Review of Spa by Kasia at The Grosvenor Pulford, Chester

Spa by Kasia at The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel, Chester - 4 bubbles

A peaceful Thai spa with a hammam you mustn't miss. The pool is part of a health club but, if you leave that behind, you could pretend you were actually in the Far East.

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?

First impressions?

An ivy-covered hotel with the main entrance off to the right-hand side. The gardens looked very fetching in the summer sun, with a small lake where two swans and their cygnets were having a mid-afternoon glide about.

My friend and I made our way to Reception, where the staff checked us in efficiently, then set out for our room. The hotel is built around a courtyard and we took one or two wrong turnings before finding our bedroom. Immediately on opening the door, we noticed the main striking feature of our room, which was a cast-iron spiral staircase leading up to another floor where the twin beds were, with crisp white sheets, and also a clean white bathroom. Downstairs was a small sofa area.

I decided to head straight off to the gym and have a swim. The spa and health-club part of the hotel is reached, oddly, either through the restaurant or through a separate entrance at the far end of the car park. I walked over the car park, past the laundry, and in through some glass doors. The receptionist behind the dark-wood desk gave me a towel and pointed me in the direction of the health club.

The gym is fairly small, and without windows, though mirrors make the most of the light. There is a range of running machines, cross trainers and cycles, along with some resistance machines, weights and a Swiss ball.

After my workout, I went into the pool changing rooms to get dressed for my swim. The room is basic, with 24 wooden lockers, three hairdryers and a set of straighteners, but feels a little tired and unloved. I am sure the facilities are checked frequently, but abandoned water bottles were still there when I returned an hour later.

The changing rooms are not technically part of the spa, but you would use them as part of a spa day. The beige floor tiles could do with a deep clean, and also the blue plastic mats and plastic shower curtains. Someone has tried to liven up the white-tiled showers with some fancy ceramics, but the metal product-dispenser in my shower was obviously going through some sort of personality crisis, as the label proclaiming shampoo lay within had been overlaid with one revealing that it was actually shower gel.

The pool is free-form, large enough for a proper swim. I don't know what the Jacuzzi is like as it was occupied the entire time. The small wooden sauna and the steam room are small but do their job of warming your muscles before a treatment. There are four loungers by the pool, overlooking a paved area, but the atmosphere is definitely health club rather than spa.

That evening we ate in Ciro's Brasserie, a Mediterranean style restaurant with Romanesque arches and murals. My roast rack of Bowland lamb, together with a divine combination of cauliflower with hollandaise sauce, was excellent, as was my friend's wild mushroom and truffle risotto. The wine was welcome and the service friendly. The restaurant makes a point of sourcing as much of the food locally as possible, and keeping the emphasis seasonal.

How did they welcome you?

The next morning, we presented ourselves at spa reception and were welcomed with a smile, a consultation form, and a nice choice of teas. I chose green, which I sipped as I disclosed which areas of my body I was most concerned about, and that I had no allergies or health concerns at all.

We filled in our forms in what is called, rather grandly, the Waterfall Lounge. There is indeed a waterfall trickling, which makes for a spa atmosphere, but really it's just a small beige-tiled-floor waiting area with little glass Indonesian tables to put the tea on. Someone has tried to make it inviting, though, as there were candles flickering in coloured glass lanterns, jewelled cushions, and delicious scents wafting through. Purple is a key colour, and the smartly purple-suited therapists complemented the design. This is a spa where someone really has tried to tie everything together into a seamless theme.

There was lemon-infused water available in glass jugs. The Lounge was quite busy, with therapists scuttling back and forth and getting their treatment rooms ready. We went on a tour of the spa, and I was particularly impressed by the hammam and rasul, which are reached via a circular, twinkly gold-and bronze mosaiced area around a sort of stone fountain. Both of the heat rooms are large and well finished.

There is a separate relaxation room, with four beds, and water and fresh fruit.

What happens next?

I decided not to ruin the spa atmosphere by going for a swim, so we went down the polished wood stairs to the changing rooms to don our robes. The spa was bedecked with silver Buddhas, and mirrors, and more candles.

The changing rooms: These are quite small, given the size of the rest of the spa, and narrow. We were changing with two other people and there seemed very little space. There was also nowhere private to change, and a queue for the one loo. We changed into our purple towelling robes (no choice of size, and possibly a little too small for the larger sized amongst us). We also received one towel and spa slippers. We very much admired the smart black bag we got to carry our stuff around in, and which we could take home afterwards.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Hammam (40 minutes, £50) and the Su-Ko-Thai (55 minutes, £55).

What were the treatments like?

Fabulous. I had got my hammams and rasuls mixed up, and had convinced myself that I was about to spend a pleasant time covered in mud and sitting in steam. I was actually booked in for a proper hammam, courtesy of Erol, authentically from Istanbul. First, I chose which soap I wanted in the treatment, from an intriguing selection of roughly hewn artisan bars in combinations such as fig and cassis, honey and oatmeal, or the coconut dream. (You can also buy these to take away with you at extremely moderate prices.)

Soap chosen, purple robe left outside, we went into the hammam, which was hot, and I laid down on the heated marble slab.

