Review of St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot

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St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot - 5 bubbles

Never heard of Saundersfoot? You soon will. The St Brides Spa Hotel is putting this Welsh seaside town firmly on the spa destination map. The beautifully designed thermal suite, the high quality treatments, and the stylish but friendly hotel are all worth a journey, if you're not lucky enough to already live in Pembrokeshire.

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?

Myself and Spouse were excited by our invitation to St Brides (no apostrophe) as soon as it arrived. We had seen the pictures of the rooftop vitality pool (the only one in the UK with a sea view we're informed) and were already imagining ourselves happily splashing in it while golden sunshine shone all around. Sadly, as we negotiated the steep roads around the beach, the rain was bucketing down. We saw the hotel, perched on the hillside overlooking the wide expanse of sand, and noticed how modern and fresh it looked -- all windows and outdoor decking.

When we arrived in the wind-swept car park (this was July), we weren't sure which was the entrance to the hotel, so intrepid Spouse was pushed out of the car to ask. He returned in the company of a pleasant member of staff who insisted on carrying our bags for us.

The hotel reception is to the left of the main entrance but, if you're in the hotel just to visit the spa, you turn right to go directly there. The décor throughout St Brides is understated, with blues and greens to match the marine setting, and lots of original modern art.

How did they welcome you?

With a friendly Welsh welcome. We were soon installed in our room, which was spotlessly clean and comfortable, with wooden furniture (made by a local craftsman) and a throw on the bed (made by a local craftswoman). There was a wooden balcony, too, with a view over the bay.

The bathroom was light and white, and full of comfort zone Spa Ritual products; St Brides was, in fact, the first hotel in the UK to provide comfort zone products in the rooms, so that you can continue your spa experience even after you've left the spa.

What happens next?

We came down from our room in our robes as instructed (you get in the lift and press B for the spa). My therapist, Emma, was expecting us and took us through to a darkened relaxation room just past spa reception where there are three loungers, water, and a range of herbal teas and coffee. Once we had filled in our health consultation form, and absorbed the important safety information (Do not touch the steam outlet!), Emma took us on a mini-tour of the treats on offer.

There are four treatment rooms, including one double treatment room, in which one wall is entirely glass, looking out over the beach. As many treatment rooms don't even have windows at all, this made for a refreshing change and makes the most of the hotel's dramatic location.

The pool and heat facilities: Past the small changing rooms, you reach the thermal suite and vitality pool. Behind a glass door lie a sauna, a salt infusion room, an aroma steam room, a sensation shower, and an ice fountain. The different heat experiences are designed to promote relaxation, ease your breathing, and generally aid your detoxification. Well, they may do all of those things, but they're also a lot of fun.

We had a great time moving between one room and another, warming up, cooling down by standing under the ice-mist shower or rubbing ourselves with ice from the fountain, and, when it all became too much, going for a lie-down in the fetchingly named "wet relaxation room". This room is right on the cliff edge and has a glass wall, so you can relax on the loungers and look out to sea.

All of the heated rooms are of a high standard; there are turquoise mosaic tiles in the steam room, twinkly mother-of-pearl tiles in the infusion room: not a plastic seat in sight. If you wait long enough in the salt infusion room, you get a saltwater drench on your head, which is worth waiting for. We had been promised different scents in the heat rooms, but they didn't smell much of anything; we found out later that this was because of a shortage of essences. I hope they are essenced up again now, as aromas would make a great addition to an already sensual experience.

There is also an outdoor vitality pool, with an infinity edge; this is heated, but it was such a chilly day when we were there that we couldn't really make the most of it. There is a swan pipe to batter your neck into submission, which I tried, and we sat for a while on the bubbly seats in the water and looked at Carmarthen Bay.

The space was never crowded when we were there. If you're staying in the hotel and you book a treatment lasting 55 minutes ore more, you can use the thermal suite. Otherwise you have to pay £25, and if you're not staying in the hotel, you have to pay even more -- £45. This stops the thermal suite getting cluttered up with other people, which is, frankly, good.

Which treatments did you have?

We both shared the Algotherm Sea Salt Body Treatment (£85 for 1 hour and 50 minutes) in the double treatment room. Algotherm is a French company which uses marine ingredients and promises to bring you "all the power of the sea".

What were the treatments like?

