Review of Ragdale Hall Health Hydro, Melton Mowbray

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Ragdale Hall Health Hydro, Melton Mowbray - 5 bubbles

Ragdale Hall is one of our very favourite spa retreats, so when they invited a Good Spa Guide reviewer to visit their new Thermal Spa, she jumped at the chance. And then jumped in the Experience Showers, relaxed in the Candle Pool, and worked out in the Mind Gym...

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?

Ragdale's website is good, and easy to use, but I recommend ringing; the booking staff know the treatments and can make suggestions and changes to suit you.

First impressions?

This is not our first review of Ragdale. We were back for several reasons: they have opened a new Thermal Spa area; they have some brand new Decleor treatments on offer; and we wanted to see how this well-established 5-bubble spa was holding up against the huge numbers of new spas opening around the country.

We designate Ragdale as a "retreat spa". They call themselves a "health hydro and thermal spa". Either way, this is a pure spa where the whole point of going is to wander around in your robe all day and do spa things such as relax and unwind.

How did they welcome you?

You turn off the main road, go down the long drive and park in front of the main entrance. It's a large country house set in gardens and grounds, with a wood-panelled reception area. I just love the way the staff take your car keys and park your car for you. They take your luggage to your room and whisk you off to the conservatory for a drink while they check you in. No matter how many times I come here, I'm still impressed by the smooth running check-in system.

What happens next?

I was offered a tour, but I chose to go straight to my room, so I could get down to the new Thermal Spa - a collection of hot and cold, wet and dry rooms - as soon as possible. They all offer something different; the Thought Zone has a dry heat of 60 degrees C, the dimly lit Candle Pool is kept at 34 degrees C. The Colour Flow Cave is hotter at 40-45 degrees and is humid and moist. The Volcanic Salt Bath is very dark with black granite walls and a temperature of 40 degrees with 100 per cent humidity. The Scented Room is hot and moist with changing coloured lights and various perfumes, and the Rose Sauna is hot and dry with uplifting rose essence in the air. There are Experience Showers and an Ice Cave, and a Waterfall Pool that is part indoors and part outdoors.

All of these various experiences were fun to use and very popular. I had to go back several times before there was space in the Thought Zone.

I had several sessions in this area, each of an hour or two. My favourites were the Candle Cave, and the Thunder and Lightning Shower.

Going into the Candle Cave was a bit like entering Narnia. You enter through a door and a set of steps that lead down into the warm water. You can't quite see what is ahead but you can see how the light changes and hear the soft music. The "Cave" area opens out once you are thigh deep in the water to 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.

The Thunder and Lightning Shower is at the other extreme of sensation. You hit the button on the wall and this releases a rush of cold water over you along with the sound of thunder and lightning. Very silly but also great fun!

I made a point of trying the outdoor thermal area in the evening when the water is lit from below and the steam rises off the warm water, which was magical.

The Waterfall Pool is quite small; there were eight people using it the first time I went in, which was about the most you would want to share it with. In the evening, only a couple of other people were using it. But since there are so many "zones", you can just move on and try something else if one area is busy.

Which treatments did you have?

The Decleor anti-ageing face and body treatment which is exclusive to Ragale and costs £138.

What were the treatments like?

Heavenly. This treatment is two and half hours of bliss. A combination of cleansing, massage, exfoliation, more massage and yet more massage with creams to firm and plump skin.

Some exfoliants can be quite harsh, but this one was fine-grained and mixed to a creamy paste. The therapist worked it into my skin easily and then removed it with warm mittens.

A nice touch was the warmed wheatgerm pad which the therapist placed on my back or stomach during the massage. The creams and unguents are rich and formulated for "older" skin. I'm the oldest of the Good Spa Spies, so the best person to try this. Thank goodness I have not been dubbed Senior Spy!

How did you feel afterwards?

Spaced out for hours, relaxed and keen to show off my glowing skin to all and sundry!

What happens afterwards?

I lounged around, read a bit, and drank plenty of cranberry juice. (I was supposed to drink water but don't like it much.) Drinks are available from the conservatory bar, as are cakes, if you fancy a treat.

Long-term effects

Hmm... Well, a day or two at a spa isn't going to wave a magic wand over my general lifestyle of too much work, too much stress and too much coffee. But the treatment left my skin feeling and looking plumped and rehydrated.

I've reached the stage in life where I don't usually show my upper arms for fear of scaring the horses. But this treatment did plump and firm my skin and I would certainly consider having it again if I were going somewhere grand and wanted to wear a strappy evening gown.

The massage unkinked the knots in my back and made me feel a couple of inches taller.

Wandering around the Thermal Spa from hot to cold, wet to dry allowed me to really unwind. The heat and coolness relaxed my generally stressed and tense body, while the various sensations all relaxed my mind - aromatherapy perfumes, tropical showers, the indoor and outdoor stream, and especially the dark, warm Candle Cave.

Was it worth it?

I need this every month! I'm sure I would be the slim, highly organised powerhouse of a business woman I dream of being if I could just get this level of relaxation built into my life.

What else could you have?

What else do you want? With around 50 treatment rooms and 120 therapists, you can have almost any treatment you have ever heard of at Ragdale. They offer most of the major brands, including Clarins, Elemis, Spa Find, Li'Tya and Leighton Denny for hands and feet.

There are several holistic treatments on offer including reflexology, reiki, and shiatsu.

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

That the new Thermal Spa area is so enjoyable... I would have stayed an extra day.

Any special features?

The new Mind Gym room is fun: puzzles, games, books, brainteasers of one sort or another all gathered together in one room. The mind ball is weird... you put on a headband and use your powers of relaxation to move a ball across a table. Weird to watch and weird to do, as well. Every time I relaxed enough to move the ball using only my mind, I immediately felt so strange that I tensed up and it stopped! A fun addition to the usual spa facilities.

Who do you think would like it?

Ragdale is best for anyone who wants to unwind, relax and enjoy some good treatments. It's not for you if you want to stay up late (most people are off to bed by 10pm here), put on your little black dress and eat out. The food at Ragdale is good (varied and plenty of it) though the dining room décor is looking a bit dated.

It's a country house with a comfortable, slightly chintzy feel, 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?

Ragdale still earns its 5 bubbles for good customer service, great food, plenty of classes and a wide choice of treatments all put together with care and thought. Ragdale is the John Lewis of spas: good quality, well priced and delivered by people who really know their stuff.

The new Thermal Spa keeps it up there with the "Johnny-come-latelies" who have all the bells and whistles, but who sometimes fall down on that all-important customer service.

See more on how we rate the spas

Would you go again?

Without doubt... and soon.

We visited Ragdale Hall in February 2008

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