Review of Rockliffe Hall, Darlington

Rockliffe Hall, Darlington - 5 bubbles

Rockliffe Hall is a gothic red-brick hotel that has recently been refurbished. The five-star hotel is also home to a huge luxury spa with extensive facilities, charming staff, plus three restaurants serving delicious fresh food. Enough to keep you busy for days.

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?

Sassy Spy was invited to stay at Rockliffe Hall to experience a full itinerary of delights at this spa and hotel.

First impressions?

Rockliffe Hall is set amidst 375 acres on the banks of the River Tees, less than 10 minutes drive from Darlington station. I approached the hotel on a long driveway, past some newly formed gardens with grass beginning to grow (we went to Rockliffe Hall just 6 months after opening).

Alfred Waterhouse, who designed the National History Museum, was commissioned to create the house and grounds back in the 1860s. In the gardens there are a variety of unusual and exotic trees that are still thriving today.

As I pulled up outside the large gothic building, the clouds parted slightly and the sun broke through. A good sign methinks.

How did they welcome you?

The staff welcomed me with such genuine warmth and grace that I immediately felt at ease as I checked in.

What happens next?

There are 61 spacious guestrooms and suites within two very different wings of the building. I was lucky enough to have a suite in the Old Hall, the traditional side. I was given a swipe key and taken to my room by a chatty porter. Once alone, I did a gleeful jig around all three of my tastefully decorated rooms. The three rooms each had a huge TV, including the bathroom. The bathroom had a monsoon shower that filled the whole ceiling of the cubicle, with settings aplenty, and was stocked with [ comfort zone ] products. I had two desks to choose from as well as two sofas and a gold chaise longue, a dining table, and dressing table.

But, spa review I must, so I changed into my robe and slippers and followed signs down a long corridor within the New Hall, the contemporary wing. I went down a level to the spa reception where Liz, the Spa Director, gave me a tour of the spa and wellness area.

The spa covers 50,000 square feet over two levels. Ground level consists of a large open-plan reception area. There's a huge seating area, with plentiful magazines splayed out on a table and a bowl of fruit. To my right, a curved wall had tall stained-glass windows with light shining through. I was surprised at how large this reception area was - just how big was the spa going to be?!

You can access the 50-station air-conditioned gym from here, which in turn leads to two studios: one for yoga and other group activities, and a kinesis studio. I also had a nose around the sparkly new boutique, housing ila's brightly coloured products as well as [ comfort zone ] goodies. Very tempting indeed.

I went through the ladies changing room door to find two further heavy wooden doors. One led to six spotless, fragrant toilets. The other door led to a vast changing area, with over 150 wooden lockers, a few benches strategically placed, and a couple of private changing rooms. White towels were stacked in rolls in various locations, as well as towel drops, plastic bags for wet cossies and a water machine. Large mirrors were lined with various hair products and four hairdryers.

To get in to the main pool area you have to walk past six frosted glass shower cubicles, with non-spa-branded products, and swipe your room key for access.

The 20-metre swimming pool was beautiful. At the far end were floor-to-ceiling windows showing off the great green outdoors. The main wall alongside the pool had modern stained-glass windows all the way along. The sun's rays were streaming through, colouring the water's surface. Very hypnotic and enchanting.

A spa butler brought me a non-alcoholic, zingy ginger punch - a perfect pick-me-up for my afternoon ahead. There were just a couple of loungers at either end of the pool, and a small spa café serving fresh fruit and non-alcoholic drinks.

To the left of the pool were some showers, as well as a deliciously hot sauna and a caldarium. A set of double doors, with a sign saying "No entry for under 16's", led to the thermal bathing suite. Altogether there are eight thermal rooms including a tepidarium with soothing, warm tiled beds, a caldarium, a nicely hot steam room, tropicarium, and a high-humidity sauna. There was also an "ice igloo", a room with seating around an ice fountain. It was great fun to flit between the hot and cold experiences to get my circulation going. But it would have been nice to have the hottest sauna next door to the ice igloo to really feel the extremes of temperature.

Central to the thermal suite was an 11-metre "vitality pool". This was a hydrotherapy pool with massage jets and a water fountain. I really enjoyed each section, in particular the high-powered swan pipes which gave my stiff neck a good pummelling.

The level directly above the wet spa, accessed via a winding staircase, is a beautifully decorated treatment room zone. This area is decorated in a deep red hue and is lit by a central chandelier and modern blue striplights overhead. Two central corridors lead to 13 luxuriously equipped, large treatment rooms all with en-suite shower rooms. There is a VIP couples suite, a rasul mud room, a salt suite, pedicure thrones and a luxurious manicure suite.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the signature sweet pea and rose facial (60mins, £80), and the horse chestnut wrap (90mins, £110).

