Review of Ragdale Hall Health Hydro, Melton Mowbray

Ragdale Hall Health Hydro, Melton Mowbray - 5 bubbles

We revisited Ragdale Hall, a dedicated spa retreat in the Leicestershire countryside, and yet again found unfaltering customer service, an extensive range of top-quality treatments, and a fine array of facilities and classes. You can feel at liberty to be as healthy or as pampered as you like here, and with varying prices for rooms, most budgets can be accommodated.

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?

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?

Ragdale has a dedicated reservations team ready to take your call, make suggestions, and efficiently book your perfect stay. You can also book via their informative website.

First impressions?

My spa pal and I drove up a long driveway surrounded by flat, green fields, sodden from the rain. We pulled up to a large red-brick country-house that initially seemed austere, but once inside, was completely the opposite.

The main entrance was bustling with new arrivals and guests in white robes. To our left was an impressively packed awards cabinet, comfy seating to our right, and a reception desk straight ahead.

How did they welcome you?

Paul, one of the dedicated guest-liaison team, jovially welcomed us and offered to park our car.

Our luggage was taken to our room while Becky, another guest-liaison team member, whisked us off to the conservatory for a drink while we filled in our consultation form. Becky told us that our timetable was already in our room.

What happens next?

We were hungry, so headed straight in to the sociable Verandah bar. There was a good selection of light bites on offer there.

Our ample-sized twin room was neat and tidy, with our robes and slippers laid out on our beds. A reassuringly comprehensive, if slightly overwhelming, Guest Information Directory is found in every room. All guests new to Ragdale are offered a tour of the retreat, too. Eager to explore the maze of Ragdale for ourselves, we changed into our swimwear and robes and headed downstairs to the wing of the building that houses the thermal suite and pools. There was little chance of getting lost due to the abundance of directional signs.

We opted to swim in the expansive 25-metre pool. There were just a few ladies swimming and some reclining on loungers around the edge. The pool is an unusual shape, with one side that slopes into a shallow area. There's a waterfall feature, plus strong swan pipes for pummelling your neck and back muscles. There is also a ledge to perch on whilst massage jets work on your back and feet. On a raised level overlooking the main pool, there is also a whirlpool that can seat six. That pool was much cooler than the usual Jacuzzi-warmth I expected.

From the main pool area, you can walk through some double doors to find the thermal suite. This round room has a variety of different facilities. The Thought Zone is heated to a dry heat of 60 degrees C, while the Colourflow Cave is hotter at 40-45 degrees, but humid and moist. We didn't get to try this as it was being repaired while we were there. The Volcanic Salt Bath was pretty dark with its black granite walls. It is heated to a temperature of 40 degrees with 100 per cent humidity.

The Scented Room was hot and moist with colour-change lights and various perfumes, and the Rose Sauna, complete with a natural-light simulator, was hot and dry with an uplifting rose essence in the air. There’s a fun, kitsch Cave Shower with thunder and lightning and a waterfall which was icy cold. There are also foot baths, experience showers, an ice fountain, and an indoor/outdoor waterfall pool with various massage jets. All-important water machines can be found everywhere.

The dimly lit Candle Pool is kept at 34 degrees C and has many signs requesting "silence please". Going into the candle cave was a bit like entering Narnia. We entered through a door and a set of steps lead us down into the warm water. We couldn't quite see what was ahead, but could see the changing light and hear the soft music. When the water becomes thigh-high, the "cave" area opens out onto several bays, each illuminated by candle-style lights on the walls. You can lie back on your underwater seat, and just enjoy the warmth and the water.

After exploring the many thermal and wet facilities, we headed back for our treatments. I loved the huge conservatory waiting-area, complete with high ceiling, tall green plants, and an assortment of seating. A blackboard by the treatment reception-desk highlighted the rest of the treatment slots available that day, and day after.

Which treatments did you have?

I decided to have reiki (60 minutes, £50) and shiatsu (60 minutes, £50). My spa buddy had a full-body massage (60 minutes, £51).

At the time of booking I was asked if I would mind my treatments being performed by male therapists. I have never had male therapists before, but I did not find this to be a problem.

What were the treatments like?

Reiki: My therapist Adrian collected me from the beautiful atrium, and took me down a long corridor to my modest-sized treatment room. Relaxing music played in the background and pretty Elemis sarongs lined the bed. As well as my robe, I was wearing tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt, knowing already that reiki is performed on a fully-clothed person. Adrian still put a sarong over the top of me, then made sure I was comfortable. Although I had experienced reiki previously, it was still very interesting to listen to Adrian explain about this "universal life energy" and the possible feelings and responses to this treatment. Adrian informed me that this treatment was also based on my chakras, allowing energy to flow in and out of them freely.

The head of the treatment couch was tilted slightly, and I lay on my back with my eyes closed. Adrian started by hovering his hands just above my face, and then moved to the sides and top of my head, holding his hand positions for a good few minutes over each place. Halfway through, Adrian asked me to turn over. He held his hands over different parts of the back of my body.

Adrian gently rested his hands on key parts of my body, or just above my body, throughout the treatment. I felt a lot of comforting warmth from Adrian's hands. Bizarrely, at one point I felt a warm cupping of my heels, when in fact Adrian was working elsewhere on my back, having moved away from my feet area minutes ago.

