Review of C.Side Spa at Cowley Manor, Cowley

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C.Side Spa at Cowley Manor, Cowley - 5 bubbles

Salubrious Spy was invited back to Cowley Manor to test their new treatments using their own Green and Spring products. She was suitably impressed by the fashionably cool ambience, the new brand and the gorgeous pools.

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?

Yes. The staff at C.Side were efficient and friendly on the phone, and well informed about the new Green and Spring treatments.

First impressions?

Cowley Manor is located in the pretty Cotswold village of Cowley, near Cheltenham. Once through the subtly-signed entrance gates, you get a glimpse of beautiful grounds and an impressive classic country hotel. And a car park full of 4x4s.

The spa isn't immediately obvious. The glass-fronted stone building and inviting, steamy outdoor pool have been sunk into the hill to one side of the hotel. Very subtle. It's an inspired piece of design, refreshingly modern, yet cunningly sympathetic to the Georgian manor house hotel.

How did they welcome you?

The welcome was fashionably cool, but friendly. I appreciated not being over-eagerly intercepted by an under-employed porter as I reached for the door handle. The receptionist checked me in efficiently, and pointed me in the direction of our room in the stable block, close to C.Side spa. We had left most of our luggage in the car so made our own way across.

My family (I had my husband and two young children in tow) had been allocated an "exceptional" room – as opposed to merely "good", "better" or "great". The room certainly had an exceptionally high ceiling, which the architects had taken advantage of by using the space to accommodate a mezzanine bathroom. This was, rather unnervingly, invisibly suspended above the bed. Like the rest of the hotel, the décor was fresh and modern. The stable-block rooms have the added bonus of sliding glass doors at the rear, opening out onto a pebbled courtyard. Several are split over two or three levels.

What happens next?

I made my way the short distance down the path to the spa building, past the "village shop" with its lovely gifts, clothes and bags.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the signature Green and Spring massage ( 60 minutes, £75).

What were the treatments like?

My therapist, Johnann, came to collect me from reception. We walked the short distance to the treatment room along the light, high-ceilinged corridor with long curtains obscuring C.Side's four glass-fronted rooms. Johannn guided me to the second room on the left and offered me a seat. Johnann talked me through the Green and Spring ethos and the signature massage that awaited. Johnann talked passionately about the new product range, developed by and for Cowley Manor. As she did so, I noticed that one wall of the room was papered in fab ornithological wallpaper, using the same pattern as the product packaging. The whole room had a modern feel, with a nod to nature with the use of natural wood, contrasting beautifully with the white walls.

Johnan advised me that she would be using the Green and Spring "relax" oil during the treatment, then passed me a music menu from which to choose my massage melodies. I went for Cowley Manor’s own chill-out CD. Yes, Cowley Manor has its own-brand CD, too!

Johnann explained that she would start the treatment by working up the back of my body, then down the front. She checked whether I was OK with having my stomach massaged. I confessed that my stomach was more in need of sit-ups than massage. Johnann insisted that massage was good for toning, so I threw caution to the wind and gave her free reign.

Johnann left the room for me to get undressed, knickers optional, and I awaited, knickers intact, for her return on the soft, bright-white towels on the wide, padded couch. A gentle knock preceded Johnann's re-entrance into the room and the massage began.

Johnann electronically raised the couch, then tended to my feet with a moist flannel. Next, she placed her oiled hands beneath the face-hold and instructed me to inhale deeply three times. Without peeling back the towels, Johnann started to smooth and press various points along my body. She used a variety of different massaging actions, ranging from firm stroking to rocking and gentle pinching. She then uncovered a leg and began to massage with oil, continuing to use a variety of strokes.

When she reached my shoulders, Johnann was like a dog with a buried bone as she hunted out my knots. She'd advised me that she would linger wherever she found excess tension, and clearly this was one such area. Her efforts were very effective but more functional than relaxing, so I was quite pleased when she moved on to less tense pastures.

Johnann then asked me to turn over onto my back. She silently placed a rolled towel beneath my knees, which felt very good for my temperamental lower back. She also spent a couple of minutes re-aligning my body, gently pressing and pulling my arms, legs and head/neck.

