rehabilitation for patients recovering from a stroke.

Muscular aches and strains

Hot water increases the temperature of muscles, causing blood vessels to dilate which increases blood flow to them. This boosts circulation and reduces tension, which in turn aids relaxation. Hot tubs also help the body to eliminate waste products, helping to detox the body.

Arthritis

Joint pain and inflammation due to arthritis can be eased with a hot tub session. The Arthritis Research Campaign recommends a morning dip to warm up joints and make movement easier throughout the day. www.arc.org.uk

Colds and infections

Patients with upper respiratory infections, asthma, colds and bronchitis can all benefit from hot tub sessions, which help to open airways and promote the circulation of healing white blood cells.

Diabetes and weight issues

Research in the States shows that daily 30-minute sessions in a hot tub, six times a week for three weeks, can reduce blood sugar levels by an average of 13 per cent. Hot tub use is also believed to increase metabolic rate and digestion, which research suggests could lead to weight loss of an average of 3½ lbs without any change to your diet and exercise regime.

Skin care

Through the creation of thousands of tiny oxygenating bubbles, new MicroSilk technology is proven to moisturise and rehydrate skin and even relieve the symptoms of eczema. Its inventors claim that MicroSilk will also make your skin smoother, and even reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin care

Several manufacturers have incorporated a new technology called MicroSilk® in their hot tubs in recent years to tackle skin health for the first time. This is being viewed as a revolutionary skin treatment system to provide health benefits within hot tubs by utilising oxygen to stimulate collagen production.

During the ageing process, our skin’s natural collagen production gradually subsides, and this leads to the thinning of the skin, which causes fine lines, wrinkles and the appearance of age spots. It is believed that as little as 20 minutes of MicroSilk® exposure a day will remove years off your appearance by restimulating collagen levels to leave your skin appearing smooth and beautiful. Also, the latest low-maintenance and skin-friendly water care products; which have been developed especially for hot tubs, will leave your skin looking and feeling cleansed and refreshed, following a spa session of 20 to 30 minutes.

Advanced lighting

A large majority of modern hot tubs are produced with advanced LED coloured lighting systems, which can create an attractive night time spectacle, and help to illuminate our garden areas, but advanced lighting technology can also benefit our health by stimulating our senses that have been recognised to play a major role in our mood and wellbeing. To harness powers of colour therapy, hot tubs are traditionally fitted with an array of coloured underwater lights to provide users with a health boost.

Generally defined as ‘chromotherapy’, it is also known as colour therapy and is viewed as an alternative healing benefit associated with the principal that the seven shades of the spectrum are infused with many specific healing energies that can be harnessed to improve a person’s energy capacity and increase mental health.

This form of chromotherapy healing originates from ayurvedic medicine, which designates certain healing properties to individual colours. Red, for example is associated with the stimulation of our circulation; while green, is linked with calm and balance.

Enhanced mood

A growing health benefit of hot tubs in relation to enhancing our moods is the use of aromatherapy. This is a popular favourite with spa-goers as the fusion of heady essential oils and flowing strokes can generate a wonderful sensorial and relaxing experience. Generally, we associate aromatherapy with hands-on massage at a spa, yet increasingly the use of essential oils and additional plant extracts to improve wellness and enhance our mood is experiencing rapid growth

within the use of hot tubs, which is being reflected by manufacturers incorporating this technology in their hot tubs.

Manufacturers and suppliers are providing a greater choice of ‘spa soaks’, and these have been specifically developed to be regularly adopted in the hot tub routine to provide the double benefit of an individual smell of your choice that also creates the required mood. Rosemary and peppermint, for example, have the aromatherapy powers to invigorate and stimulate your mood; while lavender oil promotes healthy sleep patterns.

Deep sleep

Medical and health professionals are increasingly worried that a lack of quality sleep is causing a host of illnesses and health problems. Most people at one time or another suffer the torture and the anguish of a restless sleep pattern and total lack of sleep, but hot tubs are now providing a natural cure.

Research by the Mental Health Foundation and the Surrey Sleep Research Centre at Surrey University, has also highlighted that almost two thirds of us are failing to gain a healthy boost from a good night’s sleep. Experts report that the problem has become widespread because we are failing to switch off from a wide range of electronic stimulus and worries about keeping pace with our hectic lifestyles and work.

After media coverage about the negative use of sleeping tablets, restless sleep sufferers are turning to the natural cure that hot tub hydrotherapy offers, rather than seeking help from pharmacists with over-the-counter remedies such as sleeping pills.

Generally, a hot tub session of only ten to 20 minutes prior to bedtime will naturally help your body to unwind and then gain much deeper and more relaxed regular sleep, so may be the ideal prescription to prevent illnesses and health issues from lack of sleep

(See Sleep Matters on page 46). ❚

Photo © Master Spas

20 YEARS of TRANSFORMING your OUTDOORS

When Richard Hart decided to turn his passion for hot tubs into a business, he simply couldn’t have imagined where he would be 20 years later.

From humble beginnings, he now has a thriving company which is on the verge of opening a new showroom incomparable to anything else in the country.

Aqua Warehouse already had the largest indoor facility for hot tubs in the south of England, at their base in Chelmsford in Essex, but their new showroom marks a big moment for the company because when it comes to floorspace in this industry, size really does matter.

Now boasting premises of 7,000 square feet, Richard said it would be beneficial for new and existing customers alike.

“Practically, it is going to make a massive difference for people coming to see us,” explains Richard.

“Naturally, when people are making a big purchase like a hot tub or swim spa then they want to see it in person, get a feel for its size and wet test it.

“We had space for a lot of our stock before, but now we have much more – that’s a big benefit for us and for customers.”

When he started out in 2003, Richard had just a handful of hot tubs on offer, but now the infrastructure of the business has grown to include nine warehouses and a full and thriving team of staff offering big industry names including Reef Spas, Vita Spa and USSPA for hot tubs and swim spas.

In recent years the business has expanded into outdoor living. On display in the showroom are also Sizzler, DeliVita Pizza Ovens and Bull Outdoor Kitchens

These products are part of an outdoor range as more people look to expand their alfresco culinary options. To enhance any outdoor space, Remanso luxury pergolas are proving a big hit with customers.

“I’d always wanted to own a hot tub so when I had an opportunity to start a new business it was like making that dream come true,” enthuses Richard.

“Over the years our products have grown from simple hot tubs to swim spas, outdoor kitchens and pergolas.”

Martin Rigby, Business Development Manager at Aqua Warehouse, said it was the evolving needs of customers which has led to the decision to expand.

“Our customers always ask for more and, naturally, we want to deliver for them,” explains Martin.

“It might be they’re looking for a larger spa, one with more features, or with technology that Richard probably

would never have thought was possible when he first started out.

“Or it may be that someone with a smaller budget, or a little less space, is looking for something far more modest.

“It’s so important we’ve got something physically in the showroom for everyone, that’s why we’ve invested in this larger space to house our ever-widening range of products.”

The team at Aqua Warehouse pride themselves that anyone who comes to their showroom will leave with a smile on their face, whether they’ve invested in a state-of-the-art hot tub or just picked up a box of chlorine.

“Buying a hot tub, swim spa or any of our other products should be fun and exciting so that’s the sort of atmosphere we aim to create,” says Richard.

“I am blessed to have a fantastic team here who are so knowledgeable about all our products – they can tell you everything from the best way to keep them clean and fresh to the latest upgrades, gadgets and gizmos.

“They can also offer practical advice about delivery and installation – the thought of getting something large into your garden can seem a bit daunting, but we can work with you, alongside our suppliers who we have great long-term relationships with, to make it work.

“We really want to help our customers have the garden of their dreams, and it gives us all massive satisfaction when we can help deliver it.” ❚

✆ Contact Details

Richard Hart

SPA-RTY TIME!

Outdoor hot tub parties have become ultra-fashionable with families wanting to create ‘spa-rty time’ in the convenience of their own garden surroundings.

WhatSpa? puts the spotlight on planning for your first gathering for all your family and friends.

When you have a hot tub you never need to wait for a special occasion to host a ‘spa-rty’. As thousands of new owners discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic, hot tubs help you to celebrate the joys of life in the convenience of your own garden surroundings, whilst enjoying the benefits of advanced hydrotherapy and warm water that ensures every ‘spa-rty’ date is a success!

Planning is crucial if you want your spa party to be a success. Hosting does not have to be difficult or expensive; but a little organisation goes a long way. Here are our top ten tips for your fun filled hot tub party.

1. Guest list focus

When you are preparing a guest list for your inaugural ‘spa-rty’ it can be fraught with problems if you don’t ask first. Many people still have not had the experience of joining in with a hot tub crowd, so it is best to carefully choose the appropriate guests. You certainly don’t want to have the unfortunate situation of being the only ones in your hot tub with a group of people looking on! So, at first it may be the best policy to only make provision for guests who indicate that they are eager to join in the hot tub experience.

2. Respect your neighbours

To ensure that you don’t get the cold shoulder from your neighbours, it is advisable to involve them, even if it is just for notification. Even though they may not be scheduled to do so, many ‘spa-rty’ gatherings can run late into the evening, so it is a good idea to try to be respectful to your neighbours –especially with mid-week events. Even if you don’t include your neighbours on your regular ‘spa-rty’ guest lists you may find that by consulting them or sending an invitation it gets them on side.

❝Planning is crucial if you want your spa party to be a success.❞

3. Be prepared

If you plan to unveil your new hot tub and let your guests hop in for a dip, let them know beforehand that they need to bring a bathing costume and the reason why. Even the most extrovert among us are reluctant to strip down to our swimsuits in a friend’s house, so have spare bathing costumes, shorts and bath robes at the ready, and a private changing area.

4. Pre-dip tipples

Having a selection of alcohol will help your guests get into the hot tub party mood. Remember that bathing in hot water will dehydrate you, so excessive alcohol and hot tubs aren’t the greatest of mixers! Have iced water on hand and don’t forget nonalcoholic beverages for designated drivers! Always use plastic cups or polycarbonate glasses to avoid danger of broken glass.

5. Finger lickin’ good

Heavy, stodgy food is not a great combo for relaxing in hot water, so keep food light and simple. What really fits the bill is moreish buffet-style ‘nibble’ food that is easy to serve and easy to eat. If you are eating whilst in the hot tub, preferably stick to party food that is easy to handle and won’t be dropped into your crystal clear hot tub water. ➧

6. Spare their blushes

Once it’s time to don the swimwear and dive in, always remember ‘ladies first’ if it’s a mixed party, and have the chaps make a splash after the girls have comfortably stolen all the best seats! Show your guests to your changing area and ensure that you have plenty of spare robes and flipflops for your guests to slip on to go from your changing area to the spa. An outdoor towel rack or table nearby will be handy for people to hang up their robes before making their spectacular entry into the water, and a sturdy set of spa steps will make entry and exit easy and safe (see page 11).

7. Safety first

Invest in a good set of acrylic or plastic glasses as you do not want glass anywhere near your lovely hot tub. Accidents happen and a smashed glass in the bottom of your hot tub will soon curtail the festivities and mean the spa will have to be evacuated and drained down to clear the hazard. Supplying towels will prevent your guests from dripping water in your kitchen or leaving a damp trail throughout the house if they require the bathroom upstairs. Also, beware of tiled kitchen floors that may prove to be a slip hazard for people coming straight out of your hot tub with wet feet.

8. Bring provisions

Once your guests are relaxing in the water and in awe of your shiny new hot tub, make sure that you bring any drinks or nibbles to the spa side so that you don’t have to keep hopping out to serve every whim of your guests. A Spa Caddy (see page 12) can be fitted to the side of your spa, which will hold plenty of drinks for all your guests.

9. Fun and games

No party would be complete without fun and entertainment. Choose your guest list according to who you think will want to take the plunge and keep in mind the maximum occupancy of your hot tub as you don’t want to over commit and run out of spa seats. There are plenty of waterproof toys and games on the market that are great fun and ideal stocking fillers for Christmas and birthday gifts. Waterproof cards, floating game boards, tables and drink trays all make a hot tub party a little more fun.

10.

Let me entertain you!

If your hot tub is equipped with a sound system, make sure there’s a wide variety of music in your playlist. While the music should get everyone in the party mood, avoid pumping up the volume to such an extent that you upset the neighbours and can’t hear each other chat. You might also want to include some quiet pieces or nature sounds to help everyone relax and wind down at the end of the evening, or whenever you want rid of them!

Whatever you do, don’t forget the most important thing about throwing any successful party is having fun. At a hot tub ‘spa-rty’ it is almost impossible not to have fun, so take it in your stride and enjoy the evening. It almost certainly will be an event to remember for your guests and one that they will be keen to repeat very soon! ❚

Photo © Sundance Spas

Photo © Villeroy & Boch

❝An outdoor towel rack or table nearby will be handy for people to hang up their robes before making their spectacular entry into the water.

ULTRA-EFFICIENCY

Vortex Spas is delivering a wave of ultra-efficiency in the British market with maintenance-free hot tub designs that are providing owners with cost-saving ‘holiday at home’ hydrotherapy capability and advanced technology endorsed by an Olympic swimming legend.

Combining the winning formula of exceptionally high quality production standards and the brand ambassador endorsement from Olympic Gold Medal-winning swimming icon Ian Thorpe, this brand is creating a wave of popularity with families seeking energy-efficient ‘staycation’ time in their gardens.

Vortex Leisure is already leading the southern hemisphere market with affordable environmentally-friendly hot tubs that incorporate tailor-made hydrotherapy and cutting-edge functionality to drastically lower running costs. The Australian manufacturer is now achieving success on these shores in partnership with experienced distributor Spa Solutions and a thriving nationwide dealer network.

Ownership benefits

Along with advanced manufacturing and cost-saving operational functionality, ownership of Vortex Spas provides maintenance-free peace of mind with a key benefit of the Thermoclad construction design, which is wood-free and so eliminates structural damage risks and maintenance worries.

The Permaframe structure and industry-leading Aristech acrylic prevents outdoor weather deterioration. Combined with a wood-free Permaframe, this ensures a long hot tub life without rotten wood and pest problems. These benefits have been created in addition to the ‘in house’ manufacturing capability that radically reduces the reliance on third-party components.

By pairing a Vortex Spa with an advanced energy-efficient SV Heat Pump by SpaNET from Spa Solutions it ensures the benefit of your hot tub always being quickly primed for wellness benefits without busting your electricity budget. SpaNET was the first spa control manufacturer to develop an interface to offer true heat pump integration to a hot tub, which can be heated rapidly with this corrosion-resistant technology to help save you up to 75 per cent of heating costs.

Innovation rewards

Vortex Spas has continued to gain award-winning recognition rewards for its innovative designs after the unique IKON made an instant international impact by achieving WhatSpa? Best Buy Award status and an Australian Good Design Gold Award plus ‘innovative interior’ acclaim in the German Iconic World 2020 design awards. This paved the way for WhatSpa? Best Buy Award-winning success for the Vortex Mercury and Vortex Cobalt Hydroplus. Single lounger designs can create seating arguments in family gatherings and that is why the Cobalt Hydroplus has gained successive Best Buy accolades and best-selling status with the twin loungers.

While also incorporating twin lounger seating, the Palladium (Hydroplus) has capacity for ten people. In stark contrast is the compact two-seater Gemini. Other designs include the Neon, Eon (Hydroplus), Azure, Cerium (Hydroplus), Xenon, Nitro (Hydroplus), Spectrum (Hydroplus), and Titanium (Hydroplus).

Smart capability

A user-friendly capability within all these models is the SmartLink technology that allows you to control your hot tub remotely from anywhere in the world. Like other options in the Vortex Spas range, which also includes the Aqualounge, Aquagym, Aquagym Max, Aqualap, and Hydrozone models for

combining hot tub hydrotherapy and swimming; they also incorporate the SmartStream sound system.

This is an integrated and completely invisible transducer speaker with a powerful subwoofer. Your hot tub water then acts as a large ‘sound box’ as part of an innovative acoustic experience.

Keeping with the ‘smart’ theme, the intelligent control software monitors water quality and provides automatic daily cleaning and filtration with no overlap of massage programs. This ensures crystal clear water and reduces chemicals required to maintain maximum hygiene capability.

Delivery solutions

With over two decades of experience in the hot tub market Spa Solutions provides exclusive distributor support to ensure quick supply for professional dealerships and their customers.

Prompt UK-wide access to stock now includes Vortex Saunas and Vortex Pergolas and to build on the Vortex Spas reputation, its sister brand Fisher Spas from Australia has been successfully introduced to these shores, following an inaugural WhatSpa? Best Buy Award for the 13-amp ‘plug and play’ Hydro 5S. Both brands have hot tubs compatible with SpaNET Heat Pumps.

“High quality manufacturing reliability and energy-efficiency are key success elements of Vortex Spas and Fisher Spas in the British market,” explained Spa Solutions Managing Director Anthony Schneikert; “Another element is our experienced and professional support with speedy delivery solutions for our dealers and their customers.” ❚

Photo: Ian Thorpe, gold medallist and IKON ambassador

STRESS BUSTER

Regular doses of hydrotherapy in a quality hot tub can be the perfect stress-buster tonic to combat anxiety and ensure we lead healthier and longer lives.

Stress is a growing health concern and like a deadly assassin it can be a silent killer. It often creeps up on you to land a fatal blow or conspires towards a myriad of health issues that are preventable with early action that can include a daily tonic of hot tub hydrotherapy.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, hot tub owners have been helping themselves to prevent anxiety and damaging mental health issues occurring in the first place by simply taking the time to soak away stress on a regular basis before it becomes out of control and causes more severe problems. Symptoms to watch out for are palpitations, dizziness, tiredness, muscle spasms and trembling or eye twitches, stiffness in your neck and backache, as they may be the early warning signs that your body is suffering from chronic stress.

Other signs include aching muscles,  a nagging headache after working long hours without regular breaks, panic attacks, frequent urination, diarrhoea, impotence, disrupted sleep due to unresolved anxieties, or troublesome indigestion or heartburn.

Early warnings

It is critical that if you experience some or many of these stress indicators, then you should take notice of the early warning signs from your body and act to prevent repercussions of prolonged exposure to stress by making healthy lifestyle choices that can include the many health and wellness benefits of hot tub ownership.

People are generally unaware that they are suffering from stress in the early stages; and may be shocked to discover this when they visit their

local surgery with headaches, indigestion and muscle pains, for example. Severe stress, on the other hand, can be more dramatic with panic attacks, severe headaches or migraines, and chest pains among the likely symptoms. Consulting your local GP about any nagging physical ailments is always the best policy, but if the symptoms are being caused by just common levels of stress, then hot tubs can be the perfect prescription to provide a natural daily remedy; rather than reaching for the medicine cabinet or having to resort to prescribed drugs and other treatments after your health has deteriorated further.

Tranquil time

If you are constantly under pressure due to leading a ‘full throttle’ hectic lifestyle that seems never ending from dawn to dusk; then taking time out from your schedule to be alone and tranquil without any distractions can be very helpful for boosting your health and eliminating the build-up of high levels of stress.

Set aside a time of day when you can be secluded from the world to just savour the moment and gain a tremendous natural tranquillity tonic in your hot tub. It should be part of your daily mindfulness schedule, which can be truly enhanced if it is in a good quality model with advanced hydrotherapy, audio functionality and lighting. We are all different. Some owners may want to get a boost from their hot tub early in the morning, to help kick-start their day; while others may wish to unwind in their hot tub in the evening to ensure all their cares are soaked away before gaining a restful night’s sleep. Either way, the very fact that you are using the hot tub regularly will deliver the many health benefits of heat and hydrotherapy and help you to melt away chronic stress levels.

Drug reliance

According to the Stress Management Society, stress was affecting one in five of the working population even before the pandemic, with a cost to employers of over £1billion annually with millions of working days lost every year, which can then create further anxiety and depression issues.

When stress overload occurs, especially over a considerable period, there can be a breakdown in mental and physical health, which may then lead to poor decision making and an acute accumulation of serious illnesses and critical symptoms.

Once our bodies are burdened by too much stress it may lead to them blowing a mental fuse, which could lead to time off work or having the more drastic action of bowing out from occupations that we may have trained and worked up to for many years and previously excelled at. This can continue the vicious circle of stress and depression.

Tens of millions of depression drugs are dispensed every year and it is now widely accepted by health experts that we are in a ‘depression crisis’. Yet it has recently been highlighted from research funded by the Alzheimer’s Society that patients who took anticholinergics, including dosulepin, paroxetine and amitriptyline, which are designed to block a key neurotransmitter in the body called acetylcholine, for more than a 12-month period had a 30 per cent increased risk of dementia in later life. Lead pharmacist on the study Dr Ian Maidment of Aston University warned that people need to be more conservative in using these drugs but advised:

“The key thing is don’t panic,” advises Dr Maidment; “It’s a long-term effect, so don’t suddenly stop taking medication.”

Reducing risk

Many stress-related problems include being snappy and impatient, experiencing painful and embarrassing skin conditions, and the worrying build-up of high blood pressure that can lead to serious health issues such as the risk of stroke or heart-attack.

It must be stated that no amount of hot tub time can solve the very serious problems that are causing you to be stressed on a regular basis, but effectively coping with stress, and finding ways to reduce unnecessary or unhealthy levels of stress are important life skills to master. ➧

But hot tubs can play a key part in the rehabilitation process. By spending some of your daily free time in the confines of a soothing and relaxing hot tub you will not only feel de-stressed but also, you’ll be less inclined to engage in excessive digital time and constantly checking social media or other online activities, along with resorting to unhealthy alternatives such as alcohol, cigarettes, and comfort eating junk food to cope with stress issues.

Growing anxiety

Experts are worried that one in four adults are classed as ‘obese’ and a further 62 per cent are overweight, which has placed the UK in the largest rate of obesity in Europe and the second highest rate of obesity in the world. A person is classed to be overweight if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 25 and 29 and considered obese if their body mass index exceeds 30.

This is causing our ‘growing’ population more anxiety as we battle against the bulge to prevent ourselves and family members from being a burden on the strained NHS, which is having to cope, with over seven million confirmed cases of diabetes, 6.5 million cases of heart disease and stroke and 500,000 cancer cases linked to obesity.

While we all gained a greater appreciation for our NHS and associated services during the pandemic, even before the coronavirus strain hit the UK it was highlighted that 20 per cent of Year Six school children were classed as obese and we were spending £48 billion managing the social causes and healthcare of obesity, which is responsible for 30,000 deaths a year.

Weight control

While self-control is important, there is mounting evidence that stress plays a significant part in weight gain. Chronic stress disrupts our sleep and our blood sugar levels. This leads to increased hunger and comfort eating. And that then leads to further disrupted sleep, even higher levels of stress and even more disrupted blood sugars. In time, this can lead not only to unhealthy levels of body fat, but also to type-2 diabetes.

Scientific research has proven that when you are stressed, your body goes into ‘fight or flight’ mode. Your body thinks it is under attack and releases glucose into your blood to provide energy for your muscles.

But if you don't need that energy to run away from danger, then your pancreas will pump out insulin to bring those blood sugar levels back down again. These rising levels of insulin and falling blood sugars will make you hungry – which is why you crave sugary carbs when you are stressed. The same sort of thing happens when you have a bad night’s sleep.

Passive heating

If you have slacked off physical activities in favour of longer, relaxing soaks in the safe haven sanctuary of your hot tub you will be pleasantly surprised to know that it still results in calories being burned off! It has been claimed by researchers at Loughborough University that passive heating from hot tubs may have a positive effect on blood sugar control, which is a good indicator of your overall metabolic fitness, and the number of calories that the body burns.

Dr Steve Faulkner conducted a study looking at 14 men who took part in two tests: the first was to go on an hour’s cycle. The second was to kick back in an hour-long 40-degree Celsius bath. Both tests were designed to raise the core body temperature by one degree, which allowed the team to study how many calories were burned in each session. And, although the cycling obviously burnt more calories, the researchers found that a hot bath used up around 130 calories, the same energy demand as a 30-minute walk!

Natural resource

By utilising your hot tub on a regular basis you can take advantage of one of nature’s most soothing wellness resources to relieve stress. Studies have shown that being immersed in warm water can release the hormone dopamine in our bodies. It is produced by the parasympathetic nervous system to help our bodies to counteract the problem of being under stress.

Increased awareness has ensured hot tubs are now becoming a popular way of tackling stress naturally, rather than having to resort to over-the-counter remedies or the expense of signing up to health clubs or the inconvenience of travelling to spa break destinations for treatments.

Once you have harnessed the power of a hot tub for stress-busting success you will be more inclined to be in a much healthier place to combat anxiety in the comfort of your home surroundings. ❚

Photo © Villeroy & Boch

Photo © Marquis

The Ultimate Hot Tub Guide WhatSpa?

WhatSpa? Editor-in-Chief Nick Clamp reveals why WhatSpa? is the UK’s number one source for independent and trustworthy hot tub advice.

There can be no greater endorsement for a product than trying it out and being so bowled over that you commit your life to selling it. When publishers Nick and Karen Clamp invested in a hot tub in the early noughties, little did they know the profound life-changing effect it would have. What had originally been a purchase aimed simply at enhancing their family’s leisure time and quality of life, soon turned into something a great deal more involved.

Having experienced the benefits of hot tubs for themselves, and the pitfalls and bewilderment of the purchasing process at the time, Nick and Karen made it their joint mission to spread the word about spas and help to simplify the buying process for other spa owners. They took the plunge to assemble a team of the most respected figures in the hot tub industry to launch a one-stop information source for prospective hot tub buyers.

The result was WhatSpa? – a clear, concise and independent guide for those seeking to purchase their dream hot tub.

