Review of Champneys Forest Mere, Liphook

The indoor pool at Champneys Forest Mere

Champneys Forest Mere, Liphook - 3 bubbles

Five poolside loungers, one hasty massage, forty minutes training, and a teeny-tiny locker for her clothes. It all adds up to three bubbles in our Spa Spy's book. But the health-oriented break at this Hampshire spa has had some long-lasting and positive effects on her lifestyle. And her muscles.

Was it easy to book?

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?

Was it easy to book?

Yes. I booked via the Champneys central booking number. Not exactly personalised as it handles all four Champneys resorts, but I got through straight away and booking was quick and easy.

First impressions?

Lovely, rural location. The driveway takes you through a lush golf course, then right past a shimmering lake, complete with geese and moorhens.

How did they welcome you?

The receptionist politely checked me in at the "arrivals desk", exchanged my details for a robe and a room key, and pointed me in the direction of the spa. I'd been advised in advance that I wouldn't have access to my room until after lunch. As the resort is quite large, I could really have done with being shown around, but no-one offered. I went off to explore for myself.

First stop -- the spa. I went into the changing room, which was a large enough room, but it only had a couple of small benches and one changing cubicle for everyone using the spa and the gym. I donned my swimming costume and robe, then went to find a locker. Not such an easy task as they all seemed to be full. After looking around the changing area, I eventually found what appeared to be the only one available. I spent a couple of minutes struggling to shrink my belongings down to fit in the compact space. By the time I made my way to the pool, I felt like I'd done a workout already...

What happens next?

I got distracted by the sauna and steam room on the way to the pool. Both heat experiences are good: decent sized, with room for about 10 people each, as long as everyone doesn't want to use them at once. This is also certainly the case for the five showers that cater for the entire female spa population of this 89 room hotel with additional day guests. Having said that, I was there on a busy Saturday and there wasn't ever a point when they were all in use at the same time.

All the facilities were clean and well maintained, with used towels being cleared away regularly. The 25-metre pool is lovely and light with plenty of room for proper swimmers as well as people just hanging out. The five poolside loungers were at a premium, so there was quite a lot of relaxing in the water going on. People were milling around the loungers, ready to pounce if one became free.

There's also a poolside Jacuzzi which I didn't get to sample. It was occupied by a group of giggling hens who seemed to be claiming squatters' rights. There is a relaxation room off the changing room but it doesn't really work as you get the feeling that it doubles up as a conference room, with its corporate carpet and brass picture lights illuminating random areas of wallpaper.

Which treatments did you have?

I had a 25 minute Champneys Massage, and a 25 minute Relaxing Facial - £40 each.

What were the treatments like?

The therapist had a heavy cold. She didn't introduce herself. She ushered me to the Holly treatment room, then asked whether I'd like to have just a back and shoulder massage, instead of a full-body massage, as there wasn't much time. That was fine by me.

Without further ado, or completion of any kind of health questionnaire (!), she asked me to take all my clothes off, apart from my knickers, and lie face down on the table. Sensing that time was of the essence, I threw my clothes onto the floor -- there wasn't anywhere obvious to hang anything -- and jumped onto the table. Within seconds, there was a knock on the door and the therapist re-entered, mid-coughing fit.

She asked me whether I was allergic to any products and began to smooth oil into my back. Just one small problem -- there was no hole in the table to poke my face through. I had my head to one side, and was waiting to see whether the therapist would rectify this rather uncomfortable situation. She didn't. And, in the name of research, neither did I. On the plus side, it meant that I didn't have to look at the overflowing bin.

The massage itself was pleasant enough, if rather hurried, but I didn't feel that the therapist targeted any specific areas of tension. After about half an hour, the therapist asked me to roll over on to my back for the facial. Glad to be able to get into a more comfortable position, I obliged. After a quick question about my skin concerns, I felt the therapist applying what I presume was cleanser to my face. She briskly exfoliated my face and neck, and removed the scrub with what felt like loofah pads.

She applied a cooling face mask, and placed even cooler eye pads over my eyelids. At this point, she announced that the mask needed to be left on "for seven minutes", and left the room to write my "prescription". She returned to remove the mask with pleasantly warm flannels, then applied moisturiser, eye gel and lip cream. The sounds of clearing up signalled the end of my treatment and I was handed my "prescription", a list of Champneys products. I was slightly suspicious of this list as I didn't feel that the therapist had taken time to look at my skin in any detail, but it wasn't exactly a hard sell. I picked my clothes up off the floor and got changed. My ailing therapist led me back to the reception via the shop.

How did you feel afterwards?

