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Champneys Springs, Ashby-de-la-Zouch - 4 bubbles
Sassy Spy headed to Leicestershire to discover the offerings at Champneys Springs spa retreat. It's not the last word in luxury, but it is a modern health-farm that is a great destination for fitness and wellbeing, and a good place to go with a group of friends.
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?
First impressions?
We drove through fields and down a long, gently sloping driveway to enter the modern spa resort. The large car park was very busy.
We walked over a pretty wooden oriental-style bridge over a koi-filled pond, which led into the resort reception. The spacious reception was quiet and welcoming; a great relief after a long journey. Behind the reception desk was a large shop full of Champneys goodies.
How did they welcome you?
Calmly and efficiently. One of the two receptionists took our names and offered to get us a drink. We took a seat and before we knew it, he had brought us tea and juice, and had whisked away our bags.
What happens next?
Maggie, the assistant reception manager took us on a tour of the spa.
Champneys Springs has an open-plan, spacious layout.
Behind the reception, there is a boutique selling a wide range of clothing and sportswear. There is a small spa-café, selling hot and cold drinks and light bites. Opposite the café is the main restaurant, which is more smart -casual. A large notice-board highlighted the many events at Champneys, as well as an abundance of advertisements of Champneys offerings for you to purchase.
The central hall area is flooded with natural daylight from the windows which run down one side, with views out to the gardens. The hall features another eye-catching koi-carp pond under the glass floor. From here, stairs lead up to the spa treatment rooms.
At the bottom of the stairs was a large gym with a substantial array of fitness equipment with inbuilt TV screens. There were plenty of gym bunnies inside, but it wasn't overcrowded. Opposite the gym, was a fitness reception where you could pre-book classes. Most were free but a few, including tai chi, cost £5 extra.
The whole place was very light and felt relaxed: plenty of seating areas, and no TVs blaring. It has a really positive atmosphere, but with a health club rather than spa feel. The distractingly bright-blue carpet didn't really help create spa serenity!
The spa facilities:
England's first purpose-built health farm, Champneys Springs has recently had a huge amount of money spent on refurbishment. And, in many areas, it shows. The spa area on the first floor that houses 13 treatment rooms felt more "spa" with its mellow, neutral décor. It was very relaxed and quiet, and well run. There are three waiting rooms organised alphabetically by guest surname, so you know the one in which you are meant to wait for your therapist.
The pool facilities and thalassotherapy suite are excellent. To use the thalassotherapy suite, you must be escorted there by a therapist. This room has a code-locked door and guests use the facilities in sessions, so it never becomes too crowded. There is a hydrotherapy pool in the centre with huge windows encircling the pool, allowing natural daylight to flood in. There are also five treatment rooms in this private area.
I particularly enjoyed swimming in the 25-metre pool. The pool is beside floor-to-ceiling windows that look out across beautiful fields, giving a serene sense of being in the middle of nowhere. To one side of the swimming lanes is an area where aqua classes take place. My spa pal and I were inspired to attend a half-hour session. It was good fun wading around pillars in the water, making figure-of-eight shapes, as well as jumping about with a noodle float. Exercise plus fun!
There is a large, raised Jacuzzi next to the pool. This was full every time we went to use it, so it must have been good! To the side of the pool was a small sauna which could seat four comfortably. Around 15 plastic loungers were laid out to the same side of the pool, but most of these were taken. We managed to find a couple of seats just outside the sauna.
The changing rooms by the main pool were spacious, clean and well maintained. A plentiful quantity of lockers and fresh towels were on offer and there was a central wet-towel drop-point. By each of the mirrors were hairdryers, cleanser, moisturiser and/or body moisturiser. The changing rooms also had their own sauna and steam room, with a semi-circle of five showers opposite. The sauna, which could seat six, was perfectly hot, but the slatted-wood floor clattered noisily where the slats were not fixed down properly.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a Hawaiian lomi lomi massage (85 minutes, £90).
What were the treatments like?
Susan-Anne, or Sue (as she preferred) came to collect me from one of the three doorless waiting-rooms. Sue led me past a large manicure-area with eight stations. My fragrant treatment room was soothingly lit with a colour-change uplighter.
Sue told me exactly what my lomi lomi massage would entail, and highlighted her passion for this particular treatment, which she introduced to Champneys. Sue advised that this massage does include some specific moves, but that it doesn't follow a set routine like other massages. She told me that the therapist will focus on areas in need of attention, while working with the client's chakras.