Erol began the treatment by whipping the honey and oatmeal soap into a spectacular foam, then used a goat-hair exfoliating mitt to slather the foam over each limb in turn and buff away all the dead skin cells. The process was certainly effective. A circular stainless steel shower above the slab then turns on and rinses away all the foam. Finally, Erol offered to drench me in cold water, which isn't normally the sort of offer I could see myself accepting with any alacrity, but the freezing sensation was refreshing and cooled me down.

As I left the hammam, my skin was pink and glowing not only from the exfoliation but also from the extremes of hot and cold temperatures. Erol took me through to the circular, tiled area around the sort of fountain, and brought me some cool water. He also placed my feet in a bowl of cold water, so my circulation was thoroughly enlivened. Very beneficial.

The Su-Ko-Thai was equally well carried out. My therapist, Ann Marie, took me into a softly lit treatment room and left me to get myself comfortable between the blankets on the heated, motorised bed.

She massaged my back, face and scalp using a hot herbal poultice, which was very effective on the tension in my shoulders. The massage was surprisingly firm yet soothing. I began to see why they name this treatment "upper body bliss".

The scents of the treatment were delicious: lavender and lemongrass, camellia oil, and sweet orange, kaffir lime and ginger in the hot poultice. I was soon drifting away, only brought back to earth by some rather uplifting violin music which appeared to be on just too short a loop. Anne Marie gave me the poultice she had used to take home afterwards, so the scents accompanied me along the M6.

My friend had the Elemis Visible Brilliance facial (75 minutes, £65) and, as usual with this facial, there were instant and positive results. When she emerged, her skin was even toned and glowing. (I was impressed.)

How did you feel afterwards?

Very clean! Very relaxed!

What happens afterwards?

I went to the relaxation room (the Penchan Snooze Room) but it was almost too relaxing. It was too dim to read and I couldn't let my mind wander. There was a platter of sliced fresh fruit so I nibbled some, helped myself to iced water, and went off to find my lunch.

The spa encourages you to "enjoy continuous relaxation and remain in your robe for lunch", so I did. Not everybody did, but most did, though. The "Spa Eatery" area is a dedicated dining room between the spa and the hotel. It's fantastic to be able to continue your relaxation in your robe but, as this area is also the corridor between the spa and the hotel, there was a succession of passers-by from the hotel marching past carrying flip-flops and small children on their way for a swim. All of whom would dawdle and wonder what all the purple-robed ladies (and on that day, we were all female) were doing. A screen between the tables and the walkways would give a great added sense of privacy and allow spa-goers to focus on the rural view rather than the passing human traffic.

The sorts of food on offer at lunch included: pitta, humous and olives; teriyaki chicken; spring rolls; salads; fishcakes; chicken with Malaysian spices and Thai green curry. The food is included in your spa day but you have to pay for any drinks beyond the iced water which is provided (although the prices are reasonably around the £2.50 mark for teas and juices.) The lunch was delicious and I wish we had had time to linger longer.

Was it worth it?

Yes. The spa day packages and sleepover stays represent good value for money.

What else could you have?

No end of delights. Treatments on offer include Elemis facials and body treatments, as well as more intensive facial therapies at The Clinic by Kasia, including light therapy, CACI non-surgical face-lifts, and microdermabrasion.

The spa's signature treatments, however, are Thai-inspired. Try a Nuat Boran, a traditional Thai massage, or the Lawanna, which uses a hot herbal poultice to take you to "a wonderful world of tranquillity". There are some treatments specifically for men and for mums-to-be, and a dual therapy suite for couples which contains a hydrotherapy bath.

You can have eye treatments, St Tropez tanning, waxing, and the spa also offers "China Glaze" hand and feet treatments, and nail extensions.

The Day Spa Escapes are particularly good value; you arrive from 9am and can stay till 5.30pm, use all the facilities and enjoy a two-course lunch. Prices are higher at weekends than during the week. There is a Hammam and Rasul ritual to choose, but I'd be tempted by the Arabian Jewel, which includes the rasul, Su-Ko-Thai and a luxury manicure. Or perhaps the Tahitian Dreams...

If you're coming from further afield, look at the sleepover spa packages, which include an overnight stay, breakfast and lunch in the "Spa Eatery".

Don't miss having a short walk to the landscaped pond where, on our visit, the swans were busy raising their cygnets.

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

The difference between a hamman and a rasul. Or, perhaps not, because then I could treat myself to both.

You should also note that if you book an individual treatment, you do not have access to the spa facilities. If you would like to spend the day at the spa, you need to book one of the Day Spa Escapes.

Also, if you want to use the pool as part of your spa day, as it's the hotel pool, check when the children's swim times are.

Any special features?

The hammam is terrific. Book now.

Who do you think would like it?

Anyone in the area. People are making the journey from farther afield now, too. You can spend a relaxing day at the spa, and will particularly enjoy The Spa by Kasia if you like an emphasis on holistic and organic treatments.

The hotel is a pleasant place to stay, and not far from endless amounts of places of interest.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave the Spa by Kasia 4 bubbles. It's an almost perfect spa that needs just a couple of extra touches. They can't do anything about the fact that they share the pool and heat facilities with health-club members, but the spa has its own changing rooms, so you don't have to go there if your spa day is complete without a swim or gym. There is probably nothing much they can do about the small changing rooms, either.

What they could do, though, is make sure there is less traffic through the Waterfall Lounge so it feels less like a corridor, put a screen around the dining area, and then persuade the hotel to refurbish the swimming pool, sauna and steam room.

See more on how we rate the spas.