Review of Nutfield Priory, Redhill

Nutfield Priory, Redhill -- 3 bubbles

This Surrey hotel spa offers excellent ESPA treatments and good food, in a welcoming environment. Our Spa Spy was thoroughly impressed with her friendly, professional therapist. When we visited, the facilities in the spa and health club were in need of some TLC. A good spa for a treatment, but we're looking forward to seeing the spa after refurbishment takes place.

First impressions?

What's on offer?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

What else could you have?

Food facts

Was it worth it?

We loved

We didn't love

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

The approach to Nutfield Priory is lined with trees. I headed straight for the spa building, which is separate from the main hotel. The hotel is a grand building with impressive stained glass and a gothic feel, whereas the modern heath club block is a little more municipal.

The spa itself is housed within the health club, and when I arrived there were a number of members having coffee and waiting for classes.

What's on offer?

In the spa, there is a dinky changing room (sharing the space with one other lady was a bit of a squeeze) with one shower, a small mirror and a hairdryer. The shower looked like it needed a clean, so I went to use the other changing rooms in the health club.

Nutfield Priory's heat facilities and pool are within the health club, and there is also a gym. The health club is situated downstairs from the spa, and the changing rooms there are much larger, but with a definite health-club feel. Sadly, the cleanliness of this area left a bit to be desired.

The pool is filled with natural salt water. It isn't huge, but I had a nice chlorine-free dip. The steam room was nicely hot, but it did smell a bit musty. The sauna was hot and busy – neither heat room is huge, but there was enough space for the few guests there. There is also a Jacuzzi.

The spa's pièce de résistance is their double treatment room with adjacent spa bath. These cosy, welcoming areas have recently been redecorated in rich reds with wooden furniture. You could certainly drift away for a good few hours alongside your nearest and dearest in this relaxing, sensual space.

The relaxation room is well thought-out, with muslin curtains that can be pulled around each individual bed. It was dark enough to be relaxing, but offered little poise lamps by each couch for reading. A selection of well-thumbed magazines was available. Other spa goers were definitely enjoying the space; there were a couple of young ladies chatting quietly, and another lone spa-goer enjoying an afternoon nap.

Which treatments did you have?

I had a Restorative Marine Mud Wrap (55 minutes, £69) and a Classic Pedicure (55 minutes, £47).

What were the treatments like?

My therapist Suzi began the treatment with a full-body exfoliation. She gently applied a scrub to my body then removed it with a warm flannel. I felt totally at ease, and Suzi talked me through each stage, making sure I was comfortable and relaxed.

Next, Suzi applied the mud mask. She started on my back, with me sitting up. Suzi checked that I was happy to have the mud applied to my chest, which I was. The mud, happily, wasn't the stinky marine mud you sometimes find, it was lightly fragranced and felt soothing to the skin. Suzi then wrapped me in the plastic sheeting I'd been lying on, and covered me with warm towels. As the treatment bed was heated, I felt snug as a bug.

After I had relaxed in my little cocoon for about 10 minutes, Suzi checked I was happy to have mud in my hair, and then gave me a relaxing, gentle head massage using ESPA pink hair mud.

Once my mummification time was up, Suzi helped me out of my towels and sticky plastic sheeting (always a mildly undignified affair), and showed me to the shower. The shower was basic, with just a small pot of generic hotel-style "shampoo".

Suzi was also my therapist for my excellent pedicure. Suzi was again friendly and informed. We had fun choosing a colour for my nails, and Suzi did a thorough job of exfoliating, moisturising and buffing my feet. She also thoroughly prepared my toenails for their glorious coral-red colour. I watched transfixed as she twisted and tied a tissue to create perfect toe dividers – I was suitably impressed with her origami skills.

By the end of my treatment I had perfectly painted toes and smooth, moisturised feet.

What else could you have?

Nutfield Priory has a good menu of ESPA treatments including facials, manis, pedis, envelopments and wraps, massage and speciality treatments including bamboo massage and lava shells. Mums-to-be and men aren't forgotten either, and you can even have make-up tuition and wedding make-up application.

Food facts

I ate from the spa menu, which was delicious. I had a goat's cheese tart to start followed by some al dente spaghetti with a light, sweet cherry tomato and red-pepper sauce. A couple of ladies on a spa day commented on how much they enjoyed their food, too. I witnessed them tucking into a lunch of salad and poached salmon and later an afternoon tea complete with champagne – wonderful!

Was it worth it?

My treatments were excellent, but you may be at a loose end on a spa day if you don't include a treatment or two. However, I think Nutfield Priory is good value for hotel visitors wanting a decent treatment.

We loved

Our lovely, friendly therapist. We also thoroughly enjoyed the food and found the treatments to be well-executed and enjoyable.

We also loved it that your car could have a little spa of its own with the hand car wash service available in the car park!

We didn't love

The changing room. This area really is too small for more than one person, and the facilities were not perfectly clean.

Who do you think would like it?

Visitors to the main hotel.

Brides and their cohort, for last-minute pampering (Nutfield Priory Hotel is a popular wedding venue).

Health club members (of which they have over 1,000) who are looking for a decent treatment from a friendly therapist.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Nutfield Priory 3 bubbles. The treatments and the staff are really wonderful, and we loved our food, too.

But, the spa facilities are not currently at the same standard. Nutfield Priory is due to be refurbished soon, and by the looks of the redecorated double treatment room, Nutfield will definitely be on the right track once this is completed.