One-stop advice

Our mission is simple, declares Nick: “We are dedicated to supporting you, not just in the research and evaluation stage of purchasing a hot tub, but also after you have chosen and installed your spa as well. Our aim is to make the process of buying and owning a spa as simple as possible.

“The easy bit is making the decision to buy a spa; selecting the manufacturer, model and retailer is usually a bit more difficult, which is where we come in. There is still a lot of confusion in the market, and because many people are first-time buyers, we want to remove that confusion and put all the necessary and relevant information about buying a spa at your fingertips.”

Advice you can rely on

A key tenet for WhatSpa? is its independence, which ensures you receive informed and impartial advice. You can be sure that you are receiving unbiased, clear and comprehensive information that will enable you to make the right choice when it comes to selecting your ideal spa. WhatSpa? has a team of respected experts who are on-hand to provide sound, independent advice and reviews of all the very best spas and hot tubs. We also have a team of ‘Spa Doctors’ who are happy to answer any technical questions and queries that our readers may have.

❝The result was WhatSpa? – a clear, concise and independent guide for those seeking to purchase their dream hot tub.❞

What Spa?

from knowing companies are reputable, well established, have a professional infrastructure and a good track record within the industry, so it is the logo to look out for.

In order to win coveted WhatSpa? Approved status, hot tub retailers must have a minimum number of display spas and prove that they have all of the insurance requirements and trained staff in both water hygiene and safety as well as technical backup and maintenance.

Best Buy Awards

Since 2006, WhatSpa? Best Buy Awards have become the industry standard recognition for hot tubs that achieve the best scores in our rigorous tests for quality and value across all price brackets.

“Our Best Buy Awards cannot be purchased or influenced by third parties, such as manufacturers and retailers, and we take great pride in their independence, which is why they are now held in such high esteem by both buyers and manufacturers,” reveals Nick.”

For a full breakdown of our 2023 Best Buy Award winners across all price brackets, go to page 110 and don’t forget to look out for these prestigious logos in showrooms as you start shopping.

Seal of approval

When making any purchase of this size, trusting the manufacturer and retailer is essential. The WhatSpa? Approved scheme is a unique hallmark of quality and is only awarded to companies who meet our exacting high standards.

The Approval Scheme offers the customer peace of mind that comes

WhatSpa? Professional retailers also have to pass a stringent extra set of criteria, including professional training accreditation by attending industry-recognised technician courses. For details, visit the www.whatspa.co.uk/ logos page of our web portal. WhatSpa? has also teamed up with regulatory body BISHTA (British & Irish Spa & Hot Tub Association) to ensure the highest standards of spa safety. It was set up to educate and protect the public against the potential hazards arising from poorlymaintained spas, and to promote the importance of water maintenance. One criteria for WhatSpa? approval is BISHTA membership or proof of attendance on a BISHTA recognised pool and spa water hygiene course.

WhatSpa? online

Our website – www.whatspa.co.uk –is the perfect complement to WhatSpa? magazine, providing the ultimate online advice centre for spa and hot tub owners and buyers in the UK. The new ‘Knowledge bank’ section of the website has even more information about buying, installing and maintaining your hot tub, and new for 2023 is our product ‘Video Reviews’ area that contains a growing number of hot tub model video reviews from the WhatSpa? test team. remains committed to supporting bona fide and professional

retailers in the UK, and we have a strict entry policy to our ‘Find a Retailer’ section, which means you can know in advance what your local retailers have to offer.

In our ‘Brand Directory’ we also have links, a brief profile and UK contact details of all the major brands currently represented in the UK.

Finally, if you are looking for garden design inspiration, why not visit Design Ideas’ area where you can see the very latest award-winning above-ground, semi-sunken and inground installations from the network WhatSpa? Approved and Professional dealerships around the UK.

Hot Tub Chooser

The website also links through to , the UK’s No.1 hot tub search engine. Hot Tub Chooser takes product search to the next level in a way that no other comparison site can even begin to match. It is the only website that catalogues every major brand and hot tub model in the UK with its database of hot tubs, spas, manufacturers and retailers.

The new Hot Tub Chooser website enables you to input your lifestyle preferences, then our powerful search engine will scour the entire market to find your ideal hot tub matches and request quotes from the top three matches...all from reliable WhatSpa? Approved local retailers. Think match.com for hot tubs! To find your ideal hot tub matches, visit: www.hottubchooser.co.uk

Lights, camera, action!

New for 2023 is the hot tub Video Reviews section of our website, which showcases the Best Buy award-winning models that our video team have reviewed on camera. When you reach our Best Buy Awards from page 110, look out for the new logo (above) that identifies when a video review is available or when one is coming soon. This is a brand-new service; we are planning to add many more video reviews over the next year so check our website and our @whatspahottubs YouTube channel to see our growing catalogue of jargon-busting video content. ❚

SPA BUYER'S

Our easy 10-step guide to buying the spa of your dreams.

If you’ve never bought a hot tub before, the process can be a little daunting. Fear not, our team of experts will walk you through the process and make choosing your new spa as easy as possible. We have broken down our buying tips into 10 simple steps, each of which will become milestones in your route to choosing the perfect spa to suit your exact needs.

Step 1 – Do your homework

Take some time to research which brands are currently available in your local area before you go any further. We thoroughly recommend that you purchase your hot tub via a WhatSpa?

Approved or WhatSpa? Professional specialist local showroom, rather than taking your chances buying over the Internet or on online auction sites.

Check out our Retail Directory Supplement that comes poly wrapped with WhatSpa? and visit the Find a Retailer area on our website www.whatspa.co.uk to get an up-to-date list of companies in your area.

We have seen an endless onslaught of horror stories from unsuspecting UK spa buyers that have taken the risk of buying online from websites that claim comparable quality to established brands at rock bottom prices. Most of these products are ‘grey import’ copies of established brands from factories in developing countries with few quality controls. See our investigative Online for more in-depth analysis of this worrying trend.

Specialist hot tub stores, by contrast, have put their own name and bricks and mortar reputation behind the brands and products that they sell. It is in their vested interests to offer good quality, reliable hot tubs that stand the test of time and delight their clientele. They will service a manageable geographical area so they can respond quickly and cost-effectively to service callouts, both within your warranty period and thereafter. After your hot tub is installed, your retailer will also be a local source of spa water care products and will be on hand to offer invaluable tips and advice

After you have pored over our Spa , start visiting your local hot tub showrooms armed with your newfound hot tub expertise. Talk to sales staff and get a feel for the models and features on offer in each different price bracket.

As you visit stores for the first time, be aware of the product knowledge and communication skills of the showroom staff. It is vital that you also choose a retailer that you trust, not just pre-sale, but to ensure that they will support you for the entire lifespan of the spa which can be many years in the future. Trust your ‘gut feel’ when it comes to shortlisting your retailers, you generally won’t go far wrong.

Step 3 – Get wet testing

If you like and trust the retailer and you see a model that you also like the look of, arrange a ‘wet test’ also known as a ‘test soak’. A wet test is an actual trial of the hot tub in the showroom where you take your bathing costumes along and ‘try before you buy’. All professional retailers will have private wet test facilities and changing rooms.

The objective is to pick at least three or four of your favourite models to shortlist

for a wet test – the most vital stage in the buying process. If you can, try to arrange those all-important wet tests one after the other on the same day so that the experience of the previous spas is still fresh in your mind when trying those afterwards. Insist, if possible, on trying the actual models that you are most interested in rather than other models in the range... they all feel different! Allow at least two hours in each showroom to give you adequate time to try as many spas as possible. Then prepare yourself for the most fun-filled shopping experience of your life!

The best way to conduct a wet test is to get the showroom staff to show you how everything works whilst you are in the spa; they know all the nuances of their spas better than you do. This is no time to be bashful; once you are comfortably in the water, call the showroom staff over to demonstrate all the features and controls.

Try as many spas as you can in each showroom...you may be surprised to find that the spa that you expected to like best is not the one that you prefer after wet testing. Remember the first decision you will have to make is whether to choose a ‘Lounge-seater’ or ‘All-seater’ model. The merits of each are explained from page 62 Bear in mind that when you wet test, there will probably be fewer people in the spa than the maximum capacity. How would it feel if you had other people in with you? Would it be roomy enough in the footwell with more pairs of legs and feet as well as having enough seats? Where would the waterline rise to if more people were in? How comfortable are the seats? Are the jets providing good quality massage and how adjustable are they for both power and massage type? Is the depth of the spa suitable for your needs given the height and build of the main bathers?

Remember that you will want a variety of different seating depths so that bathers can swap to a shallower or deeper seat if they feel too hot or too cold respectively. Are the seats too large or too small and are they supporting you comfortably. Ensure that you do not float out of any of the seats, particularly the lounge seat/s if the spa model has them. ➧

❝The objective is to pick at least three or four of your favourite models to shortlist for a wet test – the most vital stage in the buying process.

❞

Photo © My Spa UK

is often an ‘extra’ that you will pay for later so now is a great time to get some servicing thrown in for free.

Step 5 – Talk stock

Don’t leave your purchase until the last minute. Remember that many of the most well-established manufacturers are in North America, Canada and mainland Europe, so hot tubs can take up to eight weeks to arrive if the exact model that you want is not in stock in the UK.

The supply chain problems that ravaged the hot tub market during the pandemic are now behind us, and UK stock is more readily available, but even now there are some models that remain on extremely long lead times. Start shopping at least eight weeks before you want delivery so that you don’t narrow your shell and cabinet colour options to stock spas.

Step 6 – Ex-display offers

Often the best deals are to be had on ex-display models and previous year models. Retailers will have to move their showroom floor spas on at least once a year (typically between Christmas and April) to make way for newer models. The warranty should still start from when you take delivery (confirm this before you buy!) and ex-display spas are often still like new by the time that you take delivery. Expect to pay at least 10-15 per cent less than new model prices for ex-display models that are under 12 months old.

Step 7 – Accessory time

The best deal will be a combination of paying the best price available and negotiating free or discounted extras

❝Before you commit to the sale, think about the additional accessories that are essential to creating a practical spa environment such as steps, cover lifters, delivery and installation.❞

wherever possible. Before you commit to the sale, think about the additional accessories that are essential to creating a practical spa environment such as steps, cover lifters, delivery, installation and commissioning, spare filters, extra supplies of water care products etc. These are all bargaining points when negotiating the deal. Try to get as many of them included in the deal as possible. If they are not included you will probably end up buying them later and paying full RRP, so now is the best time to get a package deal.

Good retailers may already include such extras at their own cost... bear this in mind before trying to beat them down even further on price. It is important that they stay in business to serve you and your warranty!

Step 8 – Finance options

If you are paying by debit card or bank transfer this is cheaper for the dealer than low rate, interest-free, or buy-now-paylater finance, especially now that Bank of England interest rates are on the rise making finance terms less attractive for both dealers and consumers.

Credit card transactions typically cost the dealer up to two per cent of the balance in fees, so if you are paying by BACS or debit card you are in a good position to negotiate. Interest free credit can cost the dealer up to 15 per cent of the

balance (depending upon the loan term) so again, if you have cash on the hip this is a great bargaining chip.

Even if you are not using finance to pay for your new hot tub, we would always recommend paying at least £100 of the deposit or balance by credit card (not debit card) for the extra protection that this offers.

Step 9 – Place your deposit

Always read the contract terms on order forms before you sign and ensure that you will get delivery in a timeframe that you are happy with. Also double check the

warranty cover to ensure that you have as much peace of mind as you need in terms of after-sales service. Look out for contract stipulations that may incur unexpected penalties for unforeseen eventualities.

You will be typically required to pay a 25-30 per cent deposit when you place your order and the remaining balance is usually payable either on or a few days before delivery. It is crucial that you always pay at least £100 by credit card if you are not using retail finance, as this affords you the protection of your credit card supplier if anything goes wrong between the point of order and delivery day.

Step 10 – Customer onboarding

Professional retailers should issue you with a printed pre-delivery guide (also see our Pre-Delivery Guide on page 96), which includes things like base preparation and electrical requirements for your particular model, and they should also arrange a mutually convenient time for a physical site visit, so they can survey your garden terrain for obstacles and plan your delivery. If a dealer suggests that they can use Google Maps for their site survey rather than visiting in person, head for the hills immediately before handing over your deposit!

Also check that the retailer has a good after-sales training programme when it comes to water care. Looking after the water in a hot tub is easy if you know how, so make sure that your dealer will train you not just on delivery day, but also afterwards in store as you need it.

All you need to do now is get your electrics and base arranged, put the bubbly on ice and count off the hours to delivery day. Good luck and happy hot tubbing! ❚

Photo © All Weather Leisure

5-Star Experience

When it comes to choosing your ideal hot tub, multi awardwinning MySpa UK have a vast array of choice, all available to view at one of three superb showroom sites across the Midlands and Cheshire. Only by visiting this five-star dealership and testing the extensive selection of hot tubs will you find the best fit for you and your family.

MySpa is providing the ultimate destination for prospective hot tub owners, with the unique status of being the UK’s Number One supplier of world-renowned, and record WhatSpa? Best Buy Awardwinning brand Sundance Spas. They have perfected their capability of offering an unrivalled ‘try before you buy’ service and their knowledgeable team will help to guide you through the purchase process.

2020 saw MySpa expand with the successful launch of an indoor showroom in Macclesfield, Cheshire, showcasing their top-selling own-branded Wellness Collection hot tubs in an attractive indoor setting, complete with wet test facilities and every possible seating layout on display.

In 2022 MySpa partnered with another leading American brand Master Spas to extend their offering to the Cheshire area. With a refurbishment of the Macclesfield showroom and more hot tubs on display, the showroom now features the top selling Master Spas H2X Challenger 15D Swim Spa complete with DuraTech air source heat pump, all ready to wet test.

Following the hugely successful launch of their third showroom last year in Derby, the largest indoor MySpa showroom; 2023 has kicked off with the mountainous challenge of relocating the original flagship showroom in Leicester to the newly-refurbished Dobbies Garden Centre Leicester, and also moving into a brand-new head office and storage facility in the heart of Leicestershire.

“This has been such a big challenge for our team to face at the start of this year, but we are all excited and immensely proud of our new homes,” enthused MySpa co-founder and Managing Director Andy Wroot.

“The new Leicester showroom has been well received by our longstanding and loyal customers, so many of whom attended our relaunch at the start of March.

“Our new head office and storage facility will allow us to carry a greater range in stock, and we are looking forward to continuing to offer our customer focused aftercare service to UK hot tub and swim spa owners,” he said.

Open 7 days a week, this trio of MySpa showrooms are ‘must-visit’ locations as part of your research. The growing team has a wealth of experience and product knowledge which is plain to see when prospective clients visit their stores for the first time. MySpa operate by pre-booked appointment where possible to allow each client to benefit from the full attention of their advisor. Vitally, they always have display hot tubs and swim spas filled and ready for a full demonstration, and even encourage you to ‘try before you buy’ with a private pre-booked wet test appointment at your convenience. Showroom visits, virtual tours and wet test appointments can now be booked easily online for each store via their new website booking facility

Having such a large display provides the advantage of being ‘spoilt for choice’. This is a good problem to have however, and one that the friendly customer service team will help you to navigate and find the perfect hot tub for you.

Sundance Spas is one of the world’s leading brands, having won a staggering number of independent awards for innovation in their 40+ year history, and MySpa provides existing and prospective Sundance Spas customers with the largest display of its products in the country at their Leicestershire and Derbyshire stores.

In 2020, MySpa launched their own brand of MySpa Wellness Collection

Hot Tubs, with new models aimed at delivering a high-quality massage with a range of popular features, at more affordable prices. This range enables them to offer what they feel are the perfect models in each style.

World-class products combined with vast knowledge, exemplary customer service, and professional installations from fully-qualified engineers have helped to achieve glowing testimonials from customers over more than two decades. Testimony to the top-quality service that is provided to all customers is the fact that MySpa has achieved a five-star rating on Trustpilot, which independently verifies online reviews by highly-satisfied customers.

The MySpa team will also help to tailor the best finance package available for your needs, whether that be 0% interest-free finance or buy-now-pay-later, all with low deposits. To take advantage of this market-leading service, book a wet test or request a free brochure pack, call the MySpa team today. ❚

✆ Contact Details

MySpa Leicester

Phone: 01164 645 870

Email: sales@myspashop.co.uk

MySpa Cheshire

Phone: 01625 919 150

Email: cheshire@myspashop.co.uk

MySpa Derbyshire

Phone: 01332 389 810

Email: derbyshire@myspashop.co.uk

www.myspashop.co.uk

SPA

Masterclass

Don’t be daunted by the prospect of buying your hot tub. We cut through the jargon for everything you should know before you go spa shopping.

If you’ve read our Spa Buyer’s Guide, before you head off shopping with your bathing costumes at the ready, take a little time to educate yourself so that you can talk to the staff in hot tub retail showrooms with more confidence and knowhow.

Our Spa Masterclass will arm you with the information needed to view and wet test hot tubs and confidently understand hot tub features and some of the terms used by spa retailers when they are demonstrating hot tubs to you.

Spa shell & seating

The spa shell is the coloured visible moulded interior that contains the seating in which we sit. The spa shell is usually vacuum-formed from acrylic or roto moulded from high density polyethylene (typically in a choice of colours and finishes) plus other invisible strengthening layers such as fibreglass, and should be moulded with comfort, ergonomics and durability in mind. It is vital to choose a spa that has a well designed, comfortable shell interior with

a large enough footwell to accommodate the maximum number of bathers. Also check how easy it is to move from seat to seat and that there is a good variety of seating depths, not just for different heights of bathers, but also so that you can swap places with other bathers to vary your massage experience or to move from a deeper to a shallower seat if you get too hot or cold whilst in the tub. Wet testing will help you to check that pillows are positioned in the right place for your height and build.

Photo © Vortex Spas

If the spa has a lounge seat (a full bodylength seat where the bather is positioned in a more reclined position – like sitting on a garden lounger), check that it conforms to your body without the feeling of floating out of the seat. A well-designed lounge seat that suits your height and build can counteract this. This can only be checked by wet testing and by consulting with a specialist retailer. Beware of only sitting in lounge seats when display spas are empty as they feel completely different when they are full of water and the buoyancy of the water is acting upon your body. Finally check how easy and safe it is to enter and exit the spa. Is there a defined flat step area as you get in and out of the spa, or grab handles for a sure-footed exit after a glass of your favourite tipple in the tub?

Spa construction & cabinetry

The inner frame of the spa supports the spa shell and is generally made of either treated timber, metal or synthetic struts. It is important for the long-term integrity of the spa structure. The framework on some cheap ‘grey imports’ is constructed using untreated timber, which will rot within the first few years of a spa’s lifecycle so be sure to check this out before you buy.

The floor of the spa is integral to the spa frame and is important, as this is where the spa will come into contact with the base that you have prepared. Ask your retailer how the base of the spa is constructed; it should be protected by some kind of waterproof membrane or material to prevent any dampness from permeating up inside the cabinet. The spa cabinet is the outer cladding that protects the inside of the spa from the elements and provides the aesthetic finish to the area below the shell. Cabinets are most commonly made from synthetic materials that replicate the look of wood and less often these days from hardwood timber such as cedar. Avoid cheap imports that use softwood cabinets, as these will rot

quickly. Hardwood timber cabinets may weather and require some regular treatment to keep them looking good. Synthetic cabinets are maintenance-free and can be cleaned by hosing or wiping down with a damp cloth.

TOP TIP: If you are in any doubt about the construction properties of a spa model, ask a member of showroom staff to remove a cabinet side panel so that you can inspect the interior.

Spa insulation

Most spas have some form of insulation inside the cabinet to retain water temperature and reduce the amount of time that the heater is activated each day. Different levels of insulation are generally available ranging from none at all to ‘fully-foamed’ spas.

Well-constructed and insulated spas are incredibly energy-efficient and this will minimize running costs. Cheap spas with little or no insulation can cost up to ten times as much to run. It is vital that you check this element of the spa build in person by asking for the cabinet panels to be removed so that you can check the insulation.

An added benefit of fully foaming hot tubs is that the insulation supports flexible pipework and prevents movement in pipes as pumps are activated. This will help to minimise the chances of leaks occurring inside the spa over time.

All things being equal, hot tubs with a good combination of shell, cabinet and cover insulation will minimise heat loss and, therefore, have lower electrical running costs than a similar model with poor insulation. ➧

Photo © Artesian Spas

Spa construction Photo © Master Spas

Spa shell

Spa cover

Spas are supplied with an insulated hard cover that is filled with either high density foam or polystyrene. This is then vacuum-wrapped in a sealed waterproof plastic and the final covering is made of vinyl on the outside to protect the cover from the elements. The cover should have lockable clips to secure it to the cabinet to prevent unauthorised access (particularly unsupervised access by children).

These clips will also prevent the cover from being blown off and damaged by high winds and also ensure a tight seal when the spa is not in use in order to minimise heat loss and reduce running costs.

Seriously consider investing in a ‘cover lifting system’ to help you to take the cover on and off the spa before and after use. Spa covers can be very cumbersome and heavy, particularly if you are using the spa on your own. There are a variety of cover lifters available. Bear in mind that different lifters will need different amounts of clearance on one or more sides of the spa to allow the cover to be stowed away.

TOP TIP: Also allow for the fact that the cover folds in half before the cover lifter comes into operation. If you are building a gazebo or pergola over the spa area, make sure you have allowed enough overhead clearance for the cover to be folded over.

Pumps & plumbing

Hot tub pumps provide three functions:

■ To pump the water through the plumbing system to the jets which will convert the flow into a massaging action

■ To pump water through the heater

■ To pump the water through the spa filters to keep the water clean

Do not get bogged down with pump specifications as this is only one factor which dictates the hydrotherapeutic value of a spa. Hydrotherapeutic massage is determined by the relationship between the pumps, the efficiency of the plumbing, and the jet types, number, adjustability and positioning.

Instead of looking at pump specifications, simply wet test the spa as this is the ultimate test of how well a hot tub is designed and plumbed for hydrotherapy.

Some spas are equipped with a separate circulation pump to push water through the heater and filters, even when the heater is not activated. The benefit of

circulation pumps is that they are quieter than larger pumps and since they run constantly, they can offer 24-hour filtration and ozonation.

Bear in mind that ‘plug & play’ spas that are rated below 13amps typically cannot run the main hydrotherapy pump on full speed at the same time as the water heater. So, if you are planning to use your spa with the jets activated for periods of over an hour, these models may not offer the best solution for you as water can quickly cool down when the heater is not activated. See our Plug & Play feature on page 104

New technologies

Besides automatic water quality monitoring and dosing systems that hit the market a few years ago, the latest models from some manufacturers are now coming equipped with remote management software to allow you to programme settings and water temperature from your iPod or smartphone via their latest apps.

Bearingless jet technology is becoming more widespread, with jets that create relaxing massage without any moving parts. Also available in the market are spas equipped with sequential massage technology and low voltage variable speed pumps so that bathers can completely control the massage that they receive, irrespective of what is happening in the seats around them.

Finally, the latest manufacturing innovation is the addition of MicroSilk® technology, which stimulates collagen production, promotes skin health and reduces the effects of ageing. Through a pressurisation and venturi process, billions of micro bubbles containing negatively charged ions are produced, which forms an effervescent cloud of highly oxygenated water (70 per cent more oxygen than regular water) that is released back into the hot tub to revitalise your skin.

Energy-efficiency

Energy-efficiency is extremely high on the agenda for the market-leading brands and their latest models are designed and built to provide the very lowest running costs via smart equipment packs and compatibility with air source heat pumps and heat exchangers that can reduce hot tub heating costs by up to 80 per cent!

Whilst an air source heat pump will cost a little more up front (around £1,500 to £3,500 fitted for a good quality version), you can typically recoup this investment in around three years but note that not all hot tub models are heat pump compatible yet. Consult local specialist hot tub dealers for advice on which of their models are compatible and whether your spa location is suitable for heat pump installation. For more details on hot tub heat pumps see our Energy Saver feature on page 88

Jets & topside controls

It is the jets that convert the flow provided by the pumps and plumbing system into a tangible massaging action. A common fallacy is that spas with more jets are more powerful. This is unlikely to be the case unless more pumps are added to provide greater flow rates. The very best spa manufacturers put the right jets in the right places in order to maximise the relaxing effect of hydrotherapeutic massage.

Heat Pump

Photo © Spanet

Photo © All Swim

Spa cover

The massage experience can be maximised by placing different types of jets in different seats, so that as you move around the spa each seat feels different and targets a different set of muscle groups and pressure points. Look for spas that have a variety of different jet types, and particularly look out for spas that allow complete control of water flow from each jet and allow the option of introducing air into the jet stream for a more powerful massage.

Ask retailers to demonstrate the features of the control panel/s and the topside air controls and flow diverters, so that you can test the massage performance and adjustability of all the seats when you wet test the spa.

TOP TIP: The only way to assess the relative hydrotherapy provided by different spas is to wet test all of the models on your shortlist.

Air blowers

Some spas are equipped with air blowers, which are plumbed to a multitude of air jets around the spa. When switched on, the air system produces the typical jacuzzi bubbling water effect. This produces a light tissue massage rather than targeted hydrotherapy.

This is different to air introduced via hydrotherapy jets. The best way to decide if you want a spa with an air blower is to wet test spas with and without and see for yourself.

Control panels & remotes

Control panels have undergone a huge change in technological development. Some spa models still have fairly simplistic control panels that have buttons to activate pumps and lighting. On the other hand, the very latest models have waterproof remote controls, plus extra topside control panel functionality incorporating a range of extra functions by scrolling through the screen menus.

A range of peripheral control panels can be seen on the latest control systems and even underwater control switches have also started to appear on some models. Throw in a raft of smartphone apps to add extra control functionality and it is clear that hot tubs have embraced new technology with both hands!

