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Eden Hall Day Spa, Newark - 5 bubbles
When Sybaritic Spy went to Eden, she found this up-scale, large-scale spa a very paradise. All that barefoot tiptoeing about and splashing in the salt-water pool, plus a wonderful massage and facial, revived her enough to award Eden Hall 5 bubbles, despite the lack of flip-flops.
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Long-term effects
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
I wasn't sure whether to be impressed or worried about the gates. You speak into a microphone and then the huge iron gates slide open to let you in. It's a bit James Bondish. I felt as if I were entering some secret country retreat. Eden Hall's main house looks grand from the outside and the huge original conservatory -- now the relaxation area -- is very impressive.
How did they welcome you?
You step over a very realistic fountain under the glass floor; so realistic, I had to step round it. The reception area has soft sofas and a fine flagstone floor. Someone politely greeted me, took me to the changing area and showed me how to set a code to lock and unlock my locker.
What happens next?
The changing area is large-scale, as is everything about this spa. With about 140 guests a day, it needs to be. That said, they handle the numbers very well. The changing rooms have plenty of comfortable seating, there are a dozen or so changing cubicles, and a large room with mirrors, cushioned stools and hairdryers. So although everyone could get in each other's way by the lockers, there's enough space for people to move away into to change.
The only queues I met all day were for the loos. There were only four in the changing room and one wasn't working for part of the day. But for everything else there was no waiting. There are enough choices - enough seating areas, enough options in the thermal suite, enough relaxation areas - not too feel crowded.
Which treatments did you have?
A wonderful massage and facial with Hayley.
What were the treatments like?
Hayley took me through to a reasonably sized treatment room and offered me paper knickers to wear while I had my back massage. It was a good, complex back massage focusing on really helping me unwind and relax. Hayley followed it up with a facial and scalp massage.
How did you feel afterwards?
By the end of an hour, I was limp and ready to fall asleep in one of the rocking chairs. Just what I needed after days of rushing around.
What happens afterwards?
I had the rest of the day to unwind and potter. There was plenty to do to keep me busy.
The Aqua Detox Centre has a steam room, hot room and sauna, as well as experience showers, ice cave, a chilly foot bath to cool down overheated toes, and a jet shower-circle amongst others. If you move between the thermal areas in the suggested order, it can take an hour or so to work round.
Then I had a dip in the 25-metre salt-water pool. This felt soft and smooth on the skin. The pool has powerful water jets that switch on at intervals for further muscle easing.
I also had a relaxing session on the rocking chairs that face a wall of lights, and then most of the afternoon had gone.
Add in lunch and a treatment or two, and it's a great way to relax through a day.
Long-term effects
A day just isn't long enough to really make a difference... but I did feel relaxed enough to face the office again the next day.
Was it worth it?
Eden Hall provides good value spa-ing. A day package starts at £69 without any treatments, but there is plenty to do and the package includes the lovely lunch. A day with treatments begins at £99.
What else could you have?
There's a range of Elemis and Thalgo facials and body treatments, manicures and pedicures, reflexology, and hopi ear candling. Beauty treatments include waxing and fast tanning. You can also undertake Fitness Profile testing.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
To take my own flip-flops! Unusually for a spa, they don't supply slippers and, in fact, recommend you go barefoot. I spent the day wandering around doing just that - not too much of a pain when there is under-floor heating everywhere. In fact, it felt quite wonderful to have warm feet. Experienced Eden Hallers bring their own slippers. And so do those people organised enough to read their instructions properly. You can buy slippers in the spa shop if you fall into neither camp.
Any special features?
The conservatory is simply huge and stunning. Apparently original, it was once crammed with plants from the farthest corners of the empire. Now it's filled with wicker chairs, sofas and people chilling out, drinking smoothies or fruit teas and reading. You can watch the world go rushing by as the main A46, a straight Roman road, is just across the fields. At first, I thought it was a shame they hadn't planted any bushes or trees to shield the cars zooming past. Then I decided it was actually quite nice to sit in the warm conservatory with the sunshine streaming in, feeling relaxed and laid back and watching the busy, busy world go by.
Who do you think would like it?
Friends. This is not the place to go on your own for peace and solitude. It's a gossipy, girly place. Almost everyone was in pairs or groups, using the time to catch up and gossip as well as unwind. Lots of people seemed to be regulars.
There were several family groups and I noticed from the comments book that plenty of people enjoy birthdays at Eden Hall: from 16th, 18th, up to 80th. There were also half a dozen or so men there on the day I visited.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Eden Hall rates 5 bubbles because it does what it sets out to do very well. It's an accessible spa with keen pricing and good facilities. It's spotlessly clean - not easy when it's so busy - and all the staff are attentive and friendly. I lost count of the number of people who forgot the code they had set on their lockers, but the reception staff patiently reset them with a smile. The dining room staff are chatty and helpful, and the treatments are good. It was at times a bit "production line" when I visited, especially at the end of the day when everyone was dressing and trying to pay but, even so, it was an efficient production line.
Eden Hall is not luxurious, but it is comfortable and enjoyable, and not at all intimidating.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
With a friend or two or three. I might just get there early enough for breakfast and stay late enough to finish the day with a glass of champagne (served after 4.30pm), as long as I could find a taxi to take me home.
We visited Eden Hall in November 2007
See also:
* Contact Details for Eden Hall Day Spa
* Read the latest reader review
* Our Spa Spies review Thalgo products
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