Rockliffe had recently planted sweet peas in the grounds so that they, and their existing horse chestnut trees, can be used within the holistic treatments designed by ila.

What were the treatments like?

Karen, my therapist, collected me from the chill-out area, which had refreshments, lots of magazines to read, a couple of tables and chairs, and a huge day bed filled with a mass of cushions.

A serene scene was set in my treatment room with the lights dimmed and relaxing music playing. Karen informed me that the recording was actually Denise Leicester, the founder of ila, chanting in Sanskrit. A lady of many skills! Karen ran through exactly what was going to happen throughout the treatment. She explained that rose extracts are firming and help to decrease lines and wrinkles. She told me that sweet pea rejuvenates the skin making it more smooth and supple.

Karen began the treatment while I was lying on my front. I was lying on a towel which had a plastic sheet underneath. Starting at my feet, Karen rubbed an argan-seed scrub all over each leg. It was quite coarse and chunky and definitely felt like it was exfoliating my dead skin cells. Karen informed me that it is good for stimulating the lymphatic system in the release of toxins, and stimulating circulation. Karen applied the scrub over my back before asking me to turn over. The same concoction was then applied to my legs and arms. Following that, Karen slathered me all over with a horse chestnut gel for improving circulation and reducing cellulite. She wrapped me up in the towel and the plastic sheet and put a cover over me to keep me warm.

Next, Karen moved to the head of the couch and cleansed, exfoliated and toned my face. She then applied a silky-smooth sweet pea and rose serum. This was followed with a thicker sweet pea and rose face cream. It smelt fresh, floral and pretty. To my delight, Karen massaged my face with lymphatic drainage techniques. A sure-fire way of tranquilising me!

After my facial, Karen told me to go and wash off the scrub. I nipped in to the en-suite shower room and showered as Karen cleared up. I noticed how smooth my skin now was. I returned clad in a new pair of paper knickers and got under a sarong on the treatment bed, lying on my front. Karen applied a "body balm for feeding skin and senses" all over my body and gave me a lymphatic drainage massage.

To finish the treatment Karen applied a sweet pea and rose face mask. Whilst the mask was on Karen massaged my temples. After gently removing the mask, Karen applied a final layer of sweet pea and rose face cream.

Throughout the treatment Karen worked methodically and was at all times appropriately attentive and charming.

How did you feel afterwards?

Deliciously good. I felt like I'd had some much needed chill-out time.

My face looked fresh and my body felt smooth and conditioned. I wish my skin glistened like this all the time.

What happens afterwards?

Karen waited outside while I came round. She then led me to the sleep retreat, next to the chill-out area. There were eight soundwave therapy relaxation beds facing the centre of the round room, with blankets, towels, and headrests. Two other people were already fast asleep.

Each bed had a control pad stuck to the side with Velcro. It was fun to play around with the different soundwave frequencies and positions of the vibrations.

My bubble was popped by one of the therapists who brought a customer in and explained very loudly how to work the bed. Shame the sleep retreat isn't a dedicated whisper-only zone.

That evening I headed to the main restaurant: Kenny Atkinson at the Orangery. I feasted upon the 8-course tasting menu which was £60, or with wine (well, it was rude not to) for £110 per person. The sommelier was outstanding: a knowledgeable, competent young lady, who presented me with a faultless selection of wines.

Was it worth it?

Yes. I felt like a different person by the time I left Rockliffe Hall. Although expensive, I think it was worth every penny.

What else could you have?

A good range of holistic, luxurious and prescriptive treatments from ila and [comfort zone].

Beauty treatments including grooming, waxing and make-up.

Train with a personal trainer or take part in group activities including Pilates and Nordic walking. Plus there's always the championship 18-hole golf course, which is the longest in the UK.

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

That the food was so good. I would have left time to work it off in the great kinesis studio.

Any special features?

The spa butler who was on hand to answer questions, help you with drinks, or get you a new dressing gown.

Who do you think would like it?

Romantics. Couples looking for a perfect place for some R&R. Those who love to spa. Golfers. Botanists. There are also some newly built cottages on the land which are perfect for small parties.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Rockliffe Hall very much deserves our full 5-bubble accolade. It has the wow factor and is a perfect destination spa. Attention to detail is key: ambience, lighting, customer service, treatment standards, cleanliness... the list goes on. There was very little to fault considering that Rockliffe Hall is a newly established spa.