Review of Lion Quays Waterside Resort, Shropshire

Lion Quays Waterside Resort, Oswestry - 5 bubbles

One of the Good Spa Spies was invited to try the spa at this expansive, modern leisure and business resort on the England/Wales border. She was wowed by the extensive, well-kept facilities, the unusual, international-themed treatments and the friendly, professional staff.

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?

The spa reception team were polite and eager to help. They were also well informed, giving me a clear picture of what each of the regionally-inspired treatments involved, and how they differed from each other.

First impressions?

Lion Quays Hotel and Spa is a large, modern complex backing onto the Llangollen Canal. It was very easy to find as it's directly off the A5.

How did they welcome you?

We went to check in at the first large building, assuming it was the hotel. It was actually the Lion Quays Country Club and Spa. The polite man at reception pointed us along a path and over a small bridge; we crossed Lion Quays' moat-like stream to get to the main hotel building. The new brick hotel was welcoming, with a traditional-style bar opposite reception. The receptionist was friendly, and tolerant of our two young children who were enthusiastically enjoying not being cooped up in the car.

What happens next?

We checked in, the receptionist gave us our room keys, and we went to our ground-floor, interconnecting room. The room was clean and modern and had a cosy, simple feel. There were Babor products in the bathroom and the room had free wifi. There are 82 rooms, ranging from "standard", like ours, to more stylish, sumptuous suites.

Eager to check out the spa, I made my way across to the Country Club and Spa building. One of the six or so well-groomed receptionists, Jess, led me to a light seating area to complete a consultation form. Jess also asked me what size robe and slippers I'd like. A couple of minutes later, Jess collected my completed form, and offered me a tour of the spa.

The first floor: Jess led me up the light-filled staircase, pointing out the smart Spa Lounge bar and dining area. Spa guests can enjoy healthy menu choices such as soup and grilled tuna niçoise. The Spa Lounge is exclusively for the use of spa customers, so you won’t find yourself sitting next to a table of suits having a business lunch.

The spacious couple's area has two Sanospa 122-jet baths, sitting side by side. Adjoining this is the intimate couple's treatment suite, decorated with orchids and flickering tea-lights. Like everywhere in Lion Quays Spa, everything was immaculately clean and tidy.

The nearby VIP area can accommodate over twenty people. This private area has access to the two-person rasul chamber, dry floatation room, the ten treatment rooms, and the large and comfortable relaxation room.

The ground floor: Jess led me back downstairs to the main spa facilities via the dedicated spa changing room with its large lockers and modern showers. (There's also a changing room for hotel guests, poolside). The expansive "Spa World" houses the pools and thermal suite. The thermal suite has an attractive glass-fronted sanarium, dark tiled, eucalyptus-infused steam room, sauna, experience showers, and a medieval-looking ice bucket -- not for the fainthearted!

Alongside these traditional spa facilities are the cheery sun meadow, and equally novel snow paradise. The sun meadow is a feel-good room with faux-grass carpet, walls clad in photographic wallpaper featuring yellow flowers, and two UV panels on the ceiling casting their warming light onto two loungers below. To use the sun meadow room, you have to purchase a token at spa reception. It's a bit of fun, and cheaper than a holiday!

For the colder blooded, the snow paradise has convincing "real" snow and stalactites adorning every freezing surface. The ceiling has twinkly lights, and is a quirky and pretty way to plunge your body temperature before warming up again in one of the toastier rooms.

Continuing through Spa World, you arrive at the impressive hydrotherapy pool. At 100 square metres, this was much larger than I'd imagined, and beautifully designed with subtle, coloured submerged lighting. The pool has several sections with a couple of swan pipes, bubbly loungers and a curved booth section with multi-level jets. The water was lovely and warm, as was the whole area: perfect for relaxing on one of the loungers.

At the far side of the hydro pool is a door through to the main swimming pool, which has a poolside Jacuzzi at one end. The swimming pool is open to hotel guests, as well as spa users, but is large enough to cope. Its marbled pillars and mosaic tiles give the pool a spa feel, and there are a few loungers around the pool to continue the spa pace (or lack of it) if required. The water in the swimming pool is UV treated, with minimal chlorine, so great for sensitive skin/eyes. There are restricted times when children are allowed access to the pool.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Celtic Healing signature exfoliation (£30 for 30 minutes) and the Khanya of Africa signature massage (£60 for 60 minutes).

What were the treatments like?

Melissa, a cheery, well-groomed therapist, greeted me and led me upstairs to one of the welcoming treatment rooms. The room had a smart, neutral-toned décor with wood, chocolate-coloured fabrics, and a photographic panel of a river glade on one wall, illuminated by flickering tea-lights. The room was a good size, with a shower in one corner.

