The Day Spa Stay Package at Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa Review

Reviewed by Helen Dewdney

Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa is a large establishment and located in spacious well-kept grounds in Northampton near to Silverstone racing track. A friend and I enjoyed the deluxe spa stay. For just £169 per person we had access to all the spa facilities, a 50 minute treatment, lunch, 3 course evening meal a night stay and breakfast. We added another night and treatments. Our room was spacious as was the bathroom and we overlooked the golf course. The bath fills very quickly! Away from the road the hotel is quiet. If you are using Google maps to get here ignore it when it says you will have to park and then walk half a mile! You can park in the hotel grounds!

The expected complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits were supplemented with a half bottle of wine and crisps and bon bons which was a nice touch. A few samples of spa products were also supplied.

The spa is one of the largest is the country. Take the tour of the spa as it is very big and we still got lost! The heat and ice experiences are varied and stimulating. There is an aromatherapy crystal steam room (sounds lovely but very steamy and might hurt your eyes!) caldarium (pleasant, we were able to stay quite comfortably for some time). The foot bath was an unusual and soothing feature. Various showers to appeal to different tastes but the ice bucket didn’t appeal to us it may well to others braver than us! The sanarium provides an alternative to the hotter sauna, with mood lighting and calming sound effects or gets you ready for the sauna and then to the ice cave where you can douse yourself in ice if you so wish. The recommended route of trying out all the experiences is appropriate as it all well-spaced.

The Jacuzzi has different levels and a number of overhead and side jets. The swimming pool was undergoing maintenance when we were there but it looked big with a good number of seats around (we were informed of this before booking).

There are two relaxation rooms, one standard dark room with comfortable beds and covers which was easily accessible and another, called the whisper room with water beds and big comfy chairs. However this got very busy and we weren’t able to take advantage of it.

We had the day spa hot stone therapy 50 minute massage. It was fabulous, one of the best massages I’ve had it was so relaxing I nearly fell asleep. My friend had the Elemis skin radiance facial and I had the Clarins tri-active facial. These were both good. We both have reflexology regularly and the reflexology sessions here were very good. I think I am falling apart as I felt pain all over the place and the therapist was extremely knowledgeable. There was no hard sell of any kind regarding the products after any of the treatments which was good.

Gym and classes are available but we are far too lazy to have tried these, but saw that it was well equipped should you wish to us it. You can also use the vast golf course.

Lunch at the spa was disappointing. Advertised as two courses but the dessert seemed to be yoghurt and fruit unless you were willing to pay extra for a biscuit or cake. I wouldn’t class only one choice of soup as a course when the main meal is a buffet salad. The standard of what was available was adequate.

We had a three course meal at the two AA rosette restaurant Murrays. The online menu is an indication, it is not up to date. My friend had the pigeon for starter which was well presented (as were all the dishes) and good. I had the 25 day aged beef which was moist. For the main meal my friend had the bass which was soft, and well-seasoned. I had the chicken which was well cooked and tender. For dessert we had praline and white chocolate mud pie with hot chocolate sauce. This made a good meal even better. The meal was finished off with a selection of well-considered petits fours.

Breakfast had a very good selection of fresh fruit, cold meats, cheese and cereals. The hot food included sausages, scrambled and fried eggs, tomatoes, hash browns, beans, black pudding and bacon. This was good although the bacon was a bit limp and I like it crispy!

Service around the hotel and spa was generally of a very high standard.

The stay was very good value and I would thoroughly recommend the hotel and spa and give it 4 stars.

Rating: 4/5

The Day Spa Stay package costs from £159-£189 per person and includes:

• Two-course buffet lunch
• Full use of The Day Spa facilities, and Heat and Ice Experiences on your day of arrival
• Full use of The Leisure Club facilities on your arrival day to 11am on the departure day
• A 50 minute Back, Face, Scalp and Shoulder Massage with Hot Stones each, in a Dual Treatment Room
• Three-course dinner in Murrays at Whittlebury Hall, our award-winning fine dining restaurant
• Overnight accommodation in a Club Room
• Full English breakfast

For more information or to book a spa package visit www.whittleburyhall.co.uk or call 0845 400 0002.

Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa, Whittlebury, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8QH