The Algotherm treatment was like a co-ordinated dance, having two therapists perform similar manoeuvres at the same time. First, we divested ourselves of our robes, donned disposable underwear and made ourselves comfortable, each on our own bed. Emma began by holding her hands over my face and asking me to take three deep breaths. Clare, over at the other treatment couch, did the same.

Our therapists then rubbed us both with salt. Once nicely exfoliated, we showered it off with comfort zone gel in the shower (there are two showers -- one each). A second pair of disposable knickers was provided in case the first lot were sprinkled with salt. Once dry, we hopped back on the bed, where our therapists slathered us in marine ingredients, wrapped us up in blankets, and massaged us.

During the scalp massage, I became so relaxed that I drifted into semi-sleep. I know this because I woke myself up by snoring. Luckily, I did not burst Spouse's spa bubble as he had fallen asleep completely and didn't wake up.

Emma was therapist of the year at the 2008 Professional Beauty awards and it's easy to see why; she has a very gentle but firm touch. You know how sometimes a therapist grabs your arm or leg and you're not sure what they want you to do with it? Move it up? Down? Round and round? Emma had a remarkable way of guiding my limbs into the position she needed them to be in without any uncertainty or apparent effort on my part. Fab.

We both enjoyed the treatments very much, and would have only wished it could have gone as twice as long. No, three times. Four...

How did you feel afterwards?

Soft and spaced.

What happens afterwards?

We went back to our bijou room, walked along the harbour, and then it was time for dinner in The Cliff restaurant. The views from this room are as sea-sumptuous as elsewhere in the hotel, and the décor is modern and minimalist. In keeping with the hotel's general policy of supporting local producers and suppliers where possible, much of the food is sourced locally. Fresh fish features heavily on the menu, along with Welsh lamb and Welsh cheeses.

There is also free broadband connection in many of the rooms, so I was even able to check my emails before bed.

Long-term effects

The main long-term effect the treatment had is that I keep wishing I could have it again.

Was it worth it?

Our Alogotherm Sea Salt body treatment was £60 for 55 minutes, so this compares well to charges elsewhere and gave us almost an hour of bliss.

What else could you have?

The treatments on offer include comfort zone facials and massages, and also LaStone therapy ("the original hot and cold stone massage"), Algotherm scrubs and wraps, and the Algotherm Radiance facial. You can also have manicures, pedicures, waxing and eye treatments. There are treatments specifically for men, too, some of which use the suitable macho sounding manspace range from comfort zone.

There are four "day escapes" to choose from, starting at £140, and all continue the marine theme with names such as Drifting Tides or Coastal Breeze. You can book a spa stay in the hotel, too; you can have two nights in a Good room (the hierarchy also stretches to Better and Best) from £300 per night, which includes use of the thermal suite and vitality pool on each day of your stay, one 55-minute treatment, and a three-course dinner each evening.

St Brides is not surprisingly very popular for weddings, and in the spa you could find all the treatments you'd want to get you ready before the big day.

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

That the window in the dual treatment room is actually a window. People can see through it from the other side -- they'd have to crane their necks a bit from the beach, and have trouble seeing much, but knowing this may help you manage your modesty expectations.

Any special features?

A cliff-edge vitality pool that seems to merge into the sea has to be pretty special.

Who do you think would like it?

Anyone who is looking for marine well-being treatments. Couples who will enjoy both the hotel and the dual treatment room. Friends who are close enough to enjoy a shared experience, too. Walkers -- the hotel is on the Pembrokeshire National Park Coast Path -- could call a halt to their hiking and enjoy the Algotherm Aches and Pains mud wrap instead. Almost anyone -- this is not an intimidating spa.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

It's small but special. We gave St Brides Spa Hotel 5 bubbles because it provides top quality treatments in a stunning environment with friendly people all around.

There were one or two small bumps that could be improved upon -- for example, late in the day, the towels on the loungers in the wet relaxation area were pretty damp when you sat on them -- but on the whole the attention to detail throughout the hotel and spa is excellent.

See more on how we rate the spas

Would you go again?

Do you really have to ask? The unlucky rain while we were there meant we never saw the hotel at its finest -- it has lots of glass and outdoor decking to make the most of the light -- but we did see how special it could be. The owners, Andrew and Lindsey Evans, have done a fantastic job transforming what was once an ordinary seaside hotel into a stylish and stunning spa hotel. So we owe it to ourselves to return and see just what it looks like in the sun.

We visited St Brides Spa Hotel in July 2008