Review of Stapleford Park, Melton Mowbray

Stapleford Park, Melton Mowbray - 4 bubbles

The country-house hotel is complete with historical paintings, walled gardens and 500 acres of grounds to wander in. The pool and other facilities are in a different building to the spa, which can break up your spa day, but the Clarins treatments are top-notch. Stapleford Park is a destination for the energetic, with a golf course and plenty of sports activities on offer.

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?

Follow the drive through the woods, swish over the gravel, and park in front of the elegant stone country house, complete with parkland, lake and even sheep. The setting feels grand and it is grand.

What's on offer?

In the main hotel, a 22-metre pool with Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

In the huge converted Victorian stable block, seven treatment rooms, a pleasant relaxation lounge, spacious changing rooms, fitness studio and a large light gym built into the huge stable block buildings. The spa is a few minutes' walk from the hotel, through the woods.

You can book time for your children in the on-site day nursery (for children aged from 6 weeks to 8 years) to coincide with your spa treatment.

Also on offer are Voyt fitness training yoga classes, and nutritional therapy consultations including weight loss, detox, stress reduction, and wellbeing.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the warm bamboo massage (75 minutes, £75). The treatment did not, as I half-envisaged, involve being beaten with bamboo sticks. Your therapist heats lengths of bamboo of various thickness, then uses the bamboo to deliver the massage in much the same way as she might use hot stones.

What were the treatments like?

My therapist, Lynn, showed me the different-sized bamboo sticks and explained how she would use a combination of the warm sticks and her hands to make sure that the massage was right for the various areas of the body. The bamboo sticks are softer than hot stones. In some places, the bamboo was better than stones or hands; in others, not so good. I loved the bamboo sticks on the soles of my feet, and also on my forearms; here, Lynn was able to hold two sticks, one each side, to warm and massage the long muscles at the same time.

Lynn also spent a while massaging my hands, paying attention to each joint, each muscle, and each tendon. Heavenly. I could have had the hand massage go on for the whole hour and 15 minutes. An ideal treatment for those of us who spend long hours at the keyboard.

Bamboo doesn't hold its heat as well as stones, so it was not as effective on my back where really intense heat is needed to penetrate the big muscles.

So, hot stones or warm bamboo? Stones in the winter when you really need to warm up, bamboo in the summer or if you are feeling rather fragile!

What else could you have?

The spa at Stapleford Park is an exclusive Clarins spa and offers a range of Clarins massages and facials. They also offer Reiki healing, and reflexology. Manicures and pedicures are by OPI, and you can book exfoliations and waxing.

There are several spa days on offer. Spa taster days include two mini-treatments and lunch; luxury pamper days include three full treatments, lunch and dinner.

Food facts

Food is served in the main hotel building, where you can choose from a sandwich in the bar to a full meal in the restaurant. We had good fresh fish and well cooked calves liver for dinner. It's a shame that you cannot have lunch in the spa lounge. The only food on offer in the lounge seemed to be a bowl of apples, along with a tea and coffee machine and a water dispenser.

Was it worth it?

Yes for the serenity of the surroundings, and the quality of the treatments.

We loved

The old stable building and the careful way it has been renovated and turned into a spa. It's a listed building, so in places there are still the red painted stable boxes; one is used for boxercise classes and another as the reception area for day spa goers. Changing rooms have old wooden pews for seating and the very modern sanitary ware harmonises with the building.

The light and airy lounge upstairs; it has plenty of sofas, chairs and new magazines, although there is no separate post-treatment relaxation room. Everywhere was light and bright and very clean.

We didn't love

The fact that the pool, sauna and Jacuzzi are in the hotel and not in the spa. You cannot have a "joined up" spa day. You need to juggle your day to make sure you have some "water time", then get dressed and walk down to your treatments, or vice versa.

You also have to go back to the hotel for food, so you could end up zipping back and forth unless you plan carefully. There is a golf buggy to drive you to and fro -- useful when it is raining.

Who do you think would like it?

Families. The on-site nursery means you can take a break from childcare. Two "cottages" in the grounds make an ideal base for three generations to stay together.

Friends who want to mix spa treatments with other activities. Clay-pigeon shooting, fishing, falconry, archery and riding can all be booked by the hour.

Golf widows or widowers as the hotel has its own golf course.

Hen parties and wedding groups. The hotel is a delightful backdrop for weddings.

History buffs. The hotel wears its history on its walls with a fascinating collection of paintings and framed historical documents. Don't miss the hand-painted and embroidered Chinese wallpaper in the main foyer.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Stapleford Park 4 bubbles. The spa offers excellent treatments in comfortable surroundings, and the staff are welcoming and attentive. The hotel is comfortable and luxurious.

However, having the pool and wet facilities in a separate building does make for a disjointed experience. Also, the sauna is looking tired and the steam room is very small.

See more on how we rate the spas.