Water treatment system

Filtration is important in spas as the filter performance will dictate how well the spa filters out undissolved wastes without the intervention of chemicals. Well-filtered water will stay clearer for longer.

TOP TIP: Look for hot tubs with larger filters or more of them (at the very least 50 sq ft of filter area) as this will keep the water cleaner and will require much less maintenance and filter cleaning.

Besides filtration, a whole host of other technology is now on hand to make your life easier and keep your spa water looking great. These include ozone systems, inline mineral purifiers and salt-water chlorine and bromine generators. We won’t bore you with the science behind this kit but all of these systems have their merits and should be requested if available.

Lighting & waterfalls

and mood to the experience. Most spas now have LED multi-coloured lighting of some kind inside the tub, which can randomly scroll through the colour spectrum or be set to your favourite colour. Backlit pillows, topside controls and jets are also now available. Exterior cabinet lights are popular because they add extra ambience to the spa environment and also provide an afterdark safety benefit to prevent tripping or falling on spa entry or exit.

Waterfalls are also a great way of adding ambience, and some spas have backlit waterfalls for that extra-special after-dark effect. Make sure that waterfalls can be manually turned off for those times when you want a quieter spa environment and when the spa is not in use.

Multimedia options

More hot tubs are generally being made with IP-rated waterproof stereo systems and smartphone-linked compatibility, usually via Bluetooth© technology.

The sound quality and water resistance of these audio systems varies enormously between manufacturers depending on the type and quality of the speakers and whether a subwoofer is built into the equipment bay. Be sure to take your

Waterfall Control panel

Remote control

Photo © Wellis

Photo © All Swim

Spa lights

BEST BEST OF THE

Award Leisure is a familyrun business that has been trading for over 38 years and has become the number one retailer of hot tubs, swim spas, swimming pools and saunas, with award-winning showrooms in Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire and Cheshire. With over 70 hot tubs, swim spas, and garden buildings on display it is not hard to see why Award Leisure grows from strength to strength, and is considered one of the largest hot tub retailers in the UK.

What sets Award Leisure apart from other hot tub and swim spa retailers is not

only their ‘one stop’ shop, but their vast experience in garden design over three decades, helping customers successfully develop their outdoor leisure projects; offering the whole package – designed to make a garden a home and social hub all year round.

Award Leisure select only the best and most reliable brand partners to represent their brand; hand selecting quality, sustainable and innovative manufacturers before committing to work with them with no distribution chain, offering a quality product at competitive pricing. At Award Leisure they believe in wellness and enjoyment,

and their product range is handpicked to enable you to create inspiring outdoor havens that you and your family will enjoy for years to come.

In-store experience

Award Leisure’s dedicated and awardwinning sales and customer service team help with all your needs when it comes to finding you the best garden leisure product to suit your lifestyle, specification and budget; as well as providing you with the after-care in order to maintain and look after it. Their outdoor leisure products ooze luxury and quality and they ensure you experience this throughout

your buying journey, right through to delivery and after-care. When visiting their showrooms, you will be introduced to their large display of products and their unique selling features, making sure your needs and requirements are fully met. They also have the major advantage of being able to provide finance options from Novuna Finance for up to 15 years.

Every store has a wet test facility so customers can try before they buy, and during your visit they offer complimentary refreshments, whether this be a tea, coffee, prosecco, or beer –they’ve got you covered. Award Leisure regularly host education events so that you can discover how to properly maintain your purchase and water chemistry, as well as offering an optional 5-year service plan so your product is preserved for years to come.

Award Leisure was the first industry retailer to gain Which? Trusted Trader

Accreditation, is consistently WhatSpa? Approved, and also recently received ‘Retailer of the Year’ and ‘Showroom of the Year’ Award at the UK Pool & Spa Awards

New products for 2023 Award Leisure continue to invest in the very best products to give customers the biggest choice. This year they have unveiled their new British Swim Spa range which features over 25 customisable models ranging from 4m to 6m plus in length. Customers can choose the seating arrangement inside, the strength of the swim and add the option of a hot tub on the end, or the unique slide add on for a Dual Temperature option. ‘Bespoke as standard’ customers can personalise their perfect aquatic exercise experience to suit their needs, budget and specification.

Exclusively designed in the UK –specifically for the British climate, the British Swim Spa range is packed with power, is energy efficient, environmentally-friendly and backed with a 10-year warranty. With the addition of their unrivalled Turbine technology, customers can benefit from a true personalised swimming experience at the touch of a button.

Furthermore, Award Leisure have partnered with Magiline Swimming Pools, one of the industry’s leading and most luxurious swimming pool manufacturers, and will be showcasing a swimming pool at one of their largest showrooms in Warwickshire. ❚

❝Every store has a wet test facility so customers can try before they buy, and during your visit they offer complimentary refreshments, whether this be a tea, coffee, prosecco, or beer – they’ve got you covered.❞

SLEEP MATTERS

The growing prevalence of insomnia and other sleep problems across all age groups is a major medical concern, as it not only leads to acute tiredness at home and work but also increases the risk of critical illnesses like cardiovascular disease. In response, experts are advocating for a regular evening soak in a hot tub as a way to restore the body’s natural sleep patterns.

According to a recent study by Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Tennessee, participants with irregular sleep patterns and variations of more than two hours per week were 40 per cent more likely to have high amounts of hardened plaque in their arteries. However, taking regular soaks in a high-quality hot tub with advanced hydrotherapy capabilities can help improve sleep patterns and reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even early-onset dementia.

Once you purchase a quality hot tub that delivers good quality hydrotherapy you can take the important step of incorporating it into a regular pattern of daily behaviour to achieve quality sleep. A soothing soak as part of a healthy lifestyle will help to reset your body clock and improve the quality and quantity of your nightly sleep, which will enhance the clearance of the bad beta-amyloid protein, especially when it is combined with a suitable evening routine in anticipation of a restorative slumber.

Sleep experts

Specialist advice from the WhatSpa? ‘Ask the Expert’ series of YouTube videos highlights why it is so important to tackle sleep difficulties and insomnia problems before they become a major health issue.

In her WhatSpa? ‘Ask the Expert’ interview, insomnia expert Alex Saxton

provides advice that includes avoiding caffeine and vigorous exercise before bedtime. After suffering anxiety herself, Alex also recognises that it is important not to get too anxious about monitoring sleep quantity every night with a smart watch sleep tracking capability.

“I’m against sleep trackers,” declares Alex; “They are so unhelpful. You can get obsessed with them. You should bin them and do activities that make you feel good.”

Alex suggests that the use of hot tubs, preferably an hour-and-a-half before bedtime can help to tackle sleeping difficulties by assisting your body to naturally release sleep inducing chemicals due to the heat combined with relaxing hydrotherapy.

“A hot tub combines all the things that are beneficial for sleep,” says Alex. “There are a lot of reasons why they are fantastic.”

Brain focus

Sleep studies by researchers from the University of California Berkeley have highlighted that sleep helps to ‘cleanse’ the brain and a lack of deep sleep or poor sleep patterns can result in the build-up of beta-amyloid that attacks the brain. A study revealed that participants with the highest levels of beta-amyloid had the poorest quality sleep. They also performed the worst on memory tests, while continuing a vicious cycle of poor sleep with beta amyloid build up.

“The more beta-amyloid you have in certain parts of your brain, the less deep sleep you get and, consequently, the worse your memory,” reported senior author of the study Matthew Walker; “Additionally, the less deep sleep you have, the less effective you are at clearing out this bad protein. It’s a vicious cycle.”

Experts are recommending hot tubs as a natural remedy to promote quality sleep and reduce the long-term risk of critical illnesses and early-onset dementia.

Tech surge

The surge in the use of technology to maintain contact with family and friends during the pandemic, as well as the stress of keeping up with home schooling and working from home, has exacerbated the problems of those who already struggle to drop off and sleep restfully.

A modern culture of being constantly ‘switched on’ to advanced technological gadgets has now created a major worry for health experts; who have highlighted that the lack of a healthy bedtime routine, to ensure the correct sleep cycle for our individual bodies, is resulting in an increasingly dangerous problem of tiredness among all age groups and the worry that early dementia and Alzheimer’s cases will dramatically increase.

Danger alert

While we can all experience the occasional loss of a good night’s sleep, which can leave us feeling irritable; there are more dangerous consequences of prolonged periods without enough sleep. Take a drive along any motorway and you will generally see signs warning that tiredness can kill. Not only can lack of sleep hinder your reaction time, the more serious element of falling to sleep at the wheel can be fatal to yourself or other occupants of vehicles on the motorway or road you are on.

In the UK, it is estimated that as many as one in five of all motor traffic accidents are because of tiredness or falling asleep while driving. To counteract this potential danger many drivers who are setting off on car journeys while suffering from lack of sleep may be resorting to drinking more caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee or very highly-caffeinated energy drinks to

try to reduce the impact of tiredness. But in regular higher use and quantities, caffeine can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, which consequently puts a strain on your entire cardiovascular system.

Unhealthy effects

Studies have found that a lack of sleep can also lead to stress, and an unhealthy increased appetite. Good quality sleep helps to regulate levels of leptin and ghrelin, which are hormones that are associated with appetite and hunger. The consequences of these hormones becoming unregulated could result in obesity, as well as increasing the risk of a heart attack and premature death.

According to the European Heart Journal: ‘those who had trouble falling asleep and remaining asleep each night were three times more likely to develop heart failure than those who reported no trouble sleeping’.

Deteriorating skills

It is believed and recommended that most adults need around seven to nine hours sleep at night. We often feel irritable and have a shorter fuse before our tempers erupt when we are tired. Sleep deprivation can also make us feel more emotional and result in a deterioration of interpersonal skills and communication capabilities that can have a major impact on our relationships and work.

Our reaction times decrease and problem solving becomes difficult, while creativity can go out of the window if we are feeling below par because of a lack of sleep. Unfortunately, a negative impact on cognitive functions can lead to poor long-term memory; as well as an inability to concentrate and pay attention.

If you are constantly tired and worried about your lack of sleep you should always consult your GP. A hot tub soak every night, though, may be the ideal cure if you are only prone to the occasional sleepless night.

Sleep hygiene

With the decision to purchase a top quality hot tub, there are also many ways that you can benefit from what is termed as good ‘sleep hygiene’. This is used to describe the behavioural and environmental factors that influence our capability to benefit from the ability to fall asleep and gain a good quality of sleep. While a hot tub can soothe and ease away any aches and pains or relax you from the daily stress and strains of the day, it is often advisable not to take a soak immediately before bedtime as your body needs to cool down sufficiently to allow it to fall asleep and remain asleep properly. Once you begin a regular routine of using your hot tub on a daily basis an hour or two before bedtime you will alert your body that you are preparing for bed and improve the quality and quantity of sleep.

If you are including exercise in your pre-bedtime routine then do it much earlier than your hot tub session and sleep time, so that you can soothe your aching muscles with your hot tub’s advanced hydrotherapy functionality.

As part of any ‘sleep hygiene’ plan include ways of avoiding stimulus that could trigger your body to ‘reawaken’ and make your brain more active than it should be as bedtime approaches. So, try to prevent use of your computer, mobile device or tablet as you approach the immediate period before retiring to the bedroom. ➧

Photo © Riptide Pools

12 Tips

If you are struggling from poor quality sleep or insomnia, follow these 12 simple tips for a more restful night’s sleep:

Get a workout

Research shows that undertaking at least 20 minutes a day of cardiovascular exercise like walking, cycling, running or swimming strengthens circadian rhythms, stimulates the release of endorphins and may stimulate longer periods of slowwave sleep, the deepest and most restorative phase of sleep.

Make lists

If you tend to lie in bed thinking about everything you have to do tomorrow, set aside time in the evening to make plans for the next day. Writing them down will help you to clear your mind before bedtime.

Cut caffeine

If you’re having trouble sleeping, it’s important to reduce, if not eliminate, caffeine in your diet. If you can’t give it up entirely, at least try to stay away from caffeine within four to six hours of bedtime. Instead, have a warm, milky drink or herbal tea.

Limit alcohol

Whilst alcohol can help you to drop off, it also alters your sleep patterns and the quality of your sleep. When the alcohol level in your body drops a few hours later, it wakes you up, making it difficult to sleep peacefully for the rest of the night.

Butt out

Nicotine is a stimulant, just like caffeine and can disrupt your sleep. Avoid smoking in the hours directly before bedtime.

Eat lightly

A heavy meal just before bed isn’t good for your sleep. Eat lightly, if at all, before bed, and avoid foods that might cause stomach trouble—like anything that’s spicy, fatty, or fried.

Set a schedule

Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time every day will programme your body to sleep better. Choose a time when you’re likely to feel tired and sleepy.

Enjoy a soak

Enjoy a relaxing hot tub soak at around 37 degrees Celsius for at least 20 minutes every day and at least two hours before you want to go to sleep to allow your body to cool down again. This will induce powerful sleep-enhancing endorphins.

Put away that tablet

If you want to read before bed, don’t use a smartphone, tablet or other light-emitting e-reader. Studies have found that people who use these devices at bedtime take longer to fall asleep and have disrupted circadian rhythms.

Cool it down

You don’t want Arctic temperatures, but a cool bedroom— around 19-21 degrees Celsius is best for sleep, research suggests.

Clear the clutter

Many people relax more easily when their bedrooms aren’t cluttered and full of distractions, so try going minimalist in your bedroom, or at the very least, keep things tidy.

Get up

If you’re tossing and turning and getting more and more frustrated with your inability to drop off, staying in bed may just make it worse. Get up and do something relaxing, like reading a book, until you feel drowsy.

If you are a smoker then avoid smoking at least an hour before bedtime as nicotine is also a stimulant. It is also commonly known that consuming large meals before bedtime should be avoided, as they can make our bodies feel uncomfortable and unwilling to fall asleep. Take care with any drinks with caffeine and alcohol, as they are stimulants and may hinder your chances of a sound night’s sleep. So naturally they should be cut out well before bedtime.

Perfect environment

Any extra elements of good ‘sleep hygiene’, to create the ideal surroundings for your perfect sleeping environment, should incorporate ways of keeping cool. As a rule, it is advisable that your body should be cool to sleep effectively. So, you could use a lighter duvet or blanket on your bed during sleep; have a window open or use a fan in the room.

Along with creating a cool environment, the room where you sleep should be quiet, dark and comfortable. If it is possible, aim to have your sleeping area free from distracting gadgets. Many people use their mobile devices for their alarm call in the morning. But if it is causing you to lose sleep or is disturbing your sleep pattern then possibly consider purchasing a standard alarm clock or radio alarm.

It is best to always keep sleep time routines the same and consistent. Try to stick to the same bedtime and wake-up times; and allow enough time to gain the benefits of a good night’s sleep. So that your body gains the necessary benefits and so that you are not feeling tired during the day.

Sleep expert Dave Gibson suggests that we can relearn the art of sleeping with daily pre-bedtime hot tub use as part of the professional guidance in his WhatSpa? ‘Ask the Expert’ YouTube video advice.

Dave reports that there is evidence that if you are using sleep medication for more than six months then you will get to the physical situation where you are no better off than if you took no medication at all. In contrast, he believes that hot tubs can naturally help you to relax, lower your blood pressure, and provide your body with encouragement for sleeping.

“A hot tub investment is something that definitely is going to relax you,” reveals Dave. “It can trick your body into accelerating into sleep. It also decreases blood pressure.” ❚

Essential Guide

TO CREATING A RELAXING GARDEN

There are days when you just want to pack your bags and head out on holiday. Whether it’s a busy schedule, the demands of work, or life stress, you just find yourself seeking respite. But what if you can find that retreat in your garden? With a Master Spas hot tub, you can create a personalised at-home oasis and have a space where you can get away, no matter the day. More than a way to transform your garden, a hot tub is an investment in your overall well-being. You might have some questions, though, about selecting the perfect hot tub.

How much space do I need?

Choosing the optimal location is key when you add a hot tub to your garden. You want to select a place that is relaxing and where you can enjoy the view. It’s also important to choose a spot that has room for a solid foundation for the spa. Master Spas hot tubs come in a range of sizes to fit nearly any outdoor space.

If you have a large garden, you can choose the eight-person Michael Phelps LSX 900. This luxe spa has a full lounge and plenty of jets to help you target stress in your muscles.

Is a hot tub easy to take care of?

Master Spas hot tubs are designed to be easy to enjoy and to maintain. Master Spas hot tubs feature the EcoPur Charge filtration system, which utilises natural elements like copper and zinc to keep your water clear and clean. The inclusive ozone and UV-C light elements provide additional extra safe water functionality. With the EcoPur Charge system, you will use less chemicals than other systems and enjoy easier water care.

Are they expensive to operate?

Master Spas hot tubs are built to exceed even the most stringent energy-efficient standards. The spas feature a foam insulation, which helps maintain water temperature and protect the plumbing. It also ensures the spa is a year-round retreat no matter where you live.

What features are available?

From built-in luxuries to optional packages, a hot tub from Master Spas has a lot of features. Hydrotherapy jets, which deliver a custom massage; ambient waterfalls; LED lighting, and a BioMagnetic Therapy System to name a few. Your future hot tub from Master Spas will have jets but the number will vary among models, as well as the arrangement and pattern. Consider where you will need the most relaxation. Do you spend your workday on your feet? A Michael Phelps hot tub that has Master Blaster Foot Therapy will provide much-needed reflexology and relief.

What about delivery and installation?

Wherever you choose to put your hot tub, you will need a solid, level foundation that can support the weight of the spa. The best foundation is a concrete pad, but you can also put your spa on a paver patio or reinforced deck.

Once your space is ready, installation takes less than a day. A skilled team will be able to move your spa into place so you can sit back and relax.

As America’s largest hot tub manufacturer, 100 per cent of Master Spas’ production process is conducted entirely within the USA. It has a stateof-the-art 50-acre production facility in Indiana, which has been featured in the ‘How It’s Made’ documentary on The Discovery Channel ❚

The Michael Phelps LSX 900 by Master Spas® has 72 jets

Stars in their SPAS

Media celebrity and multi-talented actress and singer Amanda Holden has turned up the promotional heat on hot tubs for enhancing family life after joining a growing band of stars who have been inspiring thousands of new owners to embrace the enhanced communication and health benefits from being able to jump in their hot tub any time of day or night.

Amanda, who shares her Heart FM breakfast radio show presenting duties with Jamie Theakston in their early morning slot that is the UK’s biggest commercial radio programme, is best known for being one of the star judges on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, but has also recently been showing off her renovation talents for BBC One’s ‘The Italian Job’ to help restore a crumbling Sicilian property with comedian and TV presenter Alan Carr.

“Although we’re on the same page most of the time, I’m more practical and organised than Alan,” divulged Amanda.

Before taking on the challenge of the property renovation in Italy, Amanda gave her own home a hot tub enhancement.

Amanda has revealed their Marquis hot tub that was acquired from WhatSpa?

Professional dealership Hot Tubs

Oxfordshire has helped to restore family communication. She enthused that her record producer husband Chris Hughes and their girls, Lexi and Hollie, have been able to achieve more laughs as a family.

“We love our hot tub,” enthuses Amanda. “We’ve had such a laugh in it as a family.”

Previously Amanda has shared copresenting duties with Phillip Schofield on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ programme and her acting credits include ITV’s ‘Wild at Heart’, and ‘The Grimleys’. She has famously appeared on stage in the West End as Millie Dillmount in ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ that earned her a Laurence Olivier Award nomination, and ‘Shrek the Musical’, as Princess Fiona, for which she won the WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her autobiography ‘No Holding Back’, released in 2013, was also a Sunday Times best-seller.

Amanda has also achieved the status of the biggest selling and highest-charting debut album by a female in 2020. The album of cover versions ‘Songs From My Heart’ was released by Universal Music and reached number four in the UK Albums Chart. Known for her eternal optimism, Amanda is now fully in tune with the benefits of hot tub ownership.

“I can’t live without mine,” she declared.

Recovery retreat

Actress, singer and presenter Denise Van Outen is another talented star who has been grateful for her Riptide Spas hot tub that provided a 24/7 hydrotherapy booster as part of a ‘staycation’ wellness retreat.

Former Channel 4 ‘Big Breakfast’ presenter Denise, who regularly appears on TV’s ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’ and has gained Saturday afternoon radio star status on London’s Magic 105.4 after appearing in BBC’s soap opera ‘Eastenders’ and Australia’s ‘Neighbours’ and being runnerup in the tenth edition of BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ series. In 2020 she also showcased her vocal talents for ITV’s ‘The Masked Singer UK’ and came fifth as ‘Fox’.

Multi-talented Denise was a contestant in the 2021 edition of ITV’s ‘Dancing on Ice’ but her appearance on the show was cut short after a fall resulted in an injury to her shoulder. Thankfully, advanced hydrotherapy boosted her recovery after Denise had splashed out on a Riptide Spas hot tub from Hot Tub Barn during the pandemic following holiday cancellations forced by travel restrictions. ➧

Media star and actress Amanda Holden is among a growing group of stars who advocate hot tub use in their homes to

gain health benefits.

Photo © Denise Van Outen / Riptide Spas

Amanda Holden IG: @noholdenback

Makeup artist: Christian Vermaak © Amanda Holden / Marquis / Hot Tubs Oxfordshire

“We had to cancel two holidays and one was quite expensive,” reported Denise; “We luckily got the money back and decided to spend it on a hot tub and enjoy the sunshine at home.”

Denise was able to enhance her iceskating injury recovery in the spacious six-seater hot tub, which incorporates a lounger seat, with the extra bonus of mental health benefits by helping to soothe away the stress of a busy schedule.

When she is not in the star spotlight, Denise can also take advantage of her own hot tub light show, as the water edge lights gently change colour, as an additional way of relaxing and relieving any stress.

“It’s so nice knowing that at the end of a busy day we can get home, jump in the hot tub and relax in the privacy of our own garden,” enthuses Denise.

Golden advocate

British former track and field athlete

Sally Gunnell OBE DL, who remains the only woman ever to hold four major track titles concurrently (Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth), is a committed supporter of hot tub wellness as a wellbeing advocate.

Sally, who is now an established keynote speaker, has utilised hydrotherapy for many years and upgraded her hot tub to a Jacuzzi J-495 from WhatSpa? Professional dealership Euphoria Lifestyle, to gain maximum hydrotherapy benefits in the convenience of her home surroundings.

Along with her husband Jon Bigg, who is an experienced athlete and highly-qualified coach, Sally has been working on a new ‘Optimise your Age’ (OYA) initiative with a dedicated website providing OYA advice and guidance at www.optimiseyourage.com

“We all know that living a healthy lifestyle can enhance your health-age and extend your life, but there are so many options out there, so we want to help,” said Sally.

Sally, who has become an advocate of ‘Bone Health’ exercises and nutrition for healthier bones, suffers from lower back pain and has revealed that the double bench seat in the J-495 provides her with an intense lower back massage, which has helped to ease pain and enhance recovery.

“The neck jets are also a huge benefit to relieving tension,” revealed Sally.

Along with regular boosts of hydrotherapy, Sally is also gaining hot tub benefits for the whole family, including three sons. It has ensured they can all communicate freely without distractions from digital devices. As part of her wellness guidance Sally also stresses that it is important to gain soothing solo hot tub soak health benefits away from technology.

“To really keep stress at bay you need to make sure that you take time for yourself away from your computer and phone,” advises Sally.

Head master

When it comes to spending time in water and gaining multiple physical benefits, Olympic Gold medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps is the ‘master’ of them all. In conjunction with Master Spas, he has been instrumental in the creation of the cutting-edge Michael Phelps Legend hot tub designs.

These include the eight-seater Michael Phelps LX900 with advanced hydrotherapy wellness capability, and space-saving three-seater Legend 2, which are being supplied through a dedicated network of Master Spas UK dealerships, including a large flagship showroom in Blackpool operated by The Hot Tub Superstore

“Whether you’re on day one of a training program, recovering from an injury, or would enjoy a relaxing time with your family, you can benefit and feel great,” divulges Michael.

“I enjoy just being in the water. It gives me time to clear my head.”

Health booster

Singer and TV celebrity Peter Andre is another hot tub advocate who has been utilising hydrotherapy technology to boost his health and to ensure his posttraining recovery gains hot results.

Peter, who has marked his 50th birthday milestone this year with a hot family trip celebration in Dubai, contracted the coronavirus in 2021 after he was filmed taking delivery of an upgraded hot tub being installed at his home by Euphoria Lifestyle, as part of a fly-on-the-wall YouTube series.

He was also seriously ill with flu-like symptoms while performing as Vince Fontaine in the touring stage production of ‘Grease’ but now, along with a constant flow of work commitments, he has been firing on all cylinders while preparing for his 30th Anniversary Tour to celebrate his musical career in 2023.

One thing is for sure, Peter knows that he can always get revved up again by utilising his advanced hot tub for grease lightning-fast recovery after a busy performance or training schedule.

“It’s the perfect after-training treatment and is the best thing I own for relaxation,” revealed Peter. ❚

Photo © Michael Phelps / Master Spas

Photo © Peter Andre / Euphoria Lifestyle / Jacuzzi

Photo © Sally Gunnell / Euphoria Lifestyle / Jacuzzi

DIGITAL DETOX

The popularity of hot tubs among UK families is on the rise, as parents seek to spend quality time with their children and engage in meaningful face-to-face conversations without the interruptions caused by the continuous flow of notifications from smartphones.

With just a single product and a clear strategy you can transform your garden or outdoor space into a tech-free retreat to provide a break from a constantly ‘switched on’ digital world that can have serious consequences of eroding face-to-face communication with family members, and especially children and teenagers who have become slaves to social media updates.