Johnann massaged my arms with what felt like a pressed thumb and forefinger. She ran wiggly channels up my forearms and massaged my upper arms with strokes and rocking movements. I liked the variety of techniques. Before I knew it, Johnann was addressing the pressure points on my feet. She asked me to take a deep breath, which she used as a cue to press the soles of my feet. Finally, Johnann made her way back up to my head and massaged my neck from below.

She then whispered that the treatment had finished, and that I was to relax while she washed her hands. She told me to take a couple of minutes to get up and dressed, and to have the glass of water that she'd placed on the side. She then left the room, telling me that she would be awaiting me outside with a cup of herbal tea, which I chose to enjoy from a comfy poolside lounger.

How did you feel afterwards?

My body felt great.

What happens afterwards?

I sat enjoying my mint tea while flicking through a suitably fashionable magazine and watching people swimming. I retreated to my room as I felt too chilled to swim, and Johnann had advised me not to wash off the oil. I decided to check out the rest of the spa the following morning.

Refuelled by a fantastic breakfast in the manor house, overlooking the pretty gardens and one of the resident lakes, I made my way down to the spa.

The spa building is constructed of glass and rounded sandstone bricks. It has an inviting 15-metre pool outdoors and smart, dark slate-lined 17-metre indoor pool. The spa is light and airy with doors opening out to the terrace. The glass panels in front of the reception area can also be opened to create a beautifully light and open spa space. With plenty of loungers and sunshades, this is the perfect place to while away a few hours on a sunny day.

Having spent a good half-an-hour enjoying having the outdoor pool to myself, I went inside to check out its sister indoors. I loved the dark slate, which lines one large wall, as well as the pool. It felt great underfoot.

My peaceful swimming experience was shattered somewhat by the arrival of a couple of pre-teen boys (there are no restrictions on children swimming at Cowley Manor). I decided to check out the sauna and steam room. These are accessed via the shallow, stepped end of the pool, on the way to the changing rooms.

There are no gimmicks in either room. Both are perfectly pleasant without finding any need for twinkly lights or illuminated crystals. There are two large power-showers between these heat treatment rooms, then a further three smart power-shower cubicles in the changing rooms. These have a frosted glass panel for privacy at one end, and a good supply of fresh scented Green and Spring shampoo, shower gel and conditioner.

Long-term effects

My neck and shoulders felt looser than they had done in some time.

Was it worth it?

The Green and Spring massage is priced at £75 for 60 minutes, which puts it firmly in our "blow the budget" category. But you're not just buying the treatment; you're buying a slice of the whole stylish C.Side experience.

What else could you have?

Facials: choose from Deep Cleansing, Hydrating or signature Green and Spring.

Massages: including hot stones and "coming soon" pregnancy massage.

Wraps: rejuvenation and complete detox with clay and seaweed.

Manicures and pedicures: there's a dedicated area for these treatments. Waxing and St Tropez tanning treatments are also available.

Day spa guests can use the spa Monday to Friday from £25 for 4 hours or £45 for a full day (excluding treatments).

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

To bring my flip-flops. C.Side provide you with a robe and towels but, no slippers. Also, there's no complimentary water in the rooms. Chupa Chups lollies, yes, but no water.

Any special features?

The outdoor pool is gorgeous. On a sunny summer's day you could be in St Tropez.

Cowley Manor no longer has a crèche (this was replaced by the village shop a while back). Great if you've got a prezzy emergency, but not so ideal if you're looking to off-load the kids for a couple of hours (although the shop assistant did seem very obliging).

Who do you think would like it?

Couples, families, extended families (a few families had happy grandparents in tow when we visited), city types looking for a rural escape. Most people with a solid bank account, in fact.

The only people for whom C.Side might not be an ideal choice are those looking for guaranteed tranquillity, as the pools are open to children.

C.Side is open to day guests Monday to Friday, so you don't have to invest in a hotel stay to enjoy the spa.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We awarded C.Side spa at Cowley Manor 5 bubbles because it deserves it! Having lost a bubble last time we visited, C.Side has re-found its mojo with its spruced up interior, great treatments and an impressive new spa brand. The spa is well kept and the staff professional, informed and friendly.

It would be nice to have a dedicated relaxation room but when the hotel accommodation and communal areas are so lovely, we will happily forgive this omission this time.

See more on how we rate the spas

Would you go again?

We would happily go again tomorrow – and the next day and the next…

We visited Cowley Manor in April 2010