Like I'd had the treatment equivalent of a trolley grab. I was hoping that I hadn't caught my poor therapist's cold.

What happens afterwards?

I headed downstairs to get changed for my kick-start Health Appraisal and personal training session. Having ditched my robe in favour of my tracky bottoms and t-shirt, I legged the few metres to the fitness area. Natalie, my cheery instructor, immediately greeted me. She led me into a small office resembling a doctor's surgery, with posters of the human body/muscle groups, an exercise bike and a padded table.

The consultation began with Natalie taking various measurements: height, weight, resting heart rate and pulse. I was starting to feel a little nervous... She then asked me to perform a simple(ish) cycling exercise on the bike, noting my heart rate. She recorded my post-exercise heart rate to find out how quickly my body recovered from the cycling ordeal. Finally, she instructed me to hop onto the couch and wired me up to a nifty little gadget that measures the flow of a weak current around the body. Natalie placed a pad and wire on my hand and foot. She asked me to keep still for a few seconds while the current negotiated its way through my body tissue.

The stats were all plugged into the computer, some colourful charts emerged from the printer, and Natalie collated the results. I was more nervous... The good news was that I wasn't overweight, but I was slightly undermuscled, thus skewing my fat-to-muscle ratio. Natalie cheerily reassured me that this was nothing to worry about and that she could give me a tailored exercise programme to target this imbalance. She also reassured me that my fitness level and blood pressure were OK so I should be able to cope with a relatively rigorous fitness programme.

Charts in hand, Natalie took me across the foyer to the gym. This is a well equipped, if not state-of-the-art, space with a number of keen staff members on hand. The aim of this personal training session was to look at my starting point -- an "undermuscled" sporadic gym user with commitment issues -- and put together an exercise plan that was in line with both my likes and my fitness goals: to improve the fat-to-muscle ratio and tone up in time for summer.

Natalie decided to focus on the free weights/dumbbells as I had said that it would be good to have some exercises I could do at home. She showed me how I could thoroughly exercise and tone various muscle groups with minimal equipment. She also gave me the confidence to use a Swiss ball, something I have always avoided for fear of spectacular humiliation.

Forty minutes and much "glowing" later, my session came to an end. Natalie said that she would have my charts and fitness plan, complete with matchstick men diagrams, ready for me to collect the following morning. I was very impressed by the fitness team and found the kick-start programme and personal trainer very motivating.

Long-term effects

I can't attribute any long-term effect to the massage or facial, but the kick-start programme, combined with the healthy cuisine, made me feel more positive about myself. I vowed to eat better and exercise more.

Was it worth it?

The fitness assessment and session was worth it as I think it will have longer-term value. But I'd have to say no to the massage treatment. However, my sister (who had exactly the same treatment with a different therapist) was much more positive about her experience and had none of the criticisms I had of my own experience.

What else could you have?

Pretty much any treatment you can think of, using Champneys, Elemis, La Prairie or Babor products. Choose from wraps, facials, massages, hot stones, Hopi ear candles, hypnotherapy, numerology, palmistry, psychic healing, rasul, treatments for men, and pregnancy treatments. There's a separate pool for the sole use of those who have booked a thalassotherapy treatment. Also on offer are scrubs, manicures, pedicures and beauty treatments. There's also a programme of classes that run throughout the day ranging from a wake-up workout to a Saturday night fever dance class. Hop on a bike for an energetic way to explore the grounds.

What do you wish you'd known before you went?

That my session with the personal trainer was straight after my massage! And to travel light as locker space is limited.

Any special features?

The rural setting, particularly the peaceful lake.

Who do you think would like it?

Anyone looking for a healthy white-robe retreat: mothers and daughters, friends, couples... Champneys Forest Mere is not ultimate luxury, but it's hard to avoid relaxing and being healthy. The spa is good for small groups, too, as long as you book off-peak. Also, it's a good choice for anyone with particular health concerns, such as high blood pressure or obesity, as all treatments are clearly explained detailing any known contraindications.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Champneys Forest Mere 3 bubbles. It has a relaxed atmosphere and the facilities are generally good and well-kept. As an overall experience, it's a pleasant place to escape to for a health-oriented spa break with interesting packages, healthy food and lovely grounds. The accommodation is decent -- book one of the recently refurbished Premier rooms for a special treat. The gym instructors and staff are friendly and generally knowledgeable. The traditional health-farm services make it a good place for anyone looking for a kick-start to a healthier lifestyle.

However, the changing facilities seem inadequate to cater for the large number of spa and gym guests, there are nowhere near enough loungers to accommodate the wannabe ladies-who-lounge around the pool, and the massage I had was disappointing.

See more on how we rate the spas