Even before the pandemic many of us felt under pressure from ‘full throttle’ lifestyles and constantly monitoring our digital devices. In the past two years though, we have had extra time at home to engage even more with technology during national lockdowns.

This ‘new normal’ has meant we have been spending more time working from home, and those with young families have been juggling home schooling activities. As a consequence, it has created a greater reliance on technology with less ability to switch off from a digital lifestyle. As we learn to ‘live with COVID’ and get back to going to work and school routines, health, education, and technology experts are now encouraging us to spend quality time away from digital devices.

Tech time

It has been revealed this year that the average person in the UK is spending six hours and 26 minutes daily online, equating to a total of 98 days a year, and one hour 49 minutes per day on social media, totalling 28 days a year.

Growing concern about excessive use of digital technology platforms, especially among younger users, has prompted TikTok to revise its policies for under-18s this year, with a default limit on their daily screen time on the short-form app restricted to 60 minutes. When the hour-long limit is reached, teen users are now prompted to enter a passcode if they want to continue watching.

TikTok is also expanding features of its ‘Family Pairing’, which it launched in 2023 in response to concerns over teens’ mental health. This now allows parents and guardians to view children’s usage of the app, as well as the number of times it was opened and the total time spent on the app during the day and night, while also being able to set custom daily screen time limits and set a schedule to mute notifications.

In her WhatSpa? ‘Ask the Expert’ interview, Certified Trainer of Hypnosis, Life and Executive Coach, and Certified Trainer of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Marilyn Devonish, who proclaims herself to be ‘the neuro success coach’, believes that hot tubs should be used not only for their health benefits, but also as a positive place to gather and enjoy family fun.

“For families I would highly recommend it,” declares Marilyn, who is a Life and Executive Coach and the founder and Director of training, consultancy and coaching company Trance Formations and advocates the tech-free 'positive space' benefits of hot tubs.

“It can be quite an experience. It’s a fantastic way to have people sit and relax, enjoy the health benefits and have that real sense of connection. Use the hot tub as a positive space.”

Ghost children

Psychologists are worried that if we fail to build new socialising strategies to increase face-to-face communication, it will increase the growing problem of young children being gripped by anxiety and digital technology addiction and

Sharing a tech-free soak in a hot tub with close family members is helping to tackle the growing concern about digital devices eroding face-to-face communication between parents and their children.

a reluctance to leave their bedrooms, even for meals and school. One of the serious issues of the pandemic is the rising phenomenon of ‘ghost children’ who have become withdrawn from their families and lost to normal school life.

This year psychologists Dr Bettina Hohnen and Dr Jane Gilmour, who wrote ‘How to Have Incredible Conversations with your Child’ that was published in 2021, and ‘The Incredible Teenage Brain’, which was published in 2019 before the pandemic, have highlighted that reduced socialisation, along with constant negative news, have created this problem.

It is contributing to teenagers being out of the school system and has resulted in the rise of the ‘ghost child’ terminology, which was, apparently, coined by Robert Halfon MP in response to the dramatic

increase of pupil absence figures, which is defined by a pupil who misses 50 per cent or more of school lessons. According to the Centre for Social Justice, there has been a 50 per cent rise in this group of children during the pandemic, with a total of nearly 100,000 recorded in 2022 in this group.

Hijacked interaction

Long before the pandemic, shared mealtimes and regular family gatherings were previously viewed as the ideal way to catch up on news and directly communicate with loved ones. This would help to throw up any concerns or negative issues and nip them in the bud before becoming a major problem.

The advance of technology, including the latest smartphones that keep us

immediately ‘alerted’ to new digital content, and the growing popularity of social media has since resulted in households having dinner tables or family excursions hijacked by technology to the extent that it has deteriorated faceto-face communication strategies. It is now widely perceived to be much easier to send and receive text or WhatsApp messages to each other in the home via mobile technology than to actually talk to each other instead!

Rather than verbally revealing updates about work, schools or colleges, family members are heading for separate rooms and checking their digital devices because of the fear of missing out or ‘FOMO’ and anxiety when they are unable to check their latest social media updates and communications. ➧

We may be getting a hi-tech addictive ‘hit’ from being bombarded with all of the news feeds from social media channels and video sharing platforms, but we are losing track of the lives of our children and close family members. A hot tub, though, can help create strategies to rectify this serious problem.

Social circle

It comes as no surprise that when your shiny new hot tub is installed, your children suddenly become the most popular kids in the class, especially with occasional birthday ‘tub parties’ thrown into the mix. So if you're worried about your young children not socialising as much as they could be, why not give them the ‘tools of the trade’ to ease the process of socialising outside of school hours obviously keeping an eye on them whilst they are splashing around and enjoying the fun.

Even ‘troublesome teens’ love hot tubs and will relish the opportunity to invite their pals around for a regular tub party, which is great news for protective parents that want to ensure that their teens are getting some fresh air and safely socialising at home rather than roaming the streets and local parks.

Revitalising strategy

To prevent the mental wellness benefits of face-to-face socialising being lost to almost an entire youth generation, due to the dependence on digital technology, communication strategies can quickly be revitalised between family and friends by purchasing a hot tub for a regular communal family soak to get the conversation flowing.

Multiple generations of one family will rarely share a vision passionately enough to carry on dedicating time to it, but the reality is that every member of the family will enjoy a regular soak in the hot tub. There’s a glorious ‘unplugged’ feel about hot tub ownership that allows you to soak away the daily strains and stresses of modern life that appeals to all ages with the convenience of being at your own home.

Since smartphones and water are not the greatest of bedfellows, justifying leaving the tech indoors whilst you enjoy some family downtime away from the constant pinging of phone apps and social media channels is easier than in other family environments, where shoe-horning the tech from the grips of all ages can be extremely challenging.

A warm and relaxing soak with harmonious hot tub family conversation, and the occasional duck racing contest or ‘spa-rty’ game, can be the perfect recipe for open communication with your loved ones that will allow you to stay ‘in the know’ of their day-to-day lives.

Tech-free benefits

Studies have also shown that being immersed in warm water can release the hormone dopamine in our bodies. It is produced by the parasympathetic nervous system to help our bodies to counteract the problem of being under stress. Increased awareness has ensured hot tubs are now becoming a popular way of tackling stress naturally, rather than having to resort to over-the-counter remedies

During the year, and especially in winter when lack of exposure to natural daylight is a proven link to depression, a hot tub can be a great location to gather with family members for tech-free socialising, delivering a dopamine hit for everybody. Obviously, the larger options in your local showrooms would help you to accommodate larger family groups. There is also the additional benefit for hot tub owners of a healthy hydrotherapy massage being ‘the icing on the cake’.

To gain the benefit, though, the important rule is ‘regular use’, whether it is for shared soak catch up time or the perfect self-indulgent tonic to unwind on your own before a sound night’s sleep. Trust us, whatever you decide to use your hot tub for, it will make your family much happier and well-connected. ❚

Photo © Sundance Spas

❝There’s a glorious ‘unplugged’ feel about hot tub ownership that allows you to soak away the daily strains and stresses of modern life that appeals to all ages.❞

Photo © Master Spas

EXCELLENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Softub Midlands is providing advanced hydrotherapy benefits from leading energyefficient hot tub brands that is being combined with five-star specialist purchasing and ownership support services from the most experienced Softub and Artesian Spas dealership in the British market.

The two USA brands may have distinctive WhatSpa? Best Buy Awardwinning design and energy-efficiency qualities, but they also have the unified factor of cost-saving therapeutic wellness and being supplied by a long-established dealership with vast product knowledge. Whatever your choice, you can be assured that its Spas and Hot Tubs retailing counterpart always provides the highest level of customer service and after-sales support throughout Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire.

Family roots

Softub Midlands has over 20 years of experience. A Softub was originally purchased by a family member in the 1990s, and this was the catalyst for Spas and Hot Tubs and Softub Midlands that provide professional services for Softub and Artesian Spas.

It is appropriate then that the dealership is based at a garden centre that upholds family roots traditions. Palmer’s Garden Centre in Ullesthorpe is run by ‘fourth generation’ great grandchildren of founder George Palmer.

The garden centre, which offers free parking, is famed for providing Leicester’s best afternoon tea and is perfect for extra ‘in-spa-ration’ products to combine with your Softub or Artesian Spas garden project, which can be complemented by flourishing Softub Midlands gazebos.

Softub power

Softub Midlands has achieved a long list of satisfied customers due to the advanced energy-efficiency and flexibility of the stylish Softub designs,

which include the popular T300 Resort that has WhatSpa? Best Buy status following Best Buy accolades being bestowed on the smaller T140 and T220 Legend options.

Low running costs can be achieved with ultra-efficient power consumption from Softub’s unique heat exchange pump. This Hydromate technology integrates the Softub’s pump, motor and heating into a single unit and the water is heated by excess heat from the motor.

Another key Softub advantage is its capability to overcome restrictive access hurdles. A Softub can easily be relocated by a single person and plugged into a 13 amp socket, without having extra expense of a crane hire and hot tub electrical ‘hard wiring’ conducted by a qualified electrician.

You can also enhance your Softub choice with rattan surrounds and a newly-introduced Rattan Stepper to ensure easier entry and exit capability.

Artesian excellence

Never take the gamble on inferior products. Instead gain hydrotherapy excellence with a state-of-the-art acrylic hot tub brand from Las Vegasbased Artesian Spas, which will provide peace of mind purchasing. Combined with the highest standards of customer service, you will gain hot tub wellness from cutting-edge manufacturing that annually adds to an ever-growing list of WhatSpa? Best Buy Awards.

These include a WhatSpa? Best Buy accolade for the Artesian Spas Elite Dove

Canyon from the new Elite range, which incorporates the Las Vegasinspired BellagioFall Feature water feature (pictured), and patented Direct Flow Personal Control technology that is the most sophisticated system ever devised for controlling a hot tub’s water flow.

Additional Artesian Spas options are available from the Island Spas range; which includes the WhatSpa? Best Buy Award-winning Antigua 33; and the South Seas Spas range, which includes the WhatSpa? Best Buy Award-winning South Seas Spas 748L-DX; as well as the space-saving Garden Spas range, which includes the WhatSpa? Best Buy Awardwinning Camellia that incorporates a lounger seat in its diminutive design. There are also WhatSwimSpa? Best Buy Award-winning Artesian TidalFit swim spa options available.

Making the final hot tub purchasing decision with professional guidance is easier with such a variety of prices and designs to match every budget, body shape, and garden space. This is a key advantage of Artesian Spas, which has the extra benefit of advanced energyefficiency technology and ‘wellness for every body’ ergonomic designs that incorporate patented Helix jets for ultimate hydrotherapy wellness.

Five-star ratings

Whether you become a Softub or Artesian Spas owner you will always gain assurance of experienced after-care services.

Testimony of this are the many glowing reviews and five-star ratings that highlight the first class service and professional installations at www.reviews.io ❚

✆ Contact Details

Tel: 0800 023 9121

Email: info@spasandhottubs.co.uk

www.softubmidlands.co.uk

www.spasandhottubs.co.uk

LOUNGER ALL-SEATER

The one decision that every hot tub buyer will have to make is whether to purchase a spa equipped with a ‘Lounge Seat’ or to opt for an ‘All-Seater’ layout. WhatSpa? Editor-in-Chief Nick Clamp explains the merits of each style.

When it comes to choosing the interior seating style of your dream hot tub, only wet testing will enable you and your family to truly decide if one (or more) lounge seats are right for your hot tubbing needs. Yet many consumers neglect this important element of the seating style before making a purchasing decision.

Leading manufacturers now produce a wide array of models with lounger or all-seater designs and so it is the responsibility of prospective owners to ensure that the seating of any purchase is suitable for their individual body shape and lifestyle; by consulting knowledgeable staff at a professional dealership and trying out a selection of hot tubs ahead of any purchase decision.

STYLES EXPLAINED Lounge Seat Spa

A ‘lounge seat’ or ‘lounger ‘is an elongated moulded seat that is shallower than a standard upright seat but where the bather is more reclined with their legs in a level or slightly elevated position. It is effectively the underwater equivalent of a garden lounger, or a bit like the seating position in one of the new breed of sofas or living room chairs that offers the ability to recline back so that the footrest rises up and you are lying almost horizontally.

Lounge seats typically have hydrotherapy jet positions that target the lower/mid back and shoulder/neck area and sometimes have additional jets that target areas such as wrists, thighs, calf muscles and feet. If you can find a lounge seat that fits your height, body shape and buoyancy levels, they can therefore offer a very relaxing all-over body massage.

It is imperative to wet test different lounge seats, as a common criticism of an ill-fitting lounge seat that is either too long or too deep, is that bathers feel like they are floating out of them, rather than feeling comfortable enough to enjoy the massage experience on offer. Don’t be tempted to sit in dry hot tubs to check for comfort and fit, as the experience will be completely different when the buoyancy of the water is taken into account.

Lounge seats can vary dramatically in shape and size. Most lounge seats are designed for people who are average height or taller. Where a couple are the

Photo © HotSpring

same size and height a lounger suitable for one person will most likely be comfortable for the other. However, where one partner is much taller than the other it will be very difficult to find a perfect sized lounger for both of you. In this case, opt for a lounger that fits the person that prefers the lounger experience to conventional open style ‘bucket seats’.

The downside to lounge seats is that they can take up a large proportion of the seating space on offer, as they are long enough to take up the space of two or even three open style bucket seats. Some spas are even equipped with two loungers, in which case a medium to large spa (up to 8ft/2.4m square) can only accommodate three or four bathers. The upside to choosing a dual-lounger spa is that you’ll never have to argue with your fellow bathers about who gets the lounger!

All-Seater Spa

Put simply, an ‘all-seater’ layout is a catch-all label for hot tubs that don’t have a lounge seat. In reality, well-designed allseater spas have a good variety of seating shapes and depths to accommodate the needs of different bathers.

Some all-seater layouts are fairly open and ‘barrier-free’ so that bathers can easily move from one seat to another, and some are more contoured for additional support with seats that include moulded arm rests in what are sometimes termed ‘Captain’s chairs’.

Just like lounge seat spas, the importance of wet testing cannot be understated, as seating depths can vary enormously, and the only way to discern if a spa has the correct depths for all the members of your family is to try them when full of water.

Thanks to our Ancient Greek friend Archimedes, we know that an object immersed in water always displaces a volume of water equal to its own volume. So the more bathers (and their sizes) will dictate how far the level of water will rise in the hot tub which of course will affect the depth of the water as more bathers enter. So for larger families, it is always recommended to choose a large spa with a bigger water capacity in the first place, as the water level will be less affected by the number of bathers.

The upside to an all-seater configuration is that they can open up a more sociable entertainment space, in that all the bathers are seated in the upright position and are all facing each other. So if you plan to use your hot tub to entertain friends and family on a regular basis, perhaps this is the seating style of choice. ➧

Lounger All-seater

Photo © Caldera Spas

Photo © Caldera Spas

Adirondack seats

To make life slightly complicated, a small number of spas are equipped with a seat that is a cross between a lounge seat and a conventional bucket seat, whereby the bather is in a semi-reclined position. These seats are typically called ‘adirondack’ seats, named after the backward-sloping outdoor chair style designed by Thomas Lee in 1903. Adirondack seats take up less space than a lounge seat but still offer some of the body-cradling comfort of loungers and are therefore worth wet testing if your local showrooms have them available. For simplicity, in our coveted 2023 Best Buy Awards from page 110, we class adirondack spas as loungers, and to make your life easy, all our models are labelled as either ‘A’ for ‘all-seater’ or ‘L’ for ‘lounge seater’.

Massage variety

The principle of all hot tub designs, irrespective of their seating style, is that bathers can move from seat to seat and experience a different hydrotherapy massage in each massage station, so that, once you’ve spent some time in each area of the spa, you have enjoyed a full-body hydrotherapeutic massage.

Jet types and positioning, along with the ability to control the massage flow for your preferences are critical to the hydrotherapy experience. But don’t underestimate the importance of seating contours and depths to ensure that the spa is suitable for the heights and sizes of the main bathers.

Don’t forget that you want a combination of deep and shallow seats, as you may feel the need to move to a

shallower ‘cool-down’ seat if you feel too hot and need to expose your head, neck and shoulders to some cool ambient air to lower your body temperature. This is even more vital for children, who cannot self-regulate their body temperatures as efficiently as adults.

An often-overlooked factor of hot tub suitability is the size of the footwell, as this can be the busiest area of the spa when all the family (and their legs and feet) are enjoying the fun. Always look for a spa where the size of the footwell is commensurate to the number of seats in the spa. Also, if you enjoy reflexology (foot massage), wet test the models on your shortlist to check the positioning and feel of foot jets and foot domes.

Avoid ‘webshops’

Again, neglect to wet test at your peril if hydrotherapy is important to you to maximise the health and wellness benefits of regular hot tub sessions. You can’t tell if a spa is comfortable by looking at pictures and even watching videos of other people enjoying them!

While going online to purchase a hot tub from a ‘webshop’ poses many perils that we outline in our ‘Online Danger’ feature on page 66, it will eliminate any opportunity to ‘try before you buy’. So, you should avoid ‘webshops’ at all costs if you want to prevent costly seating disappointments, as well as poor quality production problems.

If you do a detour and bypass the essential process of visiting a hot tub showroom to gain an online ‘bargain’ there is no way you can possibly know if the seating design is going to be comfortable or suitable for your needs, whatever your choice may be.

Personal choice

Also, don’t be tempted to buy the same model as your pals or family members, as it is unlikely that your family will be anatomically similar to theirs, let alone your massage preferences.

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer to the question of ‘to lounge or not to lounge?’. But whatever you choose after wet testing, it will definitely be a hot tub model that ‘feels right’ to you and your loved ones; and you will inevitably avoid making the costly mistake of buying a spa that is not fit for the purpose you intended. ❚

Dual Lounger

Adirondack

All-seater foot jets

Photo © Marquis

ONLINE DANGER

The dangers of purchasing poor quality ‘bargain’ hot tubs from online shops

industry training professionals.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a huge rise in online shopping habits, especially during lockdown restrictions when non-essential retail stores were in forced closure. Tens of thousands of lock-down hot tub buyers took a punt on buying online, tempted by ‘bargain’ deals that seemed too good to be true. Unfortunately, many have since been left high and dry with poor quality models that either cost a fortune to run or are in a state of disrepair after online suppliers have closed down their websites and disappeared into the sunset.

With electricity tariffs now running at record highs, due to geo-political turmoil and general inflationary pressure, it is vitally important that discerning valueconscious hot tub buyers avoid cheap online imports that typically come with little or no insulation inside the cabinetry.

Alarmingly, the WhatSpa? team has reported eye-watering energy bill increases as a result of naïve buyers bagging what looked like a bargain online, only to discover their energy bills hiked by many hundreds of pounds per month once these poor quality spas are installed and turned on.

Pandemic fraud

Fraud experts have warned that thousands of online consumers are still being lured into the clutches of 'net bandits' who exploited the conditions caused by the pandemic, which saw a huge surge in online shopping.

Cyber security professionals have been so concerned that they have issued warnings about the current high prevalence of

fraudulent online activities and the boom in scams, which are parting unsuspecting consumers with their hard-earned cash.

During this period hot tubs became ‘must-have’ items for homeowners wanting to achieve hydrotherapy wellness during lockdown and online searches for hot tubs increased by over 650 per cent since early 2020.

Leading banks have been warning that a high percentage of the latest hot tub sale scams have involved bank transfers made directly to the fraudulent seller, through websites such as eBay or Gumtree.

Unfortunately for many unsuspecting UK hot tub buyers, some online webshops have also been exploiting rising hot tub demand and difficult supply chain circumstances by promising short lead

have been flagged by the WhatSpa? team and

times only to then continuously extend delivery dates many months beyond what was initially promised at the point of order, leaving many buyers out of pocket with no hot tub to show for it.

Although there is evidence that buying online may be appropriate for purchasing entry-level inflatable hot tubs and paddling pools costing a few hundred pounds at most, this route is certainly not recommended for more considerable investments involving thousands of pounds of your hard-earned income and savings, especially in the case of hot tubs, where water and electricity make unlikely bedfellows if strict safety regulations have not been observed during the manufacturing process.

Industry warnings

Despite warnings from the WhatSpa? team and respected WhatSpa? Approved and WhatSpa? Professional retailers, hundreds of unsuspecting consumers will once again find out to their cost that there are many dangers of purchasing a hot tub online that could even include fire risks and entrapment hazards.

There are literally hundreds of new hot tub factories popping up in developing countries, some of which are producing good quality, affordable products, but many that are completely ignoring international quality standards. Such newcomers are shipping products around the World without observing the normal checks and balances such as CE marking and current EU Standards such as BS EN 17125:2018 which covers the safety requirements and test methods for domestic hot tubs. These products can look great on websites, and even physically on the fascia, but what lies beneath the cabinet can be a complete horror show that may even put the lives of buyers and their families at serious risk.

Less-than-reputable traders that take a chance importing these sub-standard products to the UK with the lure of huge profit margins often hide behind the facia of anonymous registered offices and glossy websites with constant fictitious sale offers, whilst peddling shoddy ‘grey imports’ that turn out to be extremely poor quality and can even harbour dangerous electronics in some cases. ➧

Photos © Hot Tub Barn

Private label

A huge trend in recent years has also involved the rise in ‘own-branded’ or ‘private label’ hot tubs where retailers import hot tubs from overseas factories, then badge them with their own retail brand coupled with their own unique model names.

Whilst many WhatSpa? Approved and WhatSpa? Professional retailers are doing this completely ethically, and bringing in good quality products, this branding policy can be similar to that employed by 'Internet cowboys' that are peddling poor quality imitations. This can muddy the waters for discerning hot tub buyers who are looking to do their prepurchase due diligence and buy a quality branded hot tub that is both reliable and energy-efficient.

A general word of caution applies here; if you cannot identify the provenance of a hot tub model from the website of a trader and trace it to a trusted branded manufacturer of good repute, it is advisable to do more research and ask some searching questions about where it was manufactured and what quality assurance standards have been observed in its production.

Paper chase

In particular, before you commit to purchase, ensure that a full delivery, installation and commissioning, and water care training service is included in the price, as opposed to ‘kerbside delivery’ where you will be responsible for moving and installing an appliance that can weigh up to half a tonne! Also ask for warranty details in writing before you commit to buy and ensure that you know what the warranty covers, for how long, and who is underwriting it. Is it just parts that are covered or is on-site labour covered and does this also include free travel time between your address and the dealer headquarters if they need to visit you to remedy a warranty issue?

Also look for signposts of retailer credibility such as WhatSpa? Approved or Professional status, BISHTA membership and good customer ratings from third party review platforms that cannot be manipulated.

Evidence gathering

If you are still contemplating risking the ‘net dangers’ of online hot tub purchasing, then you may think twice when you discover that leading retailers

have witnessed the dangers posed by poor quality grey imports when disgruntled owners have contacted them to investigate hot tubs bought over the Internet.

East midlands-based 1 Stop Spas Managing Director Chris Brady has stark evidence of how poorly manufactured hot tubs could potentially put your life and property in peril. Experienced WhatSpa?

Professional BISHTA Water Hygiene

Management trainer Chris has his own evidence of horrific fire damage from a poorly manufactured hot tub to help deter those contemplating online purchasing and urges anyone contemplating the online route for a ‘web shop bargain’ to think again.

Chris has been highlighting the ‘fire starter’ dangers that poor quality hot tubs can pose, with evidence from a client whose previous hot tub, bought online, proved to be poorly manufactured, and just dropped off at the kerbside, without specialist installation and hot tub tuition.

After only a few weeks the hot tub caught fire while the owner was at work. This resulted in fire crews having to be called out and prevent the fire spreading into the home.

“If the fire crews had got there later it could have been an even worse case scenario,” explained Chris; “Thankfully this was not the case, but it illustrates what can happen when you purchase poor quality hot tubs.”

Manufacturer traceability

Sadly, there also seems to be a growing trend for some online retailers to offer products typically manufactured in emerging economies, but then claim they are manufactured in the UK, North America, Canada, or Europe, which may mislead customers into thinking they are buying a product from one country when it is from somewhere entirely different, where quality control and manufacturing standards can be far less exacting.

If you do your due diligence and purchase a quality hot tub from a trusted brand, not only will it give you many years of reliable service, but it will also maintain a strong residual value should you ever wish to upgrade or sell it on. You are also guaranteed continuity of parts, so that your hot tub can be kept in great working order for decades if well serviced and maintained.

By stark contrast, some of the grey imports that are available are generally only lasting a couple of years because, despite looking great in the pictures on the website, the model has been manufactured very cheaply using poor materials and unrecognisable fittings, pumps or heaters that cannot be replaced. From the moment that you hand over your hard-earned cash, products like this are literally devoid of value and will even cost you money to cut up and take away when they finally stop working and cannot be fixed.

Trusted advocate

To provide greater choice and prevent consumers from purchasing poorly manufactured hot tubs online the WhatSpa? Professional and BISHTA Gold Award-winning Award Leisure network of dealerships has become a distributor for the respected Canadian Beachcomber brand, which launched ‘Special Edition’ hot tubs into the UK in 2021.

To avoid the net dangers of poorly manufactured hot tubs, Chris Anthony from Award Leisure has urged hot tub consumers to seek out respected showroom retailers who can provide top quality products and professional installation and after-care services.

“We know that there are unscrupulous suppliers who are making false claims about the quality of their hot tubs,” reported Chris.

An online-bought poor quality hot tub

“These false claims can lead to major problems with poor products and poor after-care services. So, we always strongly advise hot tub consumers to make sure that they do their research thoroughly and check the factories where hot tubs are being manufactured and the credibility of suppliers.”

