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Barnham Broom Spa, Norwich - 3 bubbles
Single Spy was invited to sample the stylish new treatment rooms at Barnham Broom, and loved her ESPA massage and facial. The existing leisure centre isn't joined up to the treatment rooms, though, so Barnham Broom doesn't offer a true "spa" experience yet. But it promises to do so...
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?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
Barnham Broom is a set of low-rise buildings in the middle of green Norfolk fields. There is a hotel, a golf club, and a leisure centre, sort of interconnected. As I was staying at Barnham Broom, I started off in the hotel reception. This area is no-frills and Travelodge-like, with a simple desk and some industrial green carpet.
How did they welcome you?
Efficiently, by producing my booking. The young lady behind the desk asked if I'd ever stayed there before and, when I said no, took the trouble to indicate the sign showing the way to the leisure centre, told me to look for some white double doors that would lead to my room, and pointed out that the door with the round porthole behind me led through to the spa. Odd, I thought, but thus I learned that the spa and the leisure centre aren't connected.
What happens next?
I carried my case up the stairs to my room. This was clean and recently decorated, though not luxurious. There was a large bed, a table with a welcome basket of fruit, tea-and coffee-making equipment, a sofa, a TV, and a view of the golf course. The bathroom had beige tiles on the floor, white sinks, a shower and a bath, and a mixture of Gilchrist and Soames and Elemis products.
No time to linger, though: I had a spa appointment! I went back downstairs, through the round-windowed door and into the spa reception. There is a definite change of atmosphere once you are through the spa door. There is a bright stripy carpet, some comfy sofas in a small area by the reception desk, jugs of water for refreshment, and the therapists looks very smart in their brown uniforms.
There are five treatment rooms. As they were all once hotel bedrooms, each treatment room comes with its own shower, so perfect for messier treatments such as wraps and exfoliation. The team have worked hard to create a "spa" atmosphere here, but there's no relaxation room and, if your idea of spa involves water in some degree, it's a walk to get to the leisure centre and the pool.
I sat down on a sofa and filled in my (mercifully short) health consultation form.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the ESPA holistic back, face and scalp treatment (£65 for 1 hour and 25 minutes).
What were the treatments like?
Lovely! Fay, my therapist, took me through into the treatment room; this was candle-lit dim, and had a wooden floor, which felt nicely warm. Fay began with the ESPA "sensory test", so I could choose which products she would use during my treatment. When you've got to choose from six different items, it can get a bit tricky as they're dabbed on the front or back of your hands and wrists; I felt like a pot-pourri. However, that did not prevent me from making some definite choices: floral, rebalancing, fitness.
Fay began the treatment with me lying face down on my front with my face in a face-holder for comfort. She took care to check that I was warm enough, then started some brisk body brushing. I could feel parts of my legs and arms springing back to life after a long winter. She then cleansed my back with a spearmint exfoliator that brought another pep to my step; the scent was invigorating.
Fay's back massage was great; she did lots of work on my shoulders, which are always tense, and I didn't want this bit of the treatment to end. But it was soon time to turn onto my back and rise up higher on the motorised bed for my facial. Fay used the ESPA Floral Spa-fresh, which smelled beautifully of rose, and a kaolin essential mineral mask. While the clay in the mask was sweeping away any impurities, and the chamomile was soothing my stressed skin, what better to calm the mind than a little light massage? Fay removed all the products with hot towels that left me feeling a touch cold after the heat had dissipated, but I soon warmed up with an extra blanket.
To end, Fay moved the bed to a sitting position and brought me some elderflower cordial.
How did you feel afterwards?
All my good intentions to go the gym flew away. I felt so relaxed that there was nothing for it but to settle to an early dinner and bed. Dinner was in the two AA-rosette Flint's restaurant, and both the salmon and the glass of Chianti were delicious.
What happens afterwards?
The next morning, I retrieved my good intentions and began the day with gym and a swim. You reach the leisure centre by walking through a bar, and then along a corridor.
The changing rooms are standard health-club changing rooms -- pound coin for your locker and few frills. There is Molton Brown body wash in the showers, though. The gym is reasonably well equipped, with cycles, running machines, cross-trainers and resistance machines, many with their own screens (bring your headphones) so you can catch up on the latest headlines while you burn those calories. There are also free weights, and there is a chilled-water dispenser towards the back of the gym, too. The gym overlooks the pool on one side and has windows on the other, so is fairly light and bright.
On the way through to the pool is a small area with smart new blue tiling, and this is where the steam and sauna both live. I went for a swim first, so marched straight on through to the pool, which is in a square room, with windows on three sides, so you can see a lot of sky. The only way into the pool is down those little ladders, which may not be great for you if you have mobility problems. At that early hour of the morning, I had the pool to myself, but be aware that this is the health club rather than a spa, so you are likely to find yourself sharing with families and children later in the day. I had a very satisfactory swim in very satisfactory peace.
Afterwards, I went to try the heat facilities; the sauna was out of action, so I can't report what that was like, but the steam room was disappointing; some of the rubber seal around the door had come away, and the beige marble bench to sit on was actually cold. I wasn't warming up in there at all, so hastily dispatched myself to the shower.
Was it worth it?
The treatment rooms offer good-value and professional treatments, which we felt were well worth the money.
What else could you have?
Barnham Broom Spa offers a range of ESPA delights, from massages to wraps and facials, some using the famed hot stones that are so relaxing. You can also have Jessica manicures and pedicures, Bare Escentuals make-up, and waxing and tanning. There are treatments specifically for men, for mums-to-be, and a range of spa packages that will appeal whether you're coming alone or in a girly group.
Many people come to Barnham Broom for the golf, so you could always fit in the challenge of two 18-hole championship courses while you're there, too.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
That I would need a pound coin for my locker in the leisure centre (although, if you're staying, they'll issue you with one if they can take your room key as hostage).
Who do you think would like it?
Hotel guests and club members will welcome the range of treatments on offer, and if you've been out with your golf clubs, a soothing massage will not go amiss. If you live locally, you may find the combination of health club and treatments hard to resist.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave the spa at Barnham Broom 3 bubbles because the treatment rooms are new, clean, welcoming and well-priced. The therapists offer excellent ESPA treatments and Fay is a great advocate for the ESPA products, too; she firmly believes in their quality and therapeutic effects. All that side of the business works well. There isn't really any opportunity to drift round in a robe, though, and this is, after all, the essence of "spa". You could go through in your robe and sit in the bar, but you might find yourself sitting next to people in business suits, which isn't really the right atmosphere.
Also, it's a walk through two bars to get to the leisure centre from the spa, which you may not feel comfortable embarking upon in a robe. The alternative is to walk outside and brave the rain. However, we hear plans are afoot to make the spa and the leisure centre more of a "joined up " experience, and we're looking forward to seeing the results. If they can manage to bring the new areas up to the same quality as the treatment rooms, they'll definitely be on the right track. At the moment, the new treatment rooms feel so stylish, going to the leisure centre feels like a step down.
See more on how we rate the spas.
Would you go again?
Yes, I would. If I were staying in the hotel, I would definitely call in for a massage or a some sparkly fingernails. I am looking forward to the promised redevelopment that aims to join the leisure club to the spa, though, as this will make the spa experience much more seamless and serene.
We visited the spa at Barnham Broom in January 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for Barnham Broom Spa
* Read the latest reader review
* Our Spa Spies review ESPA products
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