I adorned my black paper panties and lay on my front, with an Elemis sarong for cover. Sue dimmed the lights and walked around the room flicking Himalayan salt-crystal water about, to "clear any negative energy from the room".
My treatment started with Sue cleansing my feet with warm flannels. She then rested her hands on my head and sacrum, "to connect the awareness of my body ". As directed, I took three deep inhalations as Sue wafted orange-scented oil in front of my face.
The room was heated to a very warm temperature and Sue explained that this was to assist in recreating the heat of Hawaii, where the treatment is traditionally performed. She told me that my body would be exposed a lot throughout (whilst protecting my modesty).
Sue drizzled a good deal of hot Elemis frangipani monoi oil all over my body, first checking that it wasn't too hot for me. She rubbed in the oil, slowly and definitely, using rhythmical, flowing movements. Sue moved my limbs in dance-like motions and moved fluidly around my body in long, smooth movements.
I turned onto my front and Sue drizzled yet more hot oil over me. I could feel areas of tension in my arm and leg muscles, but I didn't flinch as my therapist's movements were so skilful. Sue wafted orange oil again to signify the treatment had finished.
How did you feel afterwards?
Like those 85 minutes had just provided me with some well-needed recuperation. I felt indulged by this fabulous, hypnotic treatment. The only thing that could have improved the treatment would have been some gentle Hawaiian music, to really set the mood.
What happens afterwards?
I asked for more information on what Sue had discovered about my chakras. She explained that she had used orange oil because she had discovered my orange chakra was out of balance. I had my treatment quite late in the day, so I headed back to my room and lay on my bed, allowing the deliciously scented oil to continue to work its magic.
Dinner was a three-course meal, with tasty and healthy dishes, which we sank with a glass of wine. If you are visiting Champneys Springs by yourself, there is the option of dining at the Champneys table where you can meet fellow guests. You can have one complimentary tea or coffee after lunch and one after dinner.
In the morning, we got up to do a 30-minute wake-up workout. We then went for a tasty buffet breakfast feeling very self-righteous and ready to tackle the day ahead.
Long-term effects
I left feeling pretty positive about increasing my level of fitness.
Was it worth it?
Yes, if you know what to expect from your time at a health farm.
What else could you have?
Colour therapy, hypnotherapy, "G5 gyratory vibratory massage" and holistic treatments including Thai foot-massage.
Choose from a variety of two to 12-night well-being breaks, including "Be Active", "Be In Shape", "Be Rejuvenated", "Be Relaxed" and so on.
There is a good range of fitness classes for every age and level of fitness, as well as tennis courts, bikes, golf lessons, and an option of horse-riding at the local stables.
There are some brand new garra rufa fish pedicure tanks, a massage chair, and you can have a personalised nutrition consultation. There's also a product demonstration room.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
To take more money with me as you have to pay for extras.
Pre-booking is essential for dinner and lunch reservations.
Any special features?
The koi-filled waterway connecting the inside with the outside is an attractive feature.
The range of treatments and fitness classes.
The extensive photo wall montage of famous past guests, including the plaques announcing that Sir Jimmy Saville opened one wing of the health farm!
Who do you think would like it?
Anyone wanting to get fit and healthy. Groups of friends, well-behaved hens, and corporate visitors would all enjoy Springs.
Men would also feel at ease here as there's none of the flowery femininity around that may put some off spa-ing.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Champneys Springs 4 bubbles. Customer service is very good here and I felt that there was an even balance between being attended to and being left to our own devices. My treatment and my therapist were brilliant and the spa facilities were well-presented and thoroughly enjoyable.
Everything at Champneys Springs runs like clockwork, but at certain times, it feels a bit too regimented. For example, lunches are at set times, just like the classes. This obviously works for many people wanting to kick-start a healthy regime, but perhaps doesn't work for those wanting to have a laid-back spa stay. Springs doesn't feel like a homely spa retreat, it feels more like a residential health-club. Guests will notice the pitching of Champneys-branded products at every opportunity, too.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Yes, if I wanted to start a fitness programme. I would make sure that I booked a lomi lomi massage, too! The resort gets very busy on a Saturday, so I would probably visit on another day.
We visited Champneys Springs in November 2010.
See also:
* Contact details for Champneys Springs
* Buy Good Spa Guide vouchers to spend at Champneys Springs
* What's the difference between a health spa and a health farm?
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