Visiting virtues

Award-winning ‘Retailer of Excellence’ and WhatSpa? Professional dealer Jane Veysey, who runs All Swim Limited in Wales and has achieved an impressive track record of ‘Showroom of the Year’ Awards, also advocates showroom visits to assess the credibility of suppliers and their products.

Jane promotes state-of-the-art hot tub models by Caldera Spas and is committed to battling online ‘bandit’ suppliers by promoting showroom visit virtues.

“Some people are prepared to purchase a cheap hot tub online from just a picture, because it seems a simpler and easier route than having to visit a showroom,” explained Jane.

“I tell prospective customers that they should visit showrooms to physically meet the staff, look at their hot tubs and wet test the ones that they think will suit them best.”

Testing advice

Andy Wroot, who is a leading WhatSpa?

Professional retailer of the market-leading Sundance Spas brand as well as his MySpa Wellness range of hot tubs, has over 20 years’ experience in the hot tub market and believes showroom research and wet testing is the best and only solution to avoid net danger risks.

Andy and his thriving network of MySpa stores based in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Cheshire proudly promote a five-star rating on Trustpilot and his staff advocate that prospective customers should ideally gain first-hand knowledge of hot tubs by wet testing prior to purchasing, rather than risk the pitfalls of purchasing from an online picture and description.

“We always promote the fact that prospective owners of hot tubs should wet test products before purchasing them, rather than simply ordering one from a web site,” divulged Andy.

“Whilst this was impossible during the COVID-19 forced retail store closures in 2020 and 2021, now that non-essential stores are reopen again, all the professional members of our industry are very happy to

Do’s and don’ts

■ Pay at least £100 of the deposit by credit card (not debit card) as this affords you the protection of the credit card supplier for the entire value of the purchase

■ Always buy from a showroom that you have visited in person. Don’t buy unseen from a website or online auction site (no matter how professional it looks)

■ Check the dealer has WhatSpa? Approved or WhatSpa? Professional status

■ Make sure that delivery and installation are provided. If all that is offered is ‘kerbside delivery’ then walk away

■ Don’t pay the entire balance up front – a 25 per cent deposit is typical, with the remainder payable on or around the delivery day

■ Ask to see a copy of the warranty certificate, and make sure it covers parts and labour for a minimum of 12 months

welcome clients and hot tub shoppers back into store to physically see, feel and even try the hot tub models on their shortlist, it’s the most reliable and trusted way for consumers to ensure that they make a great product choice and secure their long term hot tub investment.” advised Andy.

Reviews research

As you are conducting research online always treat glowing testimonials placed on company’s websites and social media pages with an element of scepticism and never be tempted into a quick click purchase. Reviews can often be unauthentic or edited, and any negative feedback from disgruntled customers can easily be removed from social media feeds. WhatSpa? has even seen reports of disgruntled clients being ‘blocked’ from social media pages to prevent them from adding feedback that is deemed by the company to be potentially damaging, even though the complaints are valid. For more trustworthy sources of ‘social proof’ look out for reputable third party review websites like Trustpilot, Reviews.co.uk and Feefo, who’s reviews, and star ratings cannot be edited or deleted by the supplier. If a spa retailer is registered with any of these platforms, they will generally display their star rating on their website, but you can also search their database by visiting the rating company’s websites.

■ If you are unsure about the provenance of your spa, ask the supplier to provide written assurance that the model is fully compliant with current UKCA and BSI standards

■ Ask to see inside the hot tub cabinet, as even poorly constructed hot tubs can look great from the shell side, but untreated softwood frames and messy plumbing and wiring can be hidden away behind cabinet panels

■ Upon delivery, demand to receive a comprehensive instruction manual with your spa (written in English) along with the warranty certificate

■ If you are unhappy with the quality of the product, complain in writing and send by recorded delivery post to the supplier within seven days of delivery and contact your local branch of Consumer Direct for free advice www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Online bought hot tub bursts into flames

Photo © 1 Stop Spas

❝Ensure that a full delivery, installation and commissioning, and water care training service is included in the price.❞

Dissolved service

The dangers of hot tub ‘web shop’ purchasing were illustrated a few short years ago after online retailing operation Danz Spas brought the curtain down on its activities after announcing that it had ceased trading and was in the process of appointing a liquidator.

Thanks to celebrity endorsements and low-budget options, Danz Spas had tasted the sweet success of gaining a share of the online market over the course of a decade, but the tide turned, and former favourable online reviews were overtaken by sour criticism about poor customer service, delivery of incorrect products, and faults not being rectified.

Disgruntled customers of the company, launched in 2006 by Daniel Thomas, were forced to report poor post-sales service after forking out thousands of pounds for problematic products.

On her ‘Google Review’ a clearly frustrated Danz Spas customer Emily Payton wrote: ‘Terrible customer service. Pay a bit more for your spa and go with a company who have good customer care and will provide support post sale!”

Research and rights

Even though WhatSpa? would always strongly caution against purchasing a hot tub online, there is a great deal of Internet information that can be researched about retailers and the world’s leading hot tub manufacturers before visiting reputable showrooms.

Views of users in product reviews or testimonials may provide peace of mind for you and your family ahead of splashing out a large sum of your savings, while sites such as our very own whatspa. co.uk provide an independent launch pad of valuable guidance for your online research of brands, retailers and products.

Once you are ready to start shopping in earnest, you can visit our sister website hottubchooser.co.uk which catalogues all the WhatSpa? Approved hot tub models available in the UK and enables you to find your ideal matches based upon your individual lifestyle needs.

This homework and knowledge of the market will provide you with confidence when you visit hot tub showrooms and will ensure that dealers can guide you further with specific advice on your personal health and lifestyle requirements and hot tub brand choices, rather than starting from scratch and having to explain all the facets of the hot tub

manufacturing and wellness capabilities. It will also help to build a relationship with your chosen dealership for future water treatment purchases, or servicing requirements, which will enhance your enjoyment of your hot tub by ensuring it is always working in tip-top condition.

For those that still want to take the gamble and purchase big-ticket items online, it should be noted that you are covered by the same Statutory Distance Selling Regulations that apply to buying from your home via telesales or mail order. A key element is the right to a cooling off period, which most traders usually allow 14 days for, and a refund if you are not satisfied with the hot tub. Another aspect of these regulations is that consumers purchasing products online have the right to clearly defined information before placing an order, as well as a complete refund if products or services are not delivered by an agreed date, or within 30 days of the order being registered.

Online shoppers who make credit card payments should also have the peace of mind extra protection against the seller for breach of contract if the need arises following goods being faulty or not being supplied. This policy could prove to be vital if the online trader goes out of business

and it applies to goods valued at £100 or more but under the £30,000 price tag for a single item. It applies even if your credit card has been used for a deposit payment.

Immediate action

Notify your supplier as soon as you believe you have received faulty goods and this should be done via phone, email, or mail, while making a note of the date, time, and name of the person you spoke to. Also retain written or printed records of emails and copies of correspondence.

Whenever you want to make an online purchase, you should also firstly check to see if the online company has a secure and encrypted method of payment and is approved by leading independent bodies such as TrustUK Additional security for your purchases, meanwhile, can be gained by registering to online fraud protection like the ‘Verified by Visa’ scheme.

It should also be noted that registered companies with a website are legally required to have their company number and registered address displayed on their website. You can confirm that the website you are looking to purchase products from is a credible one by utilising the free Companies House Webcheck Service at www.companieshouse.gov.uk/info ❚

Spa servicing from a trusted spa retailer

❝You are also guaranteed continuity of parts, so that your hot tub can be kept in great working order for decades.❞

Photo © 1 Stop Spas

MARKET-LEADING EFFICIENCY

No other hot tub can beat the market-leading energy-efficiency and highly portable benefits of Softub. This is due to low energy use from the Hydromate heat recovery technology that produces ‘free’ water heating.

Softub has continued to gain popularity for over four decades and now a new generation of UK customers are taking advantage of hot tub energy-efficiency to combat high electricity tariffs. With NASA-engineered foam structures, Softub designs are extremely well insulated and built to last with Polybond that is incredibly strong and durable for all-year-round use.

The fact that Softub also provides unrivalled benefits of being ultralightweight allows them to be easily transported to difficult locations in gardens or on balconies, without the hard wiring costs of an electrician. This eliminates concerns about restricted access, crane hire, or expensive relocation costs.

Ultra-economical advantage

Softub models are so ultra-economical to run with low energy consumption because they retain heat extremely well due to the Polybond construction. Originally developed by NASA for furnishing space capsules to provide astronauts with advanced comfort, Polybond provides triple benefits of being lightweight, creating excellent thermal insulation, and producing highly-durable structural stability, while remaining comfortable and extremely supportive.

What truly sets Softub apart from other brands is the capability to provide hydrotherapy wellness benefits with the heating and jets on simultaneously at less than 1kW/h – which is a fraction of any other product on the market.

This is due to the Hydromate system combining the hot tub’s pump, motor and heating into a single unit and the water is heated by the motor’s excess heat.

Thanks to this innovative heat recovery technology any waste heat from the Softub pump is recycled back to heat the water of the hot tub for free –much like a heat exchanger. To reduce electricity bills even further, a Softub can be linked to solar panels. Whisper technology within the design also ensures Softubs are the quietest spas in the market, while automatic functionality from the Softub Ozonator provides intensive water purification for crystal clear results.

Extensive display

Hot Tubs and Living have been in the industry for over a decade and are the UK importer and distributor for Softub. The York head office and showroom supports a network of local dealers, while a dedicated sales team also provides promotion at consumer shows and exhibitions.

More than ten Softubs are on display at the Hot Tubs and Living flagship store in York, including the Portico that is equipped with a larger massage bench for added comfort and flexibility, as well as Softub’s premium Poseidon Jet System for an even more powerful and versatile massage experience, plus additional LED lighting.

The family-run Hot Tubs and Living showroom provides a warm welcome with professional customer care and exceptional product knowledge guidance to highlight the cost-saving benefits of Softub, which can be complimented with a range of top-quality accessories.

An extensive showcase of hot tubs also includes the best-selling Patio Hot Tub options and the state-of-the-art Villeroy & Boch models at the impressive showroom based at the Northminster Business Park on Harwood Road, just off the A1237.

Hot enhancement

Along with the new two-tiered Newport Hot Tub Step for round hot tubs, including the multiple WhatSpa? Best Buy Award-winning Softub Resort, as well as Portico, Sportster, and Legend, Hot Tubs and Living can also help you to enhance your hot tub installation with dedicated rattan or wood surrounds. Bespoke garden building structures are also available, which are produced from responsibly sourced timber carrying the FSC certificate.

The hot tub gazebo and garden building structures, which are beautifully crafted in York and include seating options, are on display in the Hot Tubs and Living showroom to highlight how they will provide you with a beautiful focal point to the garden, offering a space for outdoor entertaining and providing additional shelter from the elements.

These are available in a variety of sizes and styles with additional bespoke capability to accommodate any hot tub choices. All can be installed securely as part of the nationwide professional delivery and installation service.

Service excellence

All products purchased from Hot Tubs and Living are supported with excellent after sales service, repairs and professional Hot Tub Service Packages. ❚

✆ Contact Details

Tel: 01904 948800

Email: info@hottubsandliving.co.uk

www.hottubsandliving.co.uk

BACK TROUBLE

Looking for a natural and convenient way to ease chronic back pain? According to experts, a high-quality hot tub with advanced hydrotherapy jets may be just the solution you need.

Findings of a systematic review published in the last couple of years in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, reveal only one in six patients treated with the NSAIDs achieve any significant reduction in pain.

“Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is commonly managed by prescribing medicines such as anti-inflammatories,” said Manuela, who is Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Bone and Joint Research at the University of Sydney; “But our results show antiinflammatory drugs actually only provide very limited short term pain relief.

As NHS waiting lists hit a record high of 7.2 million people last year, home hot tubs are emerging as a saviour for those struggling with chronic back pain, which has become an extremely common health problem. Most of us will suffer chronic back pain at some point in our lives but, as NHS waiting lists are unlikely to significantly fall until the middle of 2024, experts are advising that hot tubs can provide a convenient home solution to support back pain management and reduce the requirement for pain-killing treatments. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic back pain and sciatica caused by sitting for long periods in front of computer screens was having a major health impact on people of all age groups and especially those who are over 50, according to figures by the UK Statistics

Authority. Experts believe that with an increasingly obese and ageing population, with rates of physical activity continuing to decrease, the number of people with back pain and osteoarthritis will rise rapidly during the next ten years.

Latest study

Back pain can strike at any time, but a new study has revealed that generally people were most likely to have sudden lower back pain in the morning. Any manual duties involving awkward positions were tied to an eight-fold increase in risk for lower back pain, the researchers also found.

One of the new study’s authors, Manuela Ferreira of The George Institute for Global Health at The University of Sydney, Australia has declared that back pain is a ‘worldwide’ health concern and that anti-inflammatory medicine, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has very limited impact.

“When you factor in the side effects which are very common, it becomes clear that these drugs are not the answer to providing pain relief to the many millions who suffer from this debilitating condition every year.”

Back expert

In his WhatSpa? ‘Ask the Expert’ interview Consultant Osteopath and back pain treatment specialist Andrew Doody BSc (Hons) has spent more than 20 years at The Fleet Street Clinic dealing with acute and long-term back pain issues. He provides advice to patients that includes the recommendation of using hot tubs to build up muscle strength by exercising gently in a weightless environment as it takes the pressure off your back and other parts of your lower body.

After suffering injuries whilst playing rugby, Andrew harnessed the hydrotherapy benefits of his own hot tub to gain regular relief for his sore muscles and is an advocate of regular hot tub use to deal with back pain, as well as ‘hands on’ professional physical treatment.

“I have a hot tub myself and it works fabulously for me,” enthuses Andrew; “and I recommend it to my patients.

“Lockdown aside, back pain is becoming more prevalent. It is something that has built up over the last few years.”

Andrew, who has his own ‘Andrew Doody Osteopath’ YouTube channel recommends using a hot tub every day if necessary to relieve back pain and help you to achieve enhanced relaxation with the heat and buoyancy of the water to gain the additional advantage of mental relief as well as achieving positive physical benefits.

“There is a psychosomatic side to it as well,” explains Andrew; “If it relaxes you then it is really going to make a big difference. You can also combine it with exercise.”

Wellness investment

If you are seeking to gain the maximum benefits from your hot tub purchase for back pain and arthritis relief then you need to do your homework thoroughly and draw up a shortlist of options with suitable hydrotherapy jets and comfortable seating configurations. The key advice, if you are purchasing a hot tub for advanced hydrotherapy and greater wellness, is invest wisely. Hot tubs range from very simple ‘entry level’ models that are designed mostly for warm water socialising and family leisure fun to more advanced ‘luxury’ designs with state-of-the-art hydrotherapy functionality. There are also a wide range of ‘mid-range’ options that provide good levels of hydrotherapy capability within specific seating configurations. Although it is wise to use websites for research, if you are seeking top quality hydrotherapy to ease your back pain, then we would strongly advise against purchasing a hot tub online and instead seek out WhatSpa? Approved or WhatSpa? Professional showrooms with advanced ergonomic designs to specifically support back pain treatments with soothing massage functionality.

Jet counting

Most above ground hot tubs generally incorporate between 20 and 100 jets. These are targeted at various parts of your body, including the legs, back and shoulders to help tackle muscle fatigue, soreness and general aches and pains. It is important to remember, though, that when it comes to jets for easing back pain it is all about quality, rather than quantity. ➧

Just because a hot tub has 85 jets this doesn’t mean that it provides the best hydrotherapy solution for your body shape and wellness requirements. Optimisation of the jet technology within the hot tub is the main requirement you should be researching during your purchasing considerations.

Generally, the best advice if you are suffering from chronic pain is to seek out a hot tub that provides a specific and focused hydrotherapy massage capability with fewer, more powerful targeted jets that target your troublesome body areas, such as your lower back, shoulders and neck.

Seating consideration

Hot tubs are produced to meet a wide range of seating requirements, from indulgent single-seater models to the larger eight-seater varieties that are suitable for family gatherings and socialising with friends. If pain relief is your primary concern, don’t compromise on day-to-day massage therapy to cater for the odd occasion when your extended family will pop in for a dip in the hot tub.

As with the expert advice when it comes to jet count, the quality and comfort of the seating design is the most important factor when it comes to achieving optimum hydrotherapy. There is no point purchasing a hot tub with the most advanced jets and hydrotherapy functionality if you can’t sit comfortably in the seats and the jets don’t match up to the specific body parts that you are seeking to gain pain relief; including your spine and lower back.

Many leading manufacturers have produced hot tubs that can be easily transported through gates and doorways and accommodated into small garden spaces, but these are not suitable for a tall person who requires deep seating designs to accommodate their body shape.

Likewise, if you have a small body there is no point splashing out on a huge hot tub that has been designed to accommodate larger body shapes. It is important to visit your local professional showroom dealers to sit in dry display models and then wet test those that you find are suitable for your body and have the correct jets configured in the seat for your hydrotherapy requirements. Additional seating advice is available in our ‘Lounger v All-Seater’ feature on page 62

Showroom satisfaction

By visiting a showroom and wet testing a hot tub before purchasing you will eliminate the problems with poorly manufactured models sourced online from ‘faceless’ web sites that can lead to stress and an increased level of muscular and back pain. A quality hot tub purchase from a WhatSpa? Approved or WhatSpa? Professional showroom supplier should negate this completely.

By choosing a reputable brand with advanced hydrotherapy from a showroom, where you have had a comprehensive consultation and opportunity to wet test the model before completing the payment or finance paperwork, you should quickly achieve the wellness benefits from high levels of hydrotherapy.

It is important to maximise the potential of your hot tub by having it installed by a professional dealership who

can advise you on how you can safely enter and exit the hot tub without causing injuries or increased levels of back pain by purchasing dedicated steps with handles, if required, or having it semi-sunk or fully sunk within a decking area that has easy access. Some hot tubs may be supplied with standard steps within the purchase cost, but you may require more expensive steps or raised grab bars if you have specific mobility requirements.

As part of this purchasing and installation consultation process with your showroom dealer you should discuss cover lifter options. Hot tub covers can be quite heavy to lift off so if this is going to cause you difficulties you should ensure that you have a quality automatic cover system or hydraulic cover lifter fitted. This is especially important if you are contemplating a solo soak and want to avoid doing any further damage to your back or other muscles during the cover lifting process.

Regular dose

To maintain the benefits of your back pain-busting hydrotherapy and to gain the best possible return on investment from your hot tub you need to be able to use it conveniently on a regular basis. Only top quality hot tubs from respected dealerships will provide you with guaranteed reliability so that you can use them every single day, without worries of technical problems hindering your hydrotherapy session.

By using your hot tub regularly, you should gain an improved wellness level that should ensure better capability for your body to recover from any further aches and pains in the future. Others have already taken this plunge to back support health wellness. Now it’s your turn. We know you will look back on this decision and wish you had done it sooner! ❚

Photo

© Jacuzzi

Photo © Aquavia Spa

Planning to create your own hot tub garden retreat?

GRAND Designs

Celebrity gardening icon and national treasure

Alan Titchmarsh MBE has been cultivating extra television presenting roots with his ‘Love your weekend’ Sunday morning show for ITV, with celebrity interviews and gardening tips filmed in the heart of Hampshire, after many years of inspiring thousands of hot tub owners to transform their garden retreats thanks to his books, TV programmes and media profile coverage. Now, after helping to conduct television garden makeovers with hot tub installations, the ‘Love Your Garden’ and ‘Britain’s Best Back Gardens’, ‘Gardener’s World’ and ‘Ground Force’ presenter is continuing to sow more seeds of hot tub hydrotherapy within the blossoming wet leisure market after revealing that the best thing planted in his own green space is his hot tub!

The Yorkshire-born best-selling author of over 40 gardening books, and ‘Secrets of the National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh’ presenter, who also hosted coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show for the BBC for 30 years and voiced the title character in ‘Gordon the Garden Gnome’ on the CBeebies channel, inherited a hot tub after purchasing a home on the Isle of Wight and has been growing his hydrotherapy advocate roots ever since.

After gaining his own hot tub and sampling the hydrotherapy delights with his wife in the restorative warm water of their own personal hot tub haven, gardening journalist, poet, and novelist Alan; who on an episode of ITV’s ‘Fifty Shades of Green with Alan Titchmarsh’ recently provided a first ever tour of his stunning Georgian farmhouse garden in Hampshire that boasts several water features and includes ten tiny waterfalls; immediately became a hydrotherapy convert as it rids him of his worries.

“I don’t know anybody who’s got in one who hasn’t decided they’re the best thing since sliced bread,” enthuses Alan. “I’m now a fan. I’m totally addicted.

“It came with the house and we thought we’d get rid of it. But it was working so we thought we’d give it a go. The worries of the day melted away.

“After a day of pottering among my charges, I shall look forward to the sun passing the yardarm and submerging my body (glass in hand) in the restorative waters. If a hot tub was good enough for the Romans and Cleopatra – it is good enough for me!”

While the TV garden projects that Alan and his teams have undertaken on the episodes of ‘Love Your Garden’ can provide inspiration to get you started, there is no requirement for having to undertake lavish landscaping projects to gain the full health and wellness benefits of your hot tub; as the main advantage of being portable is that hot tubs are specifically designed as stand-alone products. All you need is a quality hot tub from a professional dealership for your hydrotherapy wellness to blossom in the years to come.

However, if you are seeking to create a dedicated hot tub garden ‘grand design’ with more intensive planning and research then you may want to take inspiration from the many installation projects by wet leisure professionals and WhatSpa? readers who have surrounded their dream hot tub with their own individual design creations and bespoke garden features.

Here, WhatSpa? provides you with ‘in-spa-ration’ with these hot tub installations before you break turf.

Photo © HotSpring

Photo © Jo Marshall

Then start your grand design process with these ‘in-spa-rational’ project ideas.

Glorious sunsets and hot tub wellness can be combined by the owners of this installation by All Weather Leisure

The higher level of the garden is the ideal location for the raised rustic hot tub platform and sturdy pergola structure that blends in perfectly with the garden surroundings. With a view like this we would be rushing home for an evening hot tub soak to take advantage of multiple health benefits while enjoying the vast views of the sea stretching to the horizon far away.

You may overlook this hot tub installation by Advanced Hot Tubs and Swim Spas at first glance because it blends in so perfectly with the surroundings. The exterior of the hot tub is an ideal match for the decking and socialising area surroundings and is a grand example of what can be achieved with a semi-sunken project that will ensure the hot tub owners and their guests have easy entry and exit capability with lights strategically placed to lead the way before an evening ‘spa-rty’ event or a solo soak hydrotherapy session.

Rather than staring at a brick wall the owners of this installation by Fiji Spas have dedicated a large section of their garden as a hot tub and socialising area to ensure they achieve the benefits from a strong foundation of hydrotherapy wellness for many years to come. Curtains incorporated within the roof structure can ensure hot tub privacy when required and subtle lighting around the hot tub,

Two installations by Aquafun provide grand examples of how cutting-edge automatic cover systems by Covana can be incorporated in above-ground or fully-sunken projects. Covana covers are becoming increasingly popular with owners because they provide advanced heat loss reduction and peace of mind security when closed and can be lifted automatically with a key system to provide owners with the benefit of a modern gazebo-style structure. The ultra-chic fully-sunken installation provides easier access but requires provision to ensure future servicing and repairs can be conducted, while the above-ground example allows the owners a much higher garden-viewing vantage point.

Hydrotherapy wellness enjoyment in a corner of your garden can be achieved by following this installation example by Johnson’s. The fact that the hot tub has been semi-sunken in the decking allows for it to sit securely and safely on a strong concrete base below to ensure it has the capability to support the weight of the water and incumbents in all of the seats, while the visible cabinet exterior blends in with the surrounding gigantic grey decking area that can also easily accommodate many ‘spa-rty’ guests who want to take advantage of grand soaking and socialising provision.

Experienced dealers may recommend that you locate a newly-purchased hot tub next to your home for convenient regular use. Yet this installation by All Weather Leisure perfectly illustrates how a hot tub can occupy the corner of a garden on a dedicated decking structure within a rustic

On every level this installation by MySpa provides a grand design ‘wow factor’. Having the hot tub fully sunken within the tiered levels of the decking structure provides easy entry and exit capability without the requirement for additional steps. Yet this ultra-chic concept has the additional benefit of providing essential provision for storing the cover out of sight and ensures the views of this hot tub wellness and socialising space are picture perfect when any ‘spa-rty’ guests arrive. This area is stunningly enhanced during the evening when the hot tub interior lighting combines with the subtle floor and wall lights.

Some owners may opt for locating their hot tub inside a garden building but if you want to embrace the great outdoors while enjoying advanced hot tub hydrotherapy in soothing warm water then this grand design installation by Euphoria Lifestyle may provide inspiration. Just out of sight is a convenient outdoor shower to ensure the owners and any ‘spa-rty’ guests can utilise it without going inside the home. The socialising area is then just the next step away to retain hot tub warmth indoors after a soothing soak outside.

Long fence lines can be transformed with a grand design socialising area and hot tub installation like this example by Ultimate Hot Tubs The pergola structure colour blends perfectly with the hot tub cabinet and steps, while ensuring they all stand out from the contrasting colour of the fence structure that can provide protection from side winds and also helps to restrict the view of the neighbouring property.

Never neglect professional advice when it comes to grand design locations because, as this installation by Marquis dealership Welsh Hot Tubs illustrates, if your aim is to gain all-year-round convenient hydrotherapy wellness right on your doorstep then the best option is to have your hot tub situated within close proximity to your home. The benefit of this design is that there is never going to be a problem of grass or mud entering the hot tub, due to the fact that this project has been successfully conceived with a stone theme for the solid base and surrounding area.