Shiatsu:The following morning, I met my second therapist, John. The treatment was carried out in a Thai-style room. A futon mattress was in the middle of the room on the polished, dark-wood floor, with a few cushions scattered around. John asked if I wanted music and I declined.

Shiatsu uses flat-palm pressure over the body as well as pressure from the therapist's finger-tips and forearms. Due to the focus on "meridians", shiatsu is sometimes called "acupuncture with fingers".

Initially I sat cross-legged with my back to John. He started my diagnosis by pressing various pressure points down my back. I then lay on my back, my head resting on a small roll-cushion. John then did a "hara diagnosis" on my stomach area. He pressed the palm of his hand into parts of my stomach which correspond to different organs of the body.

I then turned onto my front and John skilfully worked into my back on either side of my spine and into my coccyx area. John then worked on my legs, including various rotations and foot manoeuvres. The treatment finished with John resting his hand on my sacrum.

How did you feel afterwards?

After my reiki treatment, I felt warm, cradled and nurtured. Adrian advised that I should take it easy, drink water and not do anything strenuous in the evening.

After my shiatsu treatment, I felt peaceful, comforted, and balanced. I did not want to get up!

On questioning John about this Chinese philosophy, he informed me that my stomach meridian was tight and full of energy. On the flip-side, my bladder meridian was weak and lacking energy. John worked mainly to tone my pressure points on my bladder meridian. On my stomach meridian he attempted to disperse energy to keep my body in balance. John also recommended that I relax and not use the heat facilities for at least half an hour.

Following her massage, my spa pal felt as if she'd had a good sleep. Anna, her therapist, intuitively picked up on areas that were in need of some attention, including her knotty shoulders. My friend particularly liked the hand and foot massage, something she'd never had before.

What happens afterwards?

We had planned to go back to the pool area to use the facilities again, but decided to go for dinner and make it to a talk being held that evening in Studio One. Details of the talk and the in-house film are on the main notice-board near the main reception.

For dinner, we headed to the main dining room. Guests dined at candle-lit tables in a variety of attire, including some in their robes. I enjoyed the feeling that anything goes at Ragdale, and that you can do whatever makes you happy.

The food was good and plentiful. I chose a tasty sage and beetroot jelly with goat-curd salad to start, followed by tomato and olive-crusted halibut steak on a green-pesto base, with pak choi. Puddings were also on offer.

That evening we attended an entertaining and informative talk about auras, given by Adrian, my therapist.

The following morning, we got up early and went to a 30-minute "wake-up with Tai Chi". This was in Studio One, with views of the sprawling, unadulterated landscape. We returned to our room just as our breakfast was delivered. Bliss!

Was it worth it?

Having only a short time to discover Ragdale, we immersed ourselves in as many activities as possible. You do need much longer to get the full experience, but a short break is still worthwhile. Ragdale is a wonderfully positive place with a variety of packages available. It was worth every moment of our time, and so every penny is well-spent.

As we said last time we visited, "Ragdale is the John Lewis of spas: good quality, well priced and delivered by people who really know their stuff".

What else could you have?

With around 50 treatment rooms and 130 therapists, you can have almost any treatment you have ever heard of at Ragdale. They offer most of the major brands, including Decléor, Clarins, Elemis, Spa Find, Li'Tya, and Leighton Denny for hands and feet. Various other holistic therapies are on offer, as well as fitness coaching and even fencing and archery. There is also a hair studio if your locks need tending to.

The range of classes include "weight-loss walkout", "laughter therapy", "legs, bums and tums", hula-hooping and street dance. There’s also a variety of exercise-pool classes including "yoqua" (yoga in the water), "Pilates h20", and "cardio splash".

My spa pal decided to have her oracle cards read by Jennifer (£22, 25 minutes). My friend reported that she was very insightful, and left with a positive sense of direction.

For the full list of treatments available, visit Ragdale Hall's website

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

That I would want to stay for a long time. There was not enough time during our stay to try everything that Ragdale Hall has to offer. We didn't try the outdoor pool, the exercise pool, the mountain bikes or the tennis courts – the list goes on.

There are three different shops on site, including a boutique, a gift shop and a beauty shop. Bring some spare pennies if you love to shop.

Any special features?

The staff. Absolutely nothing is too much trouble and there is always someone on hand to help.

The Mind Gym room is fun: puzzles, games, books, brainteasers of one sort or another all gathered together in one room. A fun addition to the usual spa facilities.

Who do you think would like it?

Ragdale has a 90 per cent female occupancy. It is fantastic for anyone who wants to unwind, relax and enjoy some good treatments. It's not for you if you want to stay up late, as most people are off to bed around 10pm here.

Ragdale is a country house with comfortable, slightly chintzy décor, attractive gardens and grounds and a huge range of excellent treatments. It's not trendy and it's not posh, which means you don't have to suck your stomach in when you sit by the pool, or remember to pack your designer shoes.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We awarded Ragdale Hall 5 bubbles! Again and again this dedicated spa retreat has come up trumps, and is still one of our all-time favourite places to spa. Unintimidating and charming, sincere and obliging, what is not to like about Ragdale? There’s always something to do here, whether you're looking to lose weight, lounge around or have fun with friends.

True, a couple of areas of décor are verging on tired, but Ragdale isn't about austere, clinical perfection. The vibe is easy-going and carefree, created through a lot of hard work behind-the-scenes.

See more on how we rate the spas