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Alexander House Hotel (Utopia Spa), East Grinstead - 3 bubbles
Handy for Gatwick. Peacocks in the grounds. But a spa that is a little unloved. Our Good Spa Spy wasn't convinced by her "light blue" Serenity massage, but recommends you try a spa bedroom for the best experience of this lovely hotel. And dial 0 if all else fails.
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?
Yes. I phoned and got through to the spa straight away. They were very efficient and informative.
First impressions?
A peacock! I turned into the driveway leading to the Alexander House Hotel and spotted a peacock, flashing its tail feathers. It gave the place a majestic air. I made my way along the driveway, through the mature gardens, to the impressive hotel building. The main Alexander House mansion is Victorian gothic and the spa building is a recent and sympathetically-styled addition.
The inviting patio, overlooking the lawn, also grabbed my attention. It was dotted with guests enjoying afternoon tea.
How did they welcome you?
The hotel receptionist at Alexander House was friendly and polite. She asked me whether I'd ever been to the hotel before. I hadn't, so she asked the porter to give me a quick tour. This was useful, although the hotel isn't vast.
What happens next?
I followed the porter into the lift, and this took me to my second-floor room. I was staying in one of the new and tastefully furnished spa suites. My suite, Cherry, was a luxurious and light double-aspect room directly above the spa. Its impressive bathroom with oversized deep tub, state-of-the-art shower, and Utopia Zing spa products added to the sense of luxury.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Serenity massage. This "focuses on your state of mind through deep breathing and meditation techniques" (£68 for 55 minutes). I liked the sound of this. I was interested to see how the elements of massage and meditation would combine.
What were the treatments like?
The treatment was good, in that I received a perfectly pleasant and relaxing massage. But I wasn't convinced by the meditation element. My therapist instructed me to take three deep breaths, close my eyes and picture a colour. Any explanation of what the colour might signify was left until after the treatment had finished. Then my therapist handed me a piece of paper with a couple of lines about how colours relate to chakras. I'd chosen turquoise, so went for the "light blue" explanation, which supposedly "relates to the throat". Having no particular throat ailment or issue that I was aware of, I remained unconvinced.
My treatment also felt rather rushed, as if the therapist were trying to make up for having been five minutes late to collect me for my treatment. I noticed afterwards, from reading the treatment list, that my Serenity massage treatment had been "organic". This appealed to me, but the therapist hadn't mentioned what products she'd used at any point.
How did you feel afterwards?
Relaxed and soothed, but slightly disappointed that there hadn't been a more substantial meditation element to the treatment.
What happens afterwards?
My therapist showed me back downstairs to the relaxation room. I arranged myself on one of the smart leather chaise-longue-style loungers with a couple of glossy magazines from the well-stocked basket.
After half an hour, I gathered my energy and made my way back to the spa reception area. I asked if there was someone free to give me a quick tour of the spa. Rather under-enthusiastically, one of the receptionists obliged. She led me downstairs, pointing out the sauna and steam room within the women's changing room, via the pool and an out-of-order Jacuzzi. She also mentioned that there was an outdoor hot tub and gestured to somewhere in the distance.
Unfortunately, one of the things that the therapist didn't mention was how to use the changing-room locker. There weren't any obvious instructions, but fortunately a friendly guest came to my rescue. She showed me how to key in a code to operate it.
Swimming costume donned, I showered and walked through to the dimly lit pool area and stepped down into the hydrotherapy pool. It was warm, but not very inviting. The ambient underwater lighting served to highlight the chlorine in the water and made it appear slightly murky.
The swimming pool at Utopia had a slightly dingy feel. There wasn't the level of comfort and luxury that I'd expected from the brochure or the general high standard of the hotel. The poolside loungers felt like plastic: practical, but not overly easy on the bottom. The few available magazines were dog-eared.
The dark-slate swimming pool was a decent-enough size, and the use of pillars gave it a Romanesque feel. It felt a little overly ambient in terms of the subdued lighting. The pool area also felt disconnected from the treatment rooms and reception, which are on a different floor. I didn't see a single staff member while I was down there. Presumably this is why there's a phone mounted on the wall inviting spa users to dial 0 in case of an emergency.
Before braving the elements and making a dash for the outdoor hot tub, I went back to the changing room to sample the sauna and steam rooms. Both were fine. I have it on good authority that the men's changing room has the same fine facilities.
Last call, the outdoor hot tub. This dark-mosaic-ed hot tub sits in the garden. It's accessible from the swimming pool and the relaxation room by going down some stone steps. There's always something refreshing about the contrast between the heat of the water and the cold outside air. It was nice to have some natural light and a view of the garden -- a contrast to the completely subterranean main pool area. The hot tub was definitely a good facility to have, but it was in need of a little tlc. There were a few tiles missing.
Was it worth it?
My treatment itself was perfectly pleasant, if nothing amazing. At £68 for 55 minutes, it represents reasonable value for money.
What else could you have?
Utopia Spa at Alexander House Hotel has 25 treatment rooms (giving it an impressive 38:25 bedroom to treatment room ratio!). There are two dual treatment rooms. Utopia's treatment menu is extensive. Facials include Guinot, CACI, hydradermie, and chocolate fondue. Choose from massages, wraps, scrubs,hot stones, pregnancy treatments, pedicures and manicures.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
That the 2-AA-rosette restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. I had dinner in the pleasant and modern Reflections brasserie, which offers Mediterranean/modern British cuisine. It is relatively informal with diners in robes welcome until 7pm. There's also a champagne bar, of slightly dubious décor, and a couple of traditional lounges in which to enjoy an after-dinner coffee.
Any special features?
The relaxation room in the spa is particularly impressive, with its of-the-moment graphic print wallpaper; this gives the room a decadent feel. It's lovely and light with large windows along one wall, overlooking the lush gardens and the outdoor hot tub
Who do you think would like it?
As part of a relaxing hotel break, Utopia Spa is good for couples, friends and singles. Utopia would appeal to people looking for somewhere to spend an hour or two rather than an entire day, we thought. Also, anyone looking for somewhere relaxing to stay before or after getting a Gatwick flight. Alexander House run special airport-stay deals where you can leave your car at the hotel for up to 21 days.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Utopia Spa 3 bubbles. The spa facilities at Utopia are generally good. My treatment was relaxing and delivered by a capable, polite therapist in a perfectly presentable treatment room. The relaxation room was great. However, the subdued lighting and dark colours in the pool area gave the space a rather uninviting, dingy feel. The spa felt slightly neglected. The Jacuzzi was out of order, there were a few tiles missing around the swimming pool and a couple of bulbs not working around the hydrotherapy pool. There was a distinct lack of staff in this subterranean spa area. This was emphasized by the wall-mounted phone with a sign saying "in case of emergency, dial 0". The treatment part of the spa is of a 4-bubble standard, but the main spa is only a good 3 bubbles.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Alexander House Hotel is a lovely building. The hotel itself is tasteful, and well styled and maintained. So are its beautiful gardens. I would happily go again, ideally in summer to enjoy an al fresco pre-spa cream tea, a treatment, and some R&R in the relaxation room. But, I wouldn't go back there just for the spa. It felt a little unloved and it just didn't quite live up to the more luxurious hotel.
We visited Alexander House in April 2008
Like the sound of this? You're in luck.
Follow this link to book a special spa offer at Alexander House with our partners lastminute.com
See also:
* Contact details for Alexander House Hotel
* Massage
* Hydrotherapy
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