Bi-fold doors incorporated within the modern garden structure open out to provide a perfect view of the above-ground installation by Hot Tub Village After enjoying a hot seat soak the owners can then take advantage of the choice of relaxing indoor or outdoor seating. One of the key benefits of hot tubs is that they can be installed easily on a level concrete base and if you choose to follow this simple but highly-effective above-ground example then it also provides easy access to the hot tub for servicing requirements.

Dazzling and decked out for ultimate grand design sophistication is this Artesian Spas Elite Dove Canyon installation by experienced dealership North Spas nestled in the corner of the garden on a large decking structure. We also must take our hats off to the extra ‘cherry on the top’ under cover element of this grand design with the protection from a large rugged rustic roof structure for good measure.

Brick and wood are contrasting elements for this fully-sunken installation by Hydrolife that provides a simple, but highly-effective, entry and exit capability for the owners and their ‘spa-rty’ guests to enjoy top quality hydrotherapy functionality with the inclusion of multi-tiered decking steps. Continuing the timber theme, that includes wooden backrests and surrounding structure, there is extra protection from the sun and rain with the wooden roof structure of the hot tub socialising area that has an illuminating golden brown glow result at night thanks to the strategically installed lighting. Provision for internal hot tub access has also been incorporated.

Attention to detail has been incorporated into this installation by Platinum Hot Tubs that truly creates a ‘wow factor’ grand design result. To accent the many benefits of regular hydrotherapy, the owners have created a multi-tiered approach to their garden that provides quick use of their hot tub from the side door and then the ability to access other areas of the contrasting garden via the triple steps that feature a glowing example of an important safety measure for increasing access visibility at night and to complement the additional lighting at the rear of the hot tub.

Contemporary sun shade sails are gaining popularity and the owners of this installation by All Swim have taken this under cover product purchasing initiative to provide shade for their hot tub and a simple, yet effective, way of providing hot tub lighting within the structure. This is achieved without making a major impact on their garden surroundings that provide fence protection from

Splitting the garden into two dedicated areas is the key design feature of this installation by Blue Rock Pools. By locating the hot tub above ground on the solid base next to the decking area it allows users to enter and exit without having to go on the dedicated grass area that occupies the other half of the garden. Close proximity to the back door allows convenient use and being situated near to the side fence structure provides more privacy and protection from side winds than having the hot tub in the middle of the garden.

Taking their ‘best of both world’s’ hot tub and swim spa installation to the next level the owners of this installation by Hot Tubs Oxfordshire have incorporated the innovative Covana Legend automated swim spa cover system within their grand design. After warming up their muscles in the hot tub they can turn the key of the Covana cover for it to lift safely into position before taking the plunge in the swim spa. The fact that the hot tub and swim spa are semi-sunken within the large decking structure ensures easier capability to enter and exit them without steps.

Over many years MySpa has been gracing us with stunning examples of installations and this one certainly raises the bar when it comes to illustrating how a hot tub installation can be strategically located ‘above ground’ within a professionally-renovated garden area. Experienced hot tub and landscaping advice has been the key to the success of this project to create the dedicated above ground level platform for the owners and their ‘spa-rty’ guests to enjoy advanced hydrotherapy that will raise their body temperatures for a multitude of health and wellness benefits.

Illuminating grand designs like this installation by Aqua Warehouse Group help to shine the light on how hot tubs can magnificently transform previously neglected gardens, especially at night, with a concept taking centre stage of your garden that provides modern interior and exterior LED lighting. This effectively complements the additional lights that the owner’s have strategically placed to ensure the palm tree is part of the glowing hydrotherapy retreat experience. A major benefit of this stone floor design theme for the owner’s is that rather than worrying about watering multiple plants the only thing getting wet is themselves!

Combining their hot tub and indoor socialising area on a large decking platform under one large roof structure as part of this installation by Advanced Hot Tubs and Swim Spas allows the owners to gain quick access to hydrotherapy wellness without the worry of rain spoiling their soothing soak session. The side window provides the additional convenience of being able to view hot tub incumbents without leaving the indoor area.

ENERGY SAVER

Installing an energy-saving air source heat pump could shave hundreds of pounds off your hot tub running costs every year. Andy Slater investigates this latest technology.

Akey benefit of a good quality hot tub is the fact that it can be utilised allyear-round to gain a welldeserved hydrotherapy wellness boost without breaking the bank. In fact the most energy-efficient hot tub models can be kept at a constant bather temperature of around 37-38 degrees Celsius, ready for you and your family to take a relaxing dip any time of day or evening, all for less than the cost of a daily cappuccino from your local high street coffee outlet.

Pandemic frenzy

Not all hot tubs are built equally though, many grey imports that flooded the market during the COVID pandemic looked great at first glance but hid the shock of sky high running costs, due to poor fabrication and cost-cutting to achieve low selling prices. Unfortunately, for many unsuspecting buyers, these cheap models contained little or no cabinet insulation and as a result their energy consumption was

up to ten times higher than more well-insulated branded products. Luckily, now that supply chains and stock levels have normalised again, discerning spa buyers are once again doing their due diligence when it comes to build quality, hydrotherapy performance and running costs, especially as the Ukraine war led to the biggest spike in energy tariffs since records began.

Tariff trends

The good news is that wholesale electricity tariffs have plummeted in recent weeks from a peak of 548p per megawatt hour in August 2022 to just 109p by mid-March 2023. In fact, spot wholesale prices are now at levels not seen since August 2021, after unseasonably warm weather across the UK and Europe in recent months curbed demand and eased the stress on the country’s energy grid.

Whilst UK homeowners patiently await an overdue return to ‘normal’ domestic electricity tariffs, the huge spike in tariffs in late 2022 and early 2023 spurned an equally prodigious rise in demand for energy-saving devices around the home, including new air source heat pump technology for hot tubs. So, what is an air source heat pump and is it a good investment for domestic hot tub owners?

Tech talk

An air source heat pump (ASHP) takes heat from the air, boosts it to a higher temperature using a compressor, and then transfers that heat to your hot tub water. For tech fans, here is exactly how it works:

■ The heat pump’s fan draws air over tubes full of refrigerant, which is warmed up and turned into a gas.

■ This gas is then compressed using the electric pump, which significantly increases its temperature. This is then passed into a heat exchanger which transfers that heat to your hot tub.

■ The refrigerant gas inside the heat pump then cools and turns back into a liquid upon passing through the pressure valve, starting the process again.

The warmer the weather, the more efficiently an air source heat pump works, as it can take more heat from the air. But some heat pumps still work down to icy air temperatures as low as – 20°C, it just takes them longer to heat your hot tub up to bather temperature.

❝The warmer the weather, the more efficiently an air source heat pump works, as it can take more heat from the air.❞

Sound investment

Good quality air source heat pumps have an average efficiency rating of around 350 per cent, which is significantly higher than standard hot tub heaters.

This can lead to some serious savings on heating costs. For example, well insulated five or six-seater hot tubs with around 1,500 litres of water can use around 6kWh per day when used on average for 30 minutes a day three or four times per week. At current high electricity tariffs that equates to around £2 per day in total running costs. Our initial tests with the most energy-efficient hot tubs have seen models that were costing £2 per day to run drop to £1 per day with an efficient air source heat pump installed.

So when it comes to your hot tub’s electricity costs, it is typical for an air source heat pump to save you £300 to £500 per year in running costs. In fact, the higher energy costs have risen, the bigger those savings have become. ➧

Photo © RotoSpa

Top 10 Tips to MAXIMISE ENERGYEFFICIENCY in 2023

It is critical that you choose your hot tub carefully and maintain it properly to minimise your energy bills. Follow these ten top tips for maximum benefits:

■ Buy a hot tub that is the right size for your unique needs, why buy a six or seven-seater if there are only one or two bathers using it most of the time?

■ Avoid online purchasing and instead shortlist reputable brands and models within the 2023 Best Buy Awards pages (see page 110) as part of your research on energy-efficient hot tubs.

■ Check the quality and thickness of the thermal spa cover that is supplied with your hot tub. Ensure it has a ‘continuous heat seal’ along the centre fold to retain as much heat as possible. Also ensure it is fitted correctly for a tight seal with the hot tub shell.

■ Get a ‘cover lifter’ included with your hot tub deal. Not only will it make handling the thermal cover a breeze, but it will also prevent it from becoming damaged or punctured.

■ Speak to your dealer about the heating and filtration control panel settings on your hot tub as there may be ‘eco modes’ that are suitable for your usage patterns.

■ If you live in a hard water area, be sure to add a weekly dose of scale inhibitor as this will keep any calcium in suspension rather than allowing to calcify on your heating element.

■ Get your hot tub serviced annually by a fully-trained technician so that pumps, heaters and heating controls are always working efficiently.

■ Keep your hot tub water temperature set at the bather temperature that you enjoy rather than turning it down when you are not using it. That is the most energy-efficient way to run a well-insulated model.

■ Turn your topside air controls off when the spa is not in use. This will stop cold air from being ‘bubbled’ through the water when the spa is in automatic filter cycles.

■ Always try to shower before use to make looking after your spa water easier and maintain your spa water properly. Just a few minutes of regular ‘TLC’ will keep your water looking fresh, meaning less frequent drain downs.

Upfront investment

A good quality air source heat pump (see our Best Buy Awards on page 142) will seriously slash your energy bills, but they’re not cheap. Buying and fitting an on/off heat pump from a cheaper brand will cost you around £1,500. At the other end of the quality scale, a 12kW inverter model from a reputable brand will cost around £3,500 fitted.

How quickly your heat pump gets your hot tub up to temperature will depend on a few different things. Firstly, every heat pump is rated with a COP – a ‘coefficient of performance’. If a heat pump has a maximum COP of four, that means it produces four kilowatts of actual heat for every kilowatt of electricity it uses. So, the higher your heat pump’s COP, the faster it will heat up your hot tub (and the cheaper it will be to heat).

The ambient air temperature also plays a big part in how quickly a heat pump will heat up your spa. The less ambient heat there is in the air, the harder a heat pump has to work to get your spa water up to temperature. So, you can expect your heat pump to heat your hot tub up slower, and cost more to run, during winter than in summer (while still being more cost-effective than a standard heater, even in winter).

Finally, how well insulated your hot tub is will play a big part in how fast it gets up to temperature. The more heat your hot tub ‘leaks’ due to poor insulation, the slower it will heat up, and the more expensive it will be to keep it hot.

Payback period

The irony is of course that the payback period on an energy-efficient hot tub model is longer than it is for a poorly insulated hot tub, even if the total running costs are likely to be higher on the poorly insulated option, even with an air source heat pump fitted.

Since a good quality air source heat pump costs a few thousand pounds and typically shaves around £300-£500 off your energy bills a year, they usually pay for themselves after three to seven years. After that, expect it to save you hundreds if not thousands of pounds over the lifespan of your hot tub. Plus, you can be proud of the fact that you are doing your bit to save the planet via lower household electricity usage.

For domestic use, a heat pump with an output of anything from 5kW up to 12kW should do the trick, depending on the water capacity of the hot tub and how fast you would like it to heat up. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the hot tub, the bigger kW rating you will need.

Efficiency explained

There are two main kinds of hot tub heat pumps: those that use ‘on/off’ technology and those that use  ‘inverter’ technology.

As the name suggests, on/off models have two modes; on and off. These tend to be cheaper models, but because they do not have variable speeds they cannot be the most energy efficient option. ➧

Inverter models, on the other hand, are powered by a variable-speed fan. A lot of top-end inverter heat pumps have smart tech within them that checks the ambient air temperature and adjusts the fan speed to get the best efficiency out of the heat pump. These models, therefore, tend to cost more upfront but cost less to run.

UK climate

Whilst we think of ourselves as having inclement weather here in the UK, compared to a lot of other countries we have quite a mild environment.

Our average temperatures are around 9 and 12°C, which is well within the working parameters of a good air source heat pump. In fact, some heat pumps can carry on heating water in temperatures as low as -20°C.

As long as you buy a heat pump that can handle cold temperatures it will have no problem heating up your spa, even on the chilliest of winter days. Most good quality air source heat pumps can operate down to -5°C but beware of models that are really designed for summer use and only work down to anything over 0°C. Tepid water temperatures are a big turnoff and will freeze out any possibility of you and your family wanting to take advantage of a regular dip if your heat pump is not capable of coping with the coldest days of winter.

If you live in an area of the UK that does see sub-zero air temperatures in winter, some heat pumps come with auto-defrost features and heated drip trays to prevent a build-up of ice both inside and outside the heat pump to prevent equipment damage in colder weather.

Model compatibility

If you want to be able to control your spa water temperature from your spa’s control panel rather than via the control screen on the heat pump, you’ll need to look at ‘integrated’ heat pumps that are compatible with the control system of your hot tub.

The main control system manufacturers covering the vast majority of hot tubs are Balboa, Gecko and SpaNET, but only the most up to date control systems even from these brands are heat pump compatible, so be sure to check with your hot tub dealer regarding heat pump compatibility.

On the other hand, if you are happy to use the touchscreen on your new heat pump to control the spa water temperature, you can opt for a ‘standalone’ heat pump model

that is compatible with just about any hot tub make or model. Some heat pumps even come with WiFi controllers and smartphone apps so you can control the spa water temperature from your iPhone or Android mobile.

Fitting expertise

Of course, choosing an air source heat pump is only one part of the equation; even the best model will not perform to its maximum efficiency unless it is fitted by a qualified, experienced spa technician. The WhatSpa? team has seen some horrific installs by sub-par companies that really do not understand the plumbing requirements for an efficient installation. An air source heat pump should also be serviced annually, so once again, consult a specialist dealer that has qualified technicians to install and service this new energy-saving technology!

For the very latest information around air source heat pumps visit www.whatspa.co.uk/hot-tub-heatpump-guide and be sure to see our Air Source Heat Pump Best Buy Awards on page 142 ❚

❝Discerning spa buyers are once again doing their due diligence when it comes to build quality and running costs.❞

Photo © 1 Stop Spas

Centre of Excellence EFFICIENCY

1Stop Spas™ provide the most energy-efficient hot tub brands and professional showroom services at its ‘centres of excellence’ to ensure you are always guaranteed peace of mind purchasing followed by outstanding after-care support.

Extremely high running costs are the risks of purchasing online ‘hot tub bargains’. Instead, 1 Stop Spas displays a huge selection of over 50 energy-efficient hot tubs available across their showrooms in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, from the world’s best built brands. Fully-trained professionals will help you achieve multiple wellness and cost-saving benefits from your hot tub investment lasting many years.

An investment in a hot tub should never be taken lightly, and many purchasing pitfalls can be avoided with professional showroom guidance. That is why 1 Stop Spas has launched a dedicated SpaTech Training™ division to establish a centre of excellence capability with specialist tuition and accreditation services for its own staff members and other hot tub industry professionals.

The WhatSpa? Professional expert support at the 1 Stop Spas award-winning showrooms; including the flagship showroom in Sleaford and a second location in East Bridgford, promote the American-made, top quality American Whirlpool™, and Tuff Spas™ brands. You always have the peace of mind guarantee of being in the ‘safest hands’ of the multi award-winning specialists and winners of multiple BISHTA Awards and UK Pool & Spa Awards. They have multiple finance options, including ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ & 0% APR options to help you become an immediate hot tub owner.

Satisfaction commitment

Former RAF Fast Jet Aeronautical Engineer and respected BISHTA technical advisor Chris Brady, who is a Certified Hot Tub Technician™ and a Pool & Hot Tub Alliance™ (PHTA) tutor, and his

wife Melissa, who like Chris, is a BISHTA Water Hygiene Management specialist, are spearheading the dedicated 1 Stop Spas team. A commitment to your hot tub purchasing satisfaction is their top priority with professional ‘VIP treatment’ consultations and wet testing to determine your best requirements.

Comprehensive site surveys incorporate hot tub installation project advice as part of the pre-delivery process. This includes professional guidance on all projects before delivery and installation by fullyqualified Certified Hot Tub Technicians™ trained by SpaTech Training.

Best brands

A key ingredient for achieving a topquality purchase is being able to choose from the best brands that produce ‘Energyefficient, American-Made’ hot tubs with proven long-life reliability, as well as trusted industry-leading guarantees and warranties. For this reason, the WhatSpa? Best Buy Award-winning American Whirlpool and Tuff Spas brands have been specifically chosen for their owner satisfaction due to being exceptionally environmentally-friendly and adhering to strict USA energy-efficiency laws. After MAAX Spas created the World’s first steel frame ‘Appliance Grade’ hot tubs and the American Whirlpool ‘superbrand’ with 3M Thinsulate insulation it was no surprise 1 Stop Spas was chosen to become a dealership for the cutting-edge designs, which include the WhatSpa? Best Buy Award-winning American Whirlpool AW451, 471, 881 & 982 models. In 2020 the robust Tuff Spas were introduced to provide customers with durable and

energy-efficient options that are perfect to cope with any elements of the British weather. They have lifetime structural and hard top cover warranties and incorporate ‘Blue sTUFF’ insulation that is produced from thermally bonded recycled denim to provide enhanced Heat-Lock energyefficiency and noise absorption.

Super SPAWER

If you are seeking extra cost-saving capability, then 1 Stop Spas has the answer with hot tubs compatible with heat pumps. These include the DuraPro and SPAWER™ products that have been proven to provide exceptional efficiency benefits.

The WhatSpa? Approved SPAWER™ heat pump products have been recently introduced as they provide the capability of operating down to -25°C. With this technology your hot tub water can be quickly heated to maximum temperatures even in harsh British winter weather with the benefit of reducing traditional electric heater consumption by up to 85 per cent.

To eliminate the visual impact of installing a heat pump, there are SPAWER™ options that can be installed and operated within the SPAWER™ platform steps due to their small frame and side ventilation design.

Outstanding after-care

Once your hot tub is delivered your 1 Stop Spas ‘journey’ truly begins with outstanding after-care. This incorporates water maintenance guidance, a wide range of niche accessories, and dedicated service plans to ensure your hot tub is always in top condition.

You also benefit from BISHTA approved Water Hygiene Management advice and respected O-Care water treatment products with home delivery. ❚

✆ Contact Details

Tel: 01522 300737

Email: info@1stopspas.com

1stopspas.com

❝1 Stop Spas displays a huge selection of over 50 energy-efficient hot tubs.

➧ Pre-Delivery Guide

Have you dreamed about installing your perfect hot tub but don’t know how? WhatSpa? is here to help with our simple seven-step pre-delivery guide.

Creating a domestic outdoor oasis, equipped with a relaxing hot tub haven area, is a dream for many of us. Just a quick peek at our Grand Designs section (page 78) should be enough to whet the appetite of anyone interested in creating their own hot tub Shangri-la.

Unless you are a hot tub aficionado, pool engineer, or landscape gardener, the prospect of installing a portable spa correctly and creating a complementary environment could be more than a little daunting.

Which is why we have created a step-by-step guide to help you plan and realise your perfect wet leisure project. Get it right and you will have something that will enrich your leisure time, health and relationships on a daily basis. And you really can’t put a price on that!

Step 1. Do your homework

Your first step should be to identify what kind of hot tub you want. Look at what you want from the spa with regards to size, seating, jets, features and general appearance. This is where the Internet and sites like whatspa.co.uk and hottubchooser.co.uk come into play, as you can research different products from various brands, make your wish list and visit a dealer for a wet test.

Before you go headlong into wet testing and buying, measure the area of your garden that you have earmarked for your shiny new spa; and even use string, or tape, to plot the footprint of the spa to ensure it will fit comfortably.

Most reputable dealers will carry out a site survey at your home, before your delivery date, to give you an idea of what is possible and advisable within your garden/home. They will also hold your hand throughout the whole process, and will work closely with landscapers and electricians to ensure a seamless installation.

It is wise to get your shortlisted suppliers to conduct a site survey before you commit to buying, or certainly within seven days of purchase, as this is the timeframe that will enable a full refund if there are any unforeseen issues with the delivery process. Remember that hot tubs are typically delivered to the site on their sides via a specialist ‘spa dolly’ or ‘spa sled’. If you are doing your own pre-delivery measuring, the height of the spa when it is sitting flat on the ground plus about one or two inches for packaging is the critical clearance width that you will need at every point on the

Spa sled

Photo © Spyrys Spas

route, from the kerbside to your chosen location. Spas do not bend in the middle, so be particularly careful with any bends or kinks in the route and look out for outdoor taps or boiler flues that may jut out from walls along the way. If you are in any doubt, ask the dealer to do a site survey.

If you decide to employ the services of a separate landscaper make sure there is plenty of communication between yourself, the landscaper and hot tub installer. There’s no point having your hot tub delivered when the groundworks aren’t suitable or complete.

Step 2. Choosing your position

Although the tendency is to put a spa at the bottom of your garden, remember that the further you locate your tub from the house, the longer your walk to it. There is something to be said for having your tub closer to home, particularly when the cold weather draws in. Common sense says the nearer you are to your tub, the more likely you are to use it! Does your chosen spot afford you privacy from the neighbours? Generally, the closer you position your hot tub to the house, the less overlooked you will be due to the acute angle from neighbour’s windows. Is there a pleasant view from your tub? Have a walk around your garden to visualize the best location. As silly as it sounds, make an outline of your spa’s perimeter dimensions using tape or string, grab a low-seated garden chair and sit on each side and corner to give you an idea of the view you will have.

This is particularly important if you are choosing a ‘lounge-seater’ model as it is important that your views from the lounger are facing the best aspect of your garden view.

Consider the route from the house to the hot tub – a clean path will mean less grass and soil gets transferred from feet to spa. Avoid placing your spa underneath a tree, as the last thing you want to do is continually pick out decaying leaves from your water.

If you have children then consider whether you can see where they are and what they are up to, if say, you are relaxing in the patio area while they splash around in the spa... or vice versa!

It is advisable to have an outdoor tap and hosepipe within reach, and desirable to have an accessible drain, which makes emptying your tub easier. For safety’s sake, avoid placing your hot tub within three metres of overhead power cables.

Step 3. Plan your landscaping

Consider what you want out of the landscape. Do you want it purely for relaxation, or do you want an area for entertaining as well? If you want to create something special that will wow your guests, there are plenty of additional ‘props’ that can add to your outdoor living lifestyle such as gazebos, outdoor bars, BBQs, outdoor kitchens and even pizza ovens. ➧

Before (inset) and after Photos © MySpa (UK)

Philip Edwards is a landscape gardener specialising in wet leisure designs. Philip says there are a number of factors to consider when planning your ideal garden. “You need to think about whether you want the spa area hidden or visible, how easy it is to get power to the area, and can you easily drain the wet area,” says Philip.

“How do you want to link the area in with the rest of the garden? Will noise from the area cause a problem with neighbours? Is lighting or rain protection required?”

So what are the common mistakes to avoid? “Gravel or grass around the tub can end up in the tub from feet and block access to maintenance points,” advises Philip. “Avoid slippery or rough paving, use good wood for decking that does not splinter easily, avoid herbaceous or deciduous plants and choose materials around the area that will link in with the rest of the garden. The trends for this year are for clean, modern lines with contrasting colours and plants that create movement.”

Communication between client, hot tub installer and landscaper is vital, says Philip. “For a designer look, it is essential to have the project managed, which could be by the designer or the landscaper – very rarely can the client manage this themselves. It is better to choose a landscaper who can cover all the aspects in-house, with electrics being the exception,” advises Philip.

The trend for some spas – particularly larger models – is to have them ‘sunken’ into the ground. If this is the effect you are after then it may require some ground excavation, which will have an influence on the length and cost of your project.

Talk to your hot tub dealer and ask them to recommend a landscape gardener or architect. Their experience will be invaluable, so use it.

Step 4. Solid foundations

Your hot tub needs a good solid, level foundation. A hot tub on its own is a heavy item, typically weighing in at around half a tonne when empty. Fill the same tub with water and four people and that weight can rocket up to two-and-a-half tonnes. So the area you sit your tub on must be able to support the stresses and strains associated with this considerable weight.

What you don’t want is a spa plonked half-heartedly on a patch of gravel. If the support is inadequate your tub may shift, putting stress and causing possible damage to your shell. It’s common sense but putting your spa on a slope will lead to uneven water levels.

If you are installing your tub on a concrete base make sure it is at least four inches thick. If you plump for decking make sure the structure is up to the task of coping with the stresses placed on it. As a general rule the cross-members supporting the deck should be 4”x 2” and no more than 18” apart.

Your spa may look better recessed –partly or completely – rather than on top of the structure. If you have an undulating garden don’t be afraid to give it some elevation, although bear in mind that if you do suspend your spa the decking will have to be robust enough to cope with the stresses and weight. Remember to build in access points for an engineer to get access to the equipment bay for servicing later.

Step 5. Get wired

You don’t need a permanent water supply for a hot tub or garden spa, but you will need a suitable electrical supply to run the tub.

Most reputable hot tub showrooms will be able to recommend a local trustworthy electrical contractor who is au fait with the ins-and-outs of hot tubs, so don’t be afraid to ask. They will also be very happy to liaise with your chosen ‘sparkie’ regarding the spec of the spa and the resultant power supply requirements.

When appointing an electrician to prepare your hot tub electrics check that they are a suitably qualified electrician. Do not attempt to install hot tub electrics yourself if you are not qualified.

The Government introduced a new ‘Part P’ law in January 2005, which demands that most electrical work in UK households is only carried out by a ‘competent’ person. This law means that electrical safety requirements have been included in a new Part P of the Building Regulations.