Melissa offered me a seat and talked me through my chosen treatments. I had booked the Celtic exfoliation with the African massage to provide a good contrast, and satisfy my curiosity about African massage, Oswestry-style! Melissa was great: friendly, professional and bubbling with enthusiasm. She gave me the option to change my treatments, as a few weeks had elapsed since booking, but I wanted to stick. Melissa led me to the comfy relaxation room to relax while she prepared the oils and maracas! A couple of minutes later, Melissa collected me and took me back to the treatment room. She gave me some skimpy paper knickers, then left me to change and arrange myself face-up on the gently heated massage couch.

The Celtic Healing exfoliation: Melissa applied oil to my skin with a wet spa mitt, which she said would help with absorption of the herb-infused scrub. The scrub was quite coarse, and contained small pieces of sage, which Melissa rubbed into the front of my legs, arms, tummy and chest. I wished I hadn't waxed my legs that morning, as the exfoliator stung a little and felt slightly uncomfortable. Melissa asked me to turn over, and repeated the process on my back, which felt great.

Melissa then prepared the shower, leaving me a new towel, paper knickers, Babor shower gel and mitt to help me wash off the scrub. She thoughtfully checked that I would be OK if she popped back into the room to change the towels on the massage couch while I was in the shower, which had a frosted door to protect my dignity. I was, and I emerged to re-ensconce myself, face down, between fresh towels and a fleecy blanket.

The Khanya of Africa massage: Melissa had told me that there would be maracas involved (being native to West Africa and the Congo) and these were introduced early in the massage proceedings. Melissa began by massaging me through the fleecy blanket. She then rolled maracas along her stroke path, which made a relaxing rainstick-type sound. She uncovered my limbs, one at a time, and firmly massaged them using deep, choreographed strokes of varying paces. When she got to my back, the pattern changed and she introduced some shorter, sharper pressing movements.

Melissa was keen to maximise my comfort, reminding me to tell her if I wanted to adjust the pressure, the temperature of the bed, or the music. I loved the way the treatment was geared to my exact preferences of the moment. I felt myself drifting off to sleep a couple of times but didn't quite let myself go. The medium-firm pressure helped to keep me the right side of deep slumber.

Once my back had been thoroughly soothed, Melissa asked me to turn over and repeated the process on my front. I could have happily had another hour of massage. All too soon, Melissa replaced the cover and drew to a close with massage strokes up my legs and arms and rolling maracas all over my body. A final gentle shake of a maraca by each ear signalled the end of my treatment. Melissa offered me a glass of chilled water.

How did you feel afterwards?

Great. I felt exactly how the therapist had told me I would feel: relaxed yet energised. I was not entirely convinced by the relaxation benefits bestowed by the maracas, but it was a new and fun addition to a massage.

What happens afterwards?

Melissa met me outside the door and showed me back to the relaxation room.

Long-term effects

A few days later, the relaxation benefit imparted by the massage and the sound of maracas were a thing of the past. But my skin was left feeling baby soft by the thorough Celtic exfoliation.

Was it worth it?

Yes. The treatments I had were reasonably priced, and the value was enhanced by the wider spa facilities.

What else could you have?

A whole range of Babor treatments. Choose from Asian, Indian, African or Celtic-inspired signature facials, exfoliations and massages .The spa also offers hand and foot treatments, wraps, dedicated pregnancy massages, men's treatments, the rasul and the dry floatation bed.

There's also a state-of-the-art gym, where regular gym-users can plug in their personal USB training key to any of the machines to access their bespoke programme and track progress against their objectives. In the fitness studio, members and hotel guests can take part in classes, ranging from yoga to body combat to junior classes for the kids.

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

That I would need more than half an hour to do the fabulous spa facilities justice!

Any special features?

I loved the way my therapist tailored everything to me with a personal touch: from the size of the robe and slippers to what genre of music I preferred. And, you can get to Lion Quays by canal boat!

Who do you think would like it?

Lion Quays is an ideal day-spa choice to go to with a friend or partner; you can happily while away an hour or few checking out, and relaxing in, the various facilities. Lion Quays is also a good choice for an affordable overnight stay. The hotel is as modern as the spa, with an emphasis on comfort and affordability rather than top-end luxury. The private VIP area in the spa is great for groups.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Lion Quays 5 bubbles for its great all-round spa experience. The spa has a wide range of facilities, the staff are professional and friendly, the treatments are imaginative and well delivered, and the facilities are very well maintained. The spa has a great relaxation room, plenty of towels and drinking water, and places an emphasis on customer comfort. The spa is also self-contained to no traipsing over to the hotel is required, and you can relax in your robe for the whole day if you wish.

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