Fully sunken hot tub

Photo © All Swim

Rotary Isolation Switch

❝You will need a suitable electrical supply to run the tub.❞

Part P Explained

The law states that anyone carrying out fixed electrical installations in households in England and Wales must ensure that electrical installations are:

■ Designed and installed to protect against mechanical and thermal damage, so that they do not present electric shock and fire hazards to people.

■ Suitably inspected and tested to verify that they meet the relevant equipment and installation standards.

It is now against the law to have a new circuit installed in your home without having it inspected and tested to ensure it is Part P compliant. Make sure that your electrician is Part P registered and that you

completed. This will need to be kept on file as all electrical works will need certification evidence should you ever decide to sell your home at some point in the future. Your hot tub retailer can liaise with your electrical contractor regarding the exact specification for your spa, but you must meet the following specification:

■ ‘Plug and play’ 13-amp spas must be plugged into an outdoor waterproof socket that is RCD protected. The socket must not be closer than 2m from the spa at its closest point but ideally not more than 3m away to avoid long trailing cables. Avoid cable trip hazards by placing a rubber cable cover over the cable if it is not routed below ground.

■ Hot tubs that require more than a 13-amp supply must be hard-wired on their own fused spur back to your household consumer unit (i.e. the tub should not be sharing a supply with other appliances).

■ The hot tub should be protected by a sufficiently rated MCB (mains circuit breaker) and should cover the maximum amperage pull of the spa plus 25 per cent to allow for brake torque (i.e. the extra rush of current when pumps are first started). So a hot tub that has a maximum current draw of 20 amps should be fitted with a 25amp MCB.

ld also be protected against earth faults by an RCD (residual current device). This is a trip switch, which prevents danger of electric shock from damaged or waterlogged cables and connections. A suitably rated 30mA RCD is recommended.

■ Outdoor cabling should be protected from damage by either laying protective ducting (pvc pipe) below ground or by using ‘steel wired armoured’ (SWA) cable. Your electrician will calculate the size of cable required depending on the loading and the distance from the mains supply. Six mm2 3-core SWA cable is perfectly suitable in most cases but always consult an electrician first.

■ An IP65 (waterproof) 45 amp rotary isolation switch is also recommended so that the hot tub can be isolated outdoors in an emergency or for service work. This is simply a rotary on/off switch but should be sited more than two metres away from the hot tub so that bathers cannot be in the spa whilst touching the switch.

■ Leave a tail of SWA cable from the isolation switch that is sufficiently long to feed inside the spa cabinet and reach the load box within the hot tub equipment bay. Contact your dealer to confirm the requirements. ➧

Hard wiring to mains consumer unit

Once electrical installation is complete, lock off the isolation switch in the ‘OFF’ position, coil up the SWA cable tail and tape off the exposed wires at the end of the cable to prevent water ingress in the period between now and delivery day.

Upon delivery, the hot tub supply can be directly hard-wired into the load box inside the spa. Waterproof gland packs should be used to prevent ingress of water on all outdoor electrical connections (two at the isolation switch and one inside the hot tub). Ensure that all earth cables are clearly colour-coded with green/yellow insulating tape or earth sleeve.

Finally, once the hot tub is operational, your electrician will need to conduct their tests to ensure Part P compliance and also issue your Part P certificate.

Step 6. Delivery day

The delivery of your hot tub is an essential part of the process – we’re not talking about a courier dropping off a MacBook Pro laptop here. Hot tubs, by their nature, tend to be large, heavy and bulky items. If all a retailer offers to do is deliver it to your kerbside without installation then head for the hills!

Factor in how easy or how difficult it will be for a dealer to deliver your spa to the exact spot required. If you have easy access to the required spot then it may simply be a task for your dealer to wheel the spa into position on a gurney or ‘spa dolly’. You may have to remove fencing or gates to enable access.

However, if you have restricted access to your garden (a particular issue for people living in terraced streets), there is every possibility that the spa will have to be

craned into position. This will, of course, affect the cost of installation.

If you do need a crane delivery, there are two types of offerings from crane companies. A ‘contract lift’ is a full service contract where the crane company is responsible for everything including writing method statements and risk assessments, liaising with transport authorities for road closures and also providing banksmen and insurance cover. The cheaper ‘crane hire’ means that you are responsible (and liable) for all of these extras.

We always recommend that you opt for ‘contract hire’ for the protection and convenience that it offers. Note that hire time starts from when the crane leaves the depot so always opt for a reputable local crane hire company and get several quotes to ensure best value.

Step 7. Up and running

Once your hot tub is delivered, placed in situ, filled with water and the electrical supply is installed, your hot tub installation team should commission the hot tub and check that everything is fully operational before ‘handing over’ to you with a thorough training of how all of the hot tub features work.

Reputable dealers will fill it up and ensure that your water is safe and balanced with the appropriate water care products. They also provide information about testing and maintaining clean water, and will lead you through the process before leaving you alone to enjoy your new pride and joy. Ensure that the spa has a comprehensive instruction manual written in clear English, as this is a legal requirement for all electrical goods.

Keeping it simple

Not everyone wants the full spa and landscaping works. If you want to keep things ultra-simple then there are a number of affordable spas on the market that offer 'plug and play' practicality. Many manufacturers are now producing models that can run on a 13-amp supply. They will still need to be connected to a waterproof outdoor socket which is RCD protected for those who don’t want the hassle of putting in a dedicated electrical supply.

All you have to do is find a sturdy, level surface, fill your tub with water, balance the water to make sure it is clean and safe and away you go! ❚

Photo © Euphoria Lifestyle

Installation and commissioning process

A crane may be required for installation

Photo © Vita Spa

WELCOME to the UK’s BEST KEPT SECRET

If you want more for your money than any other hot tub, look no further. A RotoSpa is the most reliable, energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly and affordable hot tub out there. They are also the only hot tub designed and manufactured in the UK. RotoSpas are built in the heart of England by a family firm who have been building awardwinning hot tubs for over 20 years. How do they manage to achieve the highest reliability, energy efficiency and affordability all in one hard-working hot tub? Because the way that a RotoSpa is created is totally unique – no one else makes hot tubs the way RotoSpa do, and that’s the secret to their outstanding superiority. The quality of manufacture is so high that every RotoSpa comes with a lifetime guarantee – and that’s not something you’ll find anywhere else.

Lowest running costs possible

A RotoSpa comes with the best energysaving features on the market. Their intelligent software monitors your hot tub use and environmental influences to ensure super-efficient energy savings and the lowest daily running costs possible. RotoSpa understands that 80 per cent of a hot tub’s running cost is due to heating, so their tubs also feature a unique dual sleep timer that enables you to save energy when the hot tub is not in use, providing you with additional energy savings of up to 35 per cent per day.

RotoSpa proves that a hot tub can be friendly on both the pocket and the planet. The standard energy-saving features of a RotoSpa can be complemented by their fully integrated air source heat pump which uses eco-friendly refrigerant and works in tandem with the control system, allowing complete controllability through the main touchpad for simplicity, reliability and up to 75 per cent energy-saving. And being manufactured in the UK, RotoSpas have the lowest carbon footprint of any hot tub available in the UK and they are 100 per cent recyclable.

The science behind the success

So how exactly are RotoSpas different? Uniquely, all RotoSpa shells are manufactured utilising a dual shot rotomoulded technology meaning they are both structurally stronger than traditional acrylic spas and offer superior thermal efficiency too. RotoTherm insulation enables all RotoSpa products to achieve an excellent thermal performance of up to R12. This insulation, coupled with their incredible energy-saving software creates a tub with the lowest daily running costs possible. The dual-layer construction means a RotoSpa is incredibly strong, durable and designed to last – all RotoSpa hot tubs come with an industry-leading lifetime shell guarantee.

Ingeniously portable

And of course, because your RotoSpa is designed to last a lifetime, you may want to move it – and with RotoSpa, that’s no problem. These hot tubs are ingeniously designed to be totally portable so can be moved around your garden as the seasons change or if you move house, you can take your RotoSpa with you!

Installation couldn’t be easier too as RotoSpa’s clever and sturdy design means they can simply be rolled into place – there’s no need for a crane or other expensive installation costs, and access is no barrier as half the range is designed to fit through a standard UK doorway.

Unbeatable affordability, energy efficiency, reliability, green credentials, made right here in the UK… there’s nothing not to love about the UK’s bestkept hot tub secret. And we haven’t told you the best bit. And no, it’s not their WiFi connectivity. Everything they do is done with love. Service and looking after their customers are the absolute heartbeat of RotoSpa. Their fully-qualified team of service engineers and customer service advisors are here in the UK, always on hand to support you. So you can just relax because you’re in a RotoSpa. ❚

✆ Contact Details

Tel: 0121 354 3428

Email: sales@rotospa.co.uk

www.rotospa.co.uk

The most affordable and energy-efficient spa on the market, guaranteed to last a lifetime, is manufactured right here in the UK.

PLUG & PLAY

13-amp hot tubs, commonly known as ‘plug & play’ spas, have grown in popularity over the last few years. The WhatSpa? team investigates their pros and cons versus ‘hard-wired’ hot tubs.

At first glance, it is hard to tell the difference between a 13-amp ‘plug & play’ hot tub and one that requires a meatier permanent electrical supply of 16-amp to 32amps, mainly because the important differences in technical specifications are sited inside the equipment bay of the spa, behind the outer cabinet.

Both types will typically have an acrylic or roto-moulded shell where bathers sit to relax, both will have hydrotherapy jets, water filters to keep the water clean and a heater to keep the water warm and ready for the spa to use at your whim.

Where 13-amp hot tubs differ from their more well-specified hard-wired cousins is in the fact that they mostly have one main twin-speed hydrotherapy pump, that also serves as a circulation pump to push water through the heater when it is on low speed, and when the second speed is activated to maximize the massage experience, the heater is automatically deactivated to ensure that the amperage draw does not exceed the 13-amp supply.

As most modern spas use low-energy LED lighting, the lighting functionality can be of equal quality in both 13-amp and hard-wired hot tubs. Like hard-wired luxury spas, plug & play models can also include audio systems, as stereos are relatively low rated in terms of power consumption and current draw.

The pros

As the name suggests there are numerous benefits to 13-amp ‘plug & play’ hot tubs, mainly centred around convenience of installation and their lower price point than ‘hard wired’ spas.

As they come with a lower spec list than hard-wired hot tubs, 13-amp spas

Photo © Viking Spas

are almost always cheaper to buy, simply because they are less expensive to manufacture due to having fewer parts and electrical components onboard.

Besides the cost considerations, if your garden already has RCD (residual current device) protected outdoor waterproof sockets fitted; there is no need for more involved electrical work. You can simply ‘plug’ the spa into an existing waterproof socket, fill it up, sanitise the water and ‘play’!

Just ensure that the hot tub is sited on a level base that is capable of supporting the weight of the hot tub, its water and the maximum number of bather occupants; and also ensure that the waterproof electrical socket is at least two metres away from the hot tub at its closest point.

Ensure that you use armoured (steel braided SY) cable as recommended by your supplier and beware that any trailing cables do not become trip hazards if they cross thoroughfares or walkways between the hot tub and other areas of your garden or house. Do not be tempted to plug in the hot tub via standard extension cables running to indoor sockets, as longer cables and those not protected

by steel wire armour and RCDs can be extremely dangerous, especially where water is present.

Since 13-amp models have fewer hydrotherapy pumps than hard-wired versions, if they are built and insulated to a comparable standard, they should also be slightly cheaper to run than multi-pump hard-wired models in terms of their electrical consumption.

Besides being cheaper to buy, 13-amp hot tubs are slightly more cost-efficient from a long-term servicing point of view, as there’s simply less to go wrong.

Finally, if portability is important to you, it is slightly easier to uninstall a 13-amp spa if you move house for instance, as there are no permanently fixed electrics. You can simply unplug the spa, drain it down and move it to your new home without having to get a qualified electrician to disconnect the electrics and make them safe.

The cons

Like most things in life, there are trade-offs for convenience that may prove to be a deal breaker for you depending on how and why you want to own a hot tub in the first place.

Some 13-amp hot tubs are not equipped with a separate 24-hour circulation pump, which means that the main water pump will have to be activated at low speed whenever the water needs to heat up to your programmed ‘set temperature’ which is typically between 37° and 39° Celsius. This configuration has two main drawbacks; larger hydrotherapy pumps tend to be a bit noisier than 24-hour circulation pumps that are almost silent in operation. So if your hot tub is sited close to your house, or to a neighbour’s house, more ambient noise can be created at any time of day or night, unless you are able to programme the spa to only heat itself up during certain times of the day. This can be exacerbated if the hot tub is located on a deck, as extra vibration can be created by the decking structure itself.

Secondly, like relaxing in a hot bath, there is nothing more soothing than relaxing in a hot tub with no jets on, simply zoning out in the warm water without any swirling water jets or background noise at all. Or you may want to chat to your fellow bathers to catch up on daily goings on without the distracting background noise created by jets and pumps. ➧

Photo © RotoSpa

Be aware that if the spa does not have a separate 24-hour circulation pump, when the heater needs to be activated to keep the water warm, the main pump must be on at low speed in order to push the water through the jets from the heater. So if relaxing in silence for longer periods of time without the jets running is important to you, a 13-amp spa without a separate circulation pump is possibly not the ideal choice.

Perhaps a bigger ‘fly in the ointment’ centres around the fact that the heater and the main pump (on full speed) cannot both run at the same time, as this would lead to a current draw over the maximum 13amps. So if you want to stay in the hot tub for longer periods, and have the jets on full power, the water can quickly cool down.

Plug & play 13-amp models also typically come with a 2kW heater, whereas their hard-wired counterparts typically have a heater rated at 3kW, so it is much harder for a plug & play spa to retain water temperature especially in the colder seasons when the cover is off and the spa is in use.

So if you are a party animal and want to stay in the hot tub for a few hours at a time with the jets at full pelt, 13-amp spas are probably not the ideal solution for you. In this scenario, a hard-wired spa where you can have everything running at once is a much better option.

Similarly, when you change the water (roughly every three months), a 13-amp spa with a 2kW heater will take a third longer to heat up to the desired bather

temperature than for a spa with the same water volume that is equipped with a 3kW heater. This could mean an extra seven or eight hours of heating time in the depths of winter when the ambient temperature of fresh water from a cold tap can run below 7° or 8° Celsius and requires 30° more heat to reach comfortable typical body temperature of 37° Celsius.

If hydrotherapy and massage quality throughout all the seats is your main priority, good quality hard-wired multi-pump spas are always a better option than single pump 13-amp hot tubs, as the power and adjustability of the massage delivered by good quality hard-wired spas is predictably much superior if you have the extra water flow of a second or even a third hydrotherapy pump driving water to the hydrotherapy jets in all the seats. Quite simply from a hydrotherapy performance standpoint, more pumps equals more flow and therefore more power.

Horses for courses

Our Pre-Delivery Guide feature from page 96 details all the practical and electrical requirements for the installation of both plug & play and hard-wired hot tubs. For a line-up of some of the best plug & play 13-amp spas in the UK market, also see our coveted Best Buy Awards section from page 110 We’ve added a ‘plug & play’ icon this year

so you can see at a glance which models are compatible with a 13-amp supply.

If price and installation convenience is important to you, and you expect to use your hot tub for shorter bather times of under an hour, plug and play spas can provide the ideal solution, and they offer great value-for-money, especially as starter spas if you are brand new to hot tubbing. If however, you are more discerning about the quality of the hydrotherapeutic massage experience on offer, and you want to use your hot tub for longer periods of over an hour with the jets on full power without having to get out because the water is cooling down, then a hard-wired hot tub is a better option. As always, the choice is yours! ❚

Photo © Softub

An RCD waterproof socket

Best Buy Awards 2023

Our bumper 17th issue sees the 16th Anniversary of our coveted WhatSpa? Best Buy Awards

The next 32 pages are packed with the 50 best hot tubs that are currently available in the UK, with advanced technology and energy-efficiency across all price points, to consider on your shopping shortlist.

Hot tubs have been flying out of showrooms in the past three years, and now that domestic electricity tariffs are set to start coming down again following falls in energy prices, 2023 is set to be another record year of hot tub demand. During the past two years professional dealerships have been redeveloping or expanding their showrooms to provide an even greater variety of display models for you to conduct your research with expert guidance. Armed with a ‘Best Buy’ shortlist of options from respected manufacturers you can take advantage of this vital product knowledge to combine it with professional services from WhatSpa? Approved and WhatSpa? Professional showroom dealers trained to help you find the perfect hot tub for your individual needs.

Thanks to greater consumer knowledge, the attraction of energy-hungry and often dangerous cut price ‘grey imports’ sold over the internet is subsiding and discerning consumers are now purchasing respected quality products from specialist stores, which provide bonafide products and expert showroom customer services with professional after-care support to ensure your hot tub is always operating correctly and efficiently. Finally, don’t forget to take along your bathing costume for essential ‘try before you buy’ wet testing peace of mind.

❝New for 2023 are the first WhatSpa? Video Reviews.❞

Photo © Jacuzzi

Our 2023 Best Buy Awards acknowledge the hot tub models that excel across a range of criteria, including design and aesthetics, comfort and hydrotherapy and value-for-money.

We have split our 2023 Best Buy Award winners into five different price brackets to make life much easier for you, but before you draw up your hot tub shopping shortlist, save some precious time by researching which brands are available in your local area by visiting the user-friendly ‘Find a Retailer’ area on our web portal www.whatspa.co.uk

The ‘L’ and ‘A’ icons denote whether a model is a Lounge Seater (L) or All-Seater (A). Also, we have used QR code video links; so, where you see a QR code next to a product in our Best Buy Awards feature, simply whip

out your smartphone, open the camera app and hover it over the QR code to get a direct link to the official YouTube or Vimeo video footage about this model. New for 2023 are the first WhatSpa? Video Reviews, so look out for our new icon that denotes the award-winning models that have either been reviewed by the WhatSpa? video team, or the videos that are coming soon. For a third year we also highlight the ‘Plug and Play’ icon to highlight a hot tub that is compatible with a properly fitted RCD protected waterproof 13-amp outdoor socket. Also, don’t forget to look out for the WhatSpa? Approved, WhatSpa? Professional and WhatSpa? Best Buy logos when you are out shopping and be sure to add some of these models to your wet test list!

Reef Spas Bolina

www.reefspas.co.uk

WhatSpa? Verdict

The new four-seater Bolina by Reef Spas has become an instant hit with space-conscious families as it offers amazing value-for-money at this important sub-£5k price point. The Bolina doesn’t compromise on features with 29 pulsar jets providing a powerful adjustable massage experience. All Reef Spas are fitted with a low flow circulation pump, which offers whisper-quiet filtration, plus low running costs. The Bolina also includes a gorgeous illuminated waterfall feature consisting of three fully adjustable independent fountains and extras like the Bluetooth® stereo system and backlit drinks coasters are the icing on the cake!

WhatSpa? Verdict

Made here in the UK for UK spa buyers! The QuatroSpa by Midlands-based manufacturer RotoSpa is made with a rotational moulding technique using a 100% recyclable tough resin, which provides an extremely durable finish. The RotoSpa team has developed intelligent software that monitors each owner's usage patterns and adapts heating and filtration settings to maximise your energy-efficiency. It is deceptively spacious and the recliner seat with its 15-point ultra-blast jet feels great! At 74cm tall, the QuatroSpa fits through standard garden gates and provides true ‘plug-and-play’ convenience, just roll it in, fill it up, plug it in and play!

RotoSpa QuatroSpa

Thermals Spa Hydro

x 180 x 80cm

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Sunbeach SB344S Aurora is a versatile 4-seater that can be configured either as a 13-amp ‘plug & play’ model or hard-wired to allow the heater and the main pump to run simultaneously. Even in ‘plug & play’ mode, you can relax in silence with the heater running due to the quiet onboard 24-hour circulation pump. High quality components are used throughout, including Balboa® electronics and award-winning R10 insulation, which helps take care of running costs. WiFi connectivity is available as an optional extra, allowing you to control your spa from your smart device, and the twin filter system helps keep water sparkling clean.

Cabinet

Stereo

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Thermals Spa range is brought to the UK by Midlands-based Superior Wellness, adding to its stable of best-selling brands and hot tub models. The Hydro is the perfect family entertainment spa for those looking for a quality ‘plug & play’ option with Bluetooth® stereo system as standard. The versatile reversible lounge seat is comfortable and the remaining four seats are roomy and barrier-free. The styling is modern and chic, with stainless steel jets throughout and matching grey pillows and filter housing. The all-important Bluetooth® stereo system delivers good sound quality. Great value-for-money family spa at under £5k.

Sunbeach Spas SB344S Aurora

Riptide® Tranquility Uptown

Fisher Spas Fisher 3

www.spasolution.co.uk

x 212 x 82cm

WhatSpa? Verdict

Riptide® completely upgraded its hot tub models in 2021, and the result is a range of high-quality, family-sized hot tubs, with the Tranquility Uptown leading the way as the best-selling model across Riptide®’s growing network of Hot Tub Barn retail stores. The Uptown is the perfect choice for those seeking a top-quality, family-sized acrylic 13-amp ‘plug & play’ hot tub. It is spacious, seating five people comfortably, with a range of barrier-free seats, plus a comfortable lounger, all with different rotary or directional jets. The Uptown is sure to be a top seller again this year, and the three-year warranty is a rare luxury at this price point!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Fisher Spas brand hit UK shores for the first time in 2021 but is the sister brand to award-winning Australian manufacturer Vortex Spas, which boasts Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe as its brand ambassador. Whilst the Fisher 3 is a compact hot tub that conveniently fits smaller patios, you won’t need to compromise on comfort or performance. Like larger Fisher models, the Fisher 3 offers relaxing hydrotherapy and ergonomically designed seats, including a full-length lounger plus two bucket seats. 13-amp ‘plug & play’ convenience comes as standard along with a 24-hour circulation pump and ozone water treatment system. Great for couples.

British Hot Tubs Jubilee

www.britishhottubs.co.uk

Garden Spas Camellia

x 180 x 80cm

WhatSpa? Verdict

The new all-seater Jubilee by British Hot Tubs is flying out of showroom doors as a compact family sized spa that is jam-packed with goodies. Four spacious corner bucket seats plus higher cool down areas mean up to six bathers can experience a hydrotherapy massage from two high flow pumps, as well as enjoying beautiful colour-changing lighting around the water line and on the drinks holders and dual waterfalls. The filter housing is conveniently located out of the bather area making for easier and more hygienic filter changes. If it’s a ‘bang for your buck’ family spa that you’re after in the sub-£6k price bracket, the Jubilee takes some beating!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Garden Spas series comes with all the design expertise and build quality of May Manufacturing, a Nevada-based manufacturer that also boasts award-winning Artesian Spas and South Seas Spas in its stable of top-flight brands. The Camellia is a five-time award-winner and is the most versatile model in the Garden Spas range, due to its unique rounded-corner design. This makes it a perfect fit for a small patio or deck, or even indoors as a conservatory spa. Despite its diminutive size, the Camellia can fit up to four people and packs plenty of massage punch via its 23 stainless steel jets. An ideal space-saver when room is tight!

Master Spas® Getaway 6

WhatSpa? Verdict

Market-leading Indiana-based manufacturer Master Spas® has teamed up with Blackpool-based The Hot Tub Superstore to bring the Getaway 6 and its stablemates to UK shores via its growing network of Master Spas® dealerships. The Getaway 6 instantly achieved huge success as one of the best-selling ‘plug & play’ 13-amp spas in the UK. The spacious six-seater layout includes a comfortable lounger plus a range of barrier-free seats, all with stainless steel adjustable jets powered by a powerful Balboa® hydrotherapy pump. The footwell is cavernous and leaves plenty of room to move from seat to seat. A fab family spa from top quality suppliers!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Platinum Spas range is brought to the UK by Midlands-based Superior Wellness, a company that has become the largest distributor of hot tubs in the UK in recent years. The specification of the 32-amp Palma is jaw-dropping, offering equipment levels more in keeping with spas at much higher price points. There are plenty of seats to fit up to six adults, including a comfortable lounger, and a total of 83 therapy jets powered by two pumps plus a foot dome that delivers a fab foot massage. The futuristic WiFi app allows remote control, and a Bluetooth® stereo system as standard tops it all off.

Tuff Spas TT650

WhatSpa? Verdict

True to its name, the Tuff Spas TT650 offers a rugged roto-moulded design that will withstand everything that boisterous bathers can throw at it! The standout feature is the unique ‘Tuff Top’, Tuff Spas’ exclusive integrated rigid cover and cover-lift mechanism. The Tuff Top cover is much more durable than traditional vinyl covers with superior insulation properties. When in the open position, the cover also doubles as a handy table. Coming as standard with the new ‘Blue sTUFF’ insulation system, made from recycled denim, running costs are equally pleasing, especially when combined with the optional air source heat pump in the ‘Eco’ version.

WhatSpa? Verdict

Oasis Spas UK was a newcomer to our awards last year and the RX-562 is a two-time Best Buy Award-winner. The 32-amp model comes equipped with a comfortable lounge seat and boasts 46 jets powered by two pumps, plus all the hallmarks of their ‘SmartSpa Plus’ energy-efficiency initiative that incorporates R18 full-foam insulation, combined with dual foil and a high-density foam cabinet lining. The RX-562 also boasts the latest Gecko® control system with WiFi connectivity as standard, allowing the user to control their spa from anywhere in the world. A worthy winner from a brand that is prioritising low energy bills for its customers.

Oasis Spas UK RX-562

Vortex Spas Mercury

www.spasolution.co.uk

Hydropool Serenity 5900 LE

www.hydropoolspas.co.uk

200 x 200 x 92cm

Lighting Multi Colour LED

Waterfalls 1

Filters 90 sq ft

Cabinet Insulation Part Foam + Reflective Barrier

Stereo System Bluetooth® Stereo System

Shell Material Acrylic

Cabinet

Stereo

Shell

3 Shell / 3 Cabinet Warranty

Colour Options

2 Years Parts & Labour RRP £8,295

WhatSpa? Verdict

When Olympic gold medallist and swimming icon Ian Thorpe became a brand ambassador for Vortex Spas, it was obvious that this was a brand on the move! The 2019 launch of the award-winning IKON model paved the way in the UK for the Mercury and its stablemates that were new for 2020. The Mercury is the smaller sibling to the award-winning Cobalt Hydroplus and is Vortex’s best-selling compact family spa. The Mercury comes packed to the rafters with equipment including a 24-hour circulation pump, air blower, touch screen control panel and a Bluetooth® stereo system. Dual lounge seats mean there’s no need to argue about who gets the lounger!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The restyled Serenity series by Canadian manufacturer Hydropool has been a revelation in hot tub design and the 5900 LE is the best-seller in the range. Boasting four generous deep seats plus a long no-float lounger that can accommodate anyone up to 6’4", this extremely well appointed hot tub is ideal for taller bathers. The styling cues in the 5900 are stunning with matching headrests, filter bay grill accents and non-slip floor and step inlays complemented by pop-up Aquablade™ waterfalls and stunning exterior cabinetry with built-in corner moonlights, which shows the level of thought that has gone into the redesign of the range. Simply beautiful!

British Hot Tubs Westwood

Riptide® Infinity 560 Luxury

WhatSpa? Verdict

British Hot Tubs has brought hot tub design and engineering excellence back to British shores and their line-up of 15 new models launched in 2021 has proven a huge hit. The three-time award-winning Westwood is flying out of the door as a compact family all-seater model that is jam-packed with goodies. It features five comfortable multi-level seats arranged around a spacious footwell, 71 high-flow hydrotherapy jets, two pumps and mood colour changing underwater LED lighting plus cabinet lighting. If it’s a ‘bang for your buck’ family spa that you’re after in the sub-£9k price bracket, the Westwood takes some beating!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The new Infinity collection by Riptide® stepped up the brand’s styling to a completely new level. Designed in Austria, by a specialist team of industry experts, the 560 Luxury is the most popular model in the Luxury range and is an extremely well-moulded, comfortable spa. The lounge seat is ergonomically designed and the barrier-free seating for four further adults is spacious and comfortable. It is packed with goodies including 43 jets, two hydrotherapy pumps, and a low-energy Gecko® circulation pump for silent 24-hour filtration. Backlit cascade waterfalls and extensive interior and exterior mood lighting makes this a great place to spend your evenings!

Softub® Portico

WhatSpa? Verdict

Newcomers could confuse a Softub® for an inflatable spa, but nothing could be further from the truth, as Softub®’s unique heat exchange pump is an ingenious development that guarantees unrivalled energy-efficiency. All Softub® models boast superb portability, easy installation, and simple ‘plug & play’ functionality. The Portico is the largest model in the line-up but there are also smaller models available. For families with small children or even more elderly bathers, Softub’s soft Syntex™ materials ensure a comfortable and safe entry and exit and stunning bar and step surrounds in Cedar or Rattan top off the luxurious look.

Master Spas® Legend 7

WhatSpa? Verdict

Indiana-based Master Spas® is a brand knocking on the door of global market leadership in the hot tub market. The Legend 7 is the best-seller in the new Legend range, boasting a specification more often found on much more expensive spas. This goodie-packed model is both comfortable and powerful, with 48 jets, two therapy pumps and a Quietflow™ 24-hour circulation pump. A comfortable jet-packed lounger, paired with two corner Captain’s seats, one of which has an array of reverse shoulder massage jets, makes for an amazing massage experience. A Bluetooth® stereo system with subwoofer is just an added bonus!

South Seas Spas 748L

Sundance Spas® 680 Series Mckinley

WhatSpa? Verdict

The South Seas 748L is the pick of the crop of South Seas models from Nevada-based manufacturer May Manufacturing that also boasts Artesian Spas and Garden Spas amongst its stable of spa brands. For massage enthusiasts the 748L certainly packs a punch, with 48 stainless steel jets powered by two powerful pumps. As standard the 748L comes with all the essentials plus a host of upgrades including multi-coloured lighting, both above and below the water line, a Pillowfall LED waterfall, exterior top-rail lighting and stylish cabinet downlights. Overall, a superb family spa and worthy winner from a highly regarded manufacturer.

WhatSpa? Verdict

Sundance Spas® can be proud of its position as one of a handful of global market-leading luxury spa brands. The 680 Series has seen a raft of product developments in the last few years and the McKinley is the best-selling 680 Series model and pick of the all-seaters, with an ultra-comfortable barrier-free layout with a fab reflexology foot dome massage from any seating position. Whilst the McKinley may be the smaller sibling to the award-winning Chelsee and Optima, it packs in plenty of goodies and the ergonomic seating easily accommodates up to seven bathers. A great option for large families that prefer an all-seater layout.

Palm Spas Manhattan www.palmspas.co.uk

230 x 230 x 92cm

Beachcomber Hot Tubs 340 Leep

www.awardleisure.com/beachcomber

Filters 90 sq ft

Cabinet Insulation Part Foam + Reflective Barrier

Stereo System Bluetooth® Stereo System

Shell Material Acrylic Colour Options 5 Shell / 5 Cabinet

2 Years Parts & 1 Year Labour

WhatSpa? Verdict

Palm Spas was new to our Best Buy Awards in 2022 and the dual-lounger Manhattan has upped the ante and is sure to tempt value-conscious buyers that love to lounge! No more arguments about who gets the lounge seat, as this comfortable dual-lounger model powered by three 3HP pumps and 75 jets has a seat to suit all members of the family. A pair of corner ‘love-seats’ with powerful back jets finishes off the massage experience beautifully. The Bluetooth® stereo system includes outer cabinet speakers to add ambience to your next garden ‘spa-rty’ and the outer cabinet LED strips are an added bonus for a sure-footed exit after dark. Amazing value!

Heat

Filters

Stereo

WhatSpa? Verdict

If you’re looking for rock-solid build quality, low running costs and longevity rather than glitz and gimmicks, Beachcomber leads the pack. LEEP stands for ‘Leadership in Energy Efficient Portables’, which explains why the 340 Leep is one of the most popular compact models in Canada as it claims top billing for energy-efficiency, reliability and serviceability. The clever customisable jetting with 81 options ensures that you get exactly what you want to future-proof your massage experience. The checker plate contoured floor design also makes for a great non-slip safety feature for people of all ages. An energy-efficient spa that is built to last a lifetime!

American Whirlpool® 271

www.americanwhirlpool.co.uk

Reef Spas Maluku

Cabinet

Stereo

WhatSpa? Verdict

For families looking for a quality six-seater with a versatile lounge seat and great hydrotherapy, the American Whirlpool® AW271 is already making a splash in the advanced hydrotherapy sub-£10k market. The AW271 boasts a comfortable lounger with jets from top to toe, plus spacious barrier-free seating for a further five bathers, including a reverse-moulded Comfort Collar® seat for the ultimate neck massage. Standard features include a superb Bluetooth® audio system with subwoofer, dual-level filtration system, subtle underwater lighting, plus a pair of backlit water fountains. An excellent all-rounder for the money!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Reef Spas Maluku was launched to great acclaim in 2021 and has become an instant hit as it is tech-laden and offers amazing valuefor-money. The Maluku is both deep and spacious, making it ideal for families with teenage children, plus it doesn’t compromise on features with 87 pulsar jets providing a powerful adjustable massage experience. It is also fitted with a low flow circulation pump, which offers whisperquiet filtration, plus low running costs. The Maluku includes a gorgeous illuminated 50cm wide cascading waterfall and extras like the Bluetooth® stereo system and backlit drinks coasters are the icing on the cake!

Riptide® Infinity 770 Platinum

Vortex Spas Cobalt Hydroplus

WhatSpa? Verdict

The new Infinity collection by Riptide® stepped up the brand’s styling to a whole new level. Designed in Austria, by a specialist team of experts, the 770 Platinum is the flagship dual-lounger model that comes packed to the rafters with top quality components to combine advanced hydrotherapy with designer aesthetics. It is laden with goodies including 57 jets, two hydrotherapy pumps, and a low-energy Gecko® circulation pump for silent 24-hour filtration. The barrier-free seating and loungers are extremely comfortable and the exterior and interior lighting is stunning after-dusk. A gold-standard five-year warranty is the cherry on the cake!

WhatSpa? Verdict

To get Olympic swimming gold medallist Ian Thorpe onboard as a brand ambassador, the product has to be something special. Stage left the awardwinning IKON by Australian manufacturer Vortex Spas, which has paved the way for the Cobalt Hydroplus and its stablemates to win awards every year since 2021. The Cobalt Hydroplus is Vortex’s biggest-selling mid-size family spa and features dual loungers, so no need to argue about who gets the lounger! The trio of barrier-free seats are great for adults and kids alike, making for a superb overall package. Backlit jets create a stunning afterdark effect and a Bluetooth® stereo system is just a bonus!

British Hot Tubs Balmoral

Jacuzzi® J-335

www.jacuzzi.com/en-gb

x 207 x 92cm

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Balmoral by award-winning British Hot Tubs is flying out of showroom doors as a compact lounger model that is jam-packed with goodies. It boasts two high flow pumps powering an array of 112 jets across five massage zones. The spacious no-float lounge seat offers neck-to-toe massage with ergonomic armrests and the wrap-around corner bucket seats are both deep and comfortable. The filter housing is conveniently located out of the bather area making for easier and more hygienic filter changes and the built-in UV purification system ensures crystal clear water. Factor in the array of LED lighting and chic waterfalls and the Balmoral is a worthy award-winner.

Stereo

WhatSpa? Verdict

Since its launch the J-335 by leading brand Jacuzzi® is really giving the 400 series lounger models a run for their money. If it’s hydrotherapy you’re after, the J-335 features a re-modelled ProAir™ lounge seat design with hamstring to achilles massage and a trio of spacious corner bucket seats, including the FX10 therapy seat, which is designed to massage every major muscle group in your back. The new ProFinish™ cabinet with backlit corner accent lighting is stunning and adds designer aesthetics on the outside. A whole host of new topside features including backlit headrests and drinks holders add the finishing touches.

Hydropool Self-Cleaning 570 Gold

Master Spas® TS 8.2

www.masterspas.co.uk

WhatSpa? Verdict

The best-selling 570 Gold by Canadian manufacturer Hydropool is the smaller sibling to the award-winning 670 Gold and does everything to the same high standard but in a more compact package. The 570 incorporates a no-float lounger plus five additional seats with a versatile second combination lounger swivel seat. The 570 packs in all of Hydropool’s unique features such as the ‘self-cleaning’ floor drain system and dual pressurised filtration, which cleanses 100 per cent of the water in under 15 minutes. A self-draining ice bucket and auto chemical feeder are rare luxuries and a focus on energy-efficiency hits the sweet spot!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Twilight Series 8.2 by Master Spas® remains one of the best pound-forpound lounger spas on the market. As the name suggests, the TS 8.2 really comes to life after-dark, when the Orion™ lighting system of backlit jets, waterfalls and topside controls create a stunning bather experience. New features include neck and shoulder therapy, a bio-magnetic therapy seat, a touch screen control panel and a state-of-the-art EcoPur™ disinfection system. If you like reflexology foot massage, the pair of Master Blaster™ foot jets feel heavenly! A focus on industry-leading energy-efficiency manufacturing processes also ensures low running costs.

AquaSolus Derwent

Beachcomber Hot Tubs 380 Hybrid

WhatSpa? Verdict

AquaSolus is new to our award line-up for 2023 and the Derwent is set to become the top-selling lounger model of this new range of six models with a design and spec that defies its sub-£13k price tag. With modern styling including a sleek cabinet design, the Derwent is much more than just a style statement, packing in 66 jets and a full body massage lounge seat to die for! The bucket seats are extremely comfortable and packed with different jet configurations and a sure-footed entry is guaranteed by the anti-slip side steps. Integrated Wi-Fi compatibility and a Gecko In.stream2 Bluetooth® sound system are added bonuses!

WhatSpa? Verdict

If you’re looking for rock-solid build quality, energy-efficiency and longevity, Canadian manufacturing giant Beachcomber has it all! All of the pumps in the Beachcomber Hybrid models are situated under the removable step meaning the whole hot tub cabinet can be fully foam insulated, so if running costs are a concern, it doesn’t get much better than this! The cavernous 380’s Hush Pump system cleans and circulates the water 24/7 with low electricity usage and is whisper quiet so you always have clean water without any unwanted background noise. A rugged barrier-free spa with great build quality that really will last a lifetime!

WhatSpa? Verdict

‘No man is an island’ according to poet John Donne, but an ‘Island’ spa by Las Vegas-based Artesian Spas may be just your ticket to advanced hydrotherapy at an affordable price. The Grand Bahama offers incredible value, delivering one of the most powerful hydrotherapy massages that we’ve seen. Comfortably seating six adults, the Grand Bahama features a spacious lounger, and three ‘switchless motor’ pumps powering a horde of 61 patented Helix jets and a duo of ‘Footblaster’ jets powered by a dedicated pump. The 20-inch Tranquility water feature that creates a ‘curtain of light’ as the water cascades into the spa is stunning after dark!

Vita Spa 700 Series Vivre

WhatSpa? Verdict

When market-leading Arizona-based brand Vita Spa launch a new model, hot tub buyers around the world pay attention! The 700 Series now has a new entrant in the form of the Vivre, and as the name suggests, you’re really ‘living’ life when you invest in one. The layout of the six-seater Vivre gives you a variety of relaxation zones that deliver incredible hydrotherapy. The lounge seat feels comfortable and spacious, with two large foot jets accompanied by an array of calf, thigh, back and shoulder jets. The two bucket seats opposite offer deep and powerful massage, and the cool down seat doubles up as a step for a sure-footed entry and exit. Joie de Vivre!

Artesian Spas Grand Bahama

Wellis® Everest Life Premium

Hydropool Self-Cleaning 670

WhatSpa? Verdict

European manufacturing powerhouse Wellis® has ‘elevated’ its status by producing the truly stunning Everest Life Premium dual-lounger model that is sure to ‘climb’ the sales charts in 2023. One of 14 restyled Lifeline models badged ‘The World’s Greenest Spas’, the Everest boasts sleek new aesthetics and interior styling and a new insulation system that Wellis® claims brings daily energy consumption down to 3.2 kWh when combined with their integrated air source heat pump, which is neatly hidden within the spa steps. The hydrotherapy experience delivered by the Pulsar Massage System is amazing and 24/7 built-in water monitoring is a first. Wow!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The 670 Platinum by Canadian manufacturer Hydropool is the larger sibling to the award-winning 570 Gold and does everything to the same high standard but in a more luxurious way. The 670 incorporates a no-float lounger plus five additional seats including a pair of corner 'love seats'. The 670 packs in all of Hydropool’s unique features such as the ‘self-cleaning’ floor drain system and dual pressurised filtration, which cleanses 100 per cent of the water in under 15 minutes. A pair of backlit pillow waterfalls and an array of interior and exterior lights finish off the ambience, and a focus on energy-efficiency hits the sweet spot!

1

Vibes by USSPA® Momento

www.vibes-spas.co.uk

Cabinet

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Island Series Bimini by Las Vegas-based Artesian Spas is the big brother to the award-winning Grand Bahama and does everything the same, just bigger and better! The Bimini features full size dual-loungers, bench-style seating along both sides plus a trio of therapy seats that feel incredible! Comfortably seating nine adults, the Bimini is a contender for the best party spa but it is much more than that, delivering an amazing full body massage experience that rivals anything on the market. In terms of pound-for-pound value the Bimini really does take some beating, so if you have the space, why not create your very own 'island sanctuary'?

WhatSpa? Verdict

Czech Republic-based manufacturer USSPA is new to our awards roster for 2023 and is brought to UK shores by Chelmsford-based Aqua Warehouse Group. Both inside and out the Vibes Momento is completely different to anything in the UK market, with a modern European designer styling that is immediately evident from the glossy wood grain-effect cabinet options to the sleek lines of the interior moulding. Dual loungers on opposite sides make bather communication easy and four further hydrotherapy stations offer varied seating depths and plentiful massage options. Subtle exterior corner lights finish off the elegant effect. Superb!

Artesian Spas Bimini

What Spa?

Sundance Spas® 880 Series Optima

Master Spas® MP LSX 900 www.masterspas.co.uk

WhatSpa? Verdict

The 880 Series Sundance Spas® Optima is proclaimed as the best-selling hot tub in the world and it is no stranger to our Best Buy awards, boasting 14 awards since 2007. The Fluidix® bearingless jet technology is unsurpassed in delivering maintenance-free hydrotherapeutic massage and for deep tissue massage the Accu-ssage® therapy seat is second to none. What’s more, the foot jet dome undoubtedly offers one of the best reflexology massages this side of a spa treatment room. MicroClean® Ultra filtration ensures crystal clear water and the new cabinetry is stunning. Quite simply the Optima® is one of the best all-seaters on the planet!

WhatSpa? Verdict

When swimming icon Michael Phelps throws his weight behind a brand you know he means business! US manufacturing powerhouse Master Spas® has teamed up with Michael Phelps to design an energy-efficient range that focuses on post-exercise and day-to-day hydrotherapy performance, and the LSX 900 is the daddy of them all at 2.75m long! The cavernous LSX 900 targets all the major problem areas of the body including neck, shoulders, back, hips, calves and feet via specialist seats. These include the ‘Stress Relief’ neck and shoulder seat, the ‘Extreme Therapy Seat’ and the pair of ‘Master Blaster®’ foot massage jets. If you have the space, this is a must-try!

American Whirlpool® 881

www.americanwhirlpool.co.uk

British Hot Tubs Britannia

x 234 x 97cm

Filters 75 sq ft

Cabinet Insulation

Stereo System

Part Foam + Reflective Barrier

Bluetooth® Stereo System

Shell Material Acrylic

Colour Options

6 Shell / 3 Cabinet

5 Years Parts & 1 Year Labour RRP £18,995

Warranty

WhatSpa? Verdict

The American Whirlpool® 881 is the bigger sibling to the award-winning 271 and is already making a splash in the six-seater advanced hydrotherapy market. The 881 boasts advanced touch screen controls, dual-level filtration system, enough underwater lighting to have a disco, plus topside backlit drinks coasters. For sure-footed entry and exit the 881 features full perimeter lighting around the spa. If massage is important then the new Halo Pro-Loc™ and Zone Therapy® stainless steel jets will see you right, especially in the lounge seat featuring full leg massage and the ‘comfort collar’ seat for the ultimate neck massage. Simply suberb!

WhatSpa? Verdict

Rarely do we see a revolutionary new hot tub design statement, but the Britannia by British Hot Tubs has really upped the ante with its sweeping, curvilinear lines! The Britannia is the big daddy of the range of 15 new models launched in 2021 and at over 3m long and featuring dual sideby-side loungers plus a sweeping array of five further hydrotherapy stations, the Britannia really has been designed with form and function in mind. The filter housing is conveniently located out of the bather area making for easier and more hygienic filter changes and the built-in UV purification system ensures crystal clear water. A fab concept!

Marquis® Crown Euphoria

Vortex Spas Palladium Hydroplus

WhatSpa? Verdict

World-respected brand Marquis® upped the ante last year with the launch of their new Crown Collection and it offers truly ‘regal’ pampering options! The Euphoria is the slightly smaller sibling to the two-time award-winning Summit and is an all-seater family spa that combines the benefits of a social layout with fantastic full body massage therapy for every bather. Five ‘H.O.T. Zone’ therapy seats deliver varied massages from Shiatsu to Swedish and all seats have easy access to the exhilarating high output Whitewater-4™ footwell jet. The optional MicroSilk® oxygen skin therapy technology delivers the ultimate package for health and beauty-conscious spa buyers.

WhatSpa? Verdict

To get Olympic swimming gold medallist Ian Thorpe onboard as a brand ambassador, the product must be special. Stage left the award-winning IKON by Australian manufacturer Vortex Spas, which paved the way for the Palladium Hydroplus and its stablemates to win awards in 2020, ‘21 and ‘22. With seating for ten adults, 98 jets, twin loungers, a neck and shoulder massage seat plus a multitude of water features and lighting options, you'll be hard pressed to find a more impressive spa than the Vortex Palladium. Measuring 3.52m long there's space to entertain a crowd and the Palladium also makes a fabulous family spa with room for kids to swim and play.

Sundance Spas® 880 Series Aspen www.sundance-spas.co.uk

Artesian Spas Elite Dove Canyon

WhatSpa? Verdict

If you have the space, the 880 Series Sundance Spas® Aspen has everything that its award-winning sibling the Optima has, but on an even bigger scale! Ideal for taller bathers, the Aspen has a pair of Captain's seats that are amazingly comfortable, plus a selection of seats at various depths including cool down seats that are perfect for small children. The Fluidix® bearingless jet technology is unsurpassed and the Accu-ssage® therapy seat is second to none for deep tissue back, shoulder and neck massage. What’s more, the foot jet dome undoubtedly offers one of the best reflexology massages this side of a spa treatment room. Fabulous!

WhatSpa? Verdict

The Artesian Spas ELITE Dove Canyon packs the same punch as last year's winner, the Pelican Bay, just in a more compact package. The bright lights of Vegas are reflected in the design cues from this Nevada-based manufacturer, as the Dove Canyon delivers an awe-inspiring light show with an array of underwater and exterior lighting plus a backlit branded 20-inch waterfall. The scope of the specification and design is first rate, particularly the unique Direct Flow™ system, which puts each bather in control of their own massage experience. Spa Frog®, Diamond AOP water purification and micron filtration ensures crystal clear water. Top notch!

Caldera Spas® Utopia Series Geneva

www.calderaspas.co.uk

x 226 x 97cm

WhatSpa? Verdict

If you're looking for both luxurious build quality and designer styling that will wow your friends and family, the Caldera Spas® Utopia Series Geneva by Watkins Wellness is arguably one of the best six-seater lounger spas on the planet! It is the smaller sibling to the five-time Best Buy awardwinning Cantabria but packs all of the same goodies. Not only does the seating layout comfortably cater for six, but one of you will be enjoying one of the most soothing lounger seats on the market equipped with the amazing UltraMassage® system. The Ecstaseat® opposite also delivers a full body neck-to-calf massage that rivals anything on the market. Awesome!

WhatSpa? Verdict

x 231 x 95cm (111cm at back)

The Jacuzzi® J-495 is a real showstopper of a party spa, with its dramatic curved high-back profile, designer styling and state-of-the art equipment including built in SmartTub™ app with 3G technology, which allows you to monitor your hot tub’s status and track energy usage from your phone. The J-495 comfortably seats nine adults with bench-style seating on each side combined with four comfortable corner seats. The new restyled foot dome now delivers powerful foot massage for all bathers and style touches such as the wide-sheet waterfall, striking corner cabinet lighting, and diverter controls that serve double-duty as cup holders are the icing on the cake!

Marquis® Crown Summit

Beachcomber Hot Tubs 750 SLB Hybrid

WhatSpa? Verdict

World-respected brand Marquis® upped the ante last year with the launch of their new Crown Collection and it offers truly ‘regal’ pampering options! The Summit is the largest in the range and is a family spa like no other, combining the benefits of a social layout with fantastic full body massage therapy for every bather. Three Adirondack ‘H.O.T. Zone’ therapy seats on one side face four barrier-free seats opposite, each with different massage therapy zones and easy access to the exhilarating high output Whitewater-4™ jet. The optional MicroSilk® oxygen skin therapy technology delivers the ultimate package for health and beauty-conscious spa buyers.

WhatSpa? Verdict

Canadian manufacturer Beachcomber teamed up with retail powerhouse Award Leisure in 2021 and they have been 'making waves' ever since. The 750 SLB Hybrid is coined as the ‘Rolls Royce of hot tubs’ and is the flagship model in the range. It packs the 'kitchen sink' into the specification with up to 192 customisable jetting options and the touchscreen control panel connects to Wi-Fi so you can programme your hot tub from anywhere in the world. One of the corner seats in the 750 SLB Air is cleverly designed so that you can swivel around and relax in a lounge position without losing seating capacity when more seats are needed. Built to last a lifetime!

Air Source Heat Pump Best Buy Awards 2023

This year sees the first WhatSpa? Air Source Heat Pump Best Buy Awards as hot tub suppliers continue to innovate to bring down the carbon footprint of your hot tub enjoyment. So, look out for these best-in-class heat pumps if you are looking to ‘go green’ and minimise your energy bills too.

Hot tubs have been flying out of showrooms in the past three years, and now that domestic electricity tariffs are set to start coming back down again following record falls in wholesale energy prices, 2023 is set to be another record year of hot tub demand.

Air source heat pumps offer a great solution to protect you against fluctuating energy tariffs like we have seen over the last year. This new technology is rapidly gaining traction in the residential hot tub market, so check out these six Best Buy Award-winning models that offer the very best performance in the UK market.

Since technical specifications vary widely and installation is a highly specialised service, it is vital that you enlist the services of a fully-qualified heat pump technician to ensure that your heat pump is specified and installed correctly for maximum efficiency. Even the very best air source heat pump won’t deliver the savings you are looking for if it is fitted incorrectly, so be sure to consult with your local WhatSpa? Approved or WhatSpa? Professional showroom to discuss your individual needs.

Photo © Zealux

Poolex Spawer IceSpa 7kW

Energi Air Source Heat Pump 8kW

Zealux Inverboost 9.5kW PBS