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The Swan Hotel & Spa, Newby Bridge - 4 bubbles
With sparkling new treatment rooms upstairs and a health club downstairs, this riverside coaching inn offers family-friendly spa-going. The pool and heat facilities could do with a spruce up, but they're great for a splash about. Or you can leave the family and head off for some excellent ESPA treatments, then relax overlooking the river.
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 Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge is an old coaching inn that dates back to 1623. It fronts on the River Levens at the southern end of Lake Windermere. You arrive by car over the old bridge or by boat at the adjoining marina.
The hotel has been refurbished since the Levens flooded the ground floor to waist height in late 2009. There are lots of lovely sofas to sink into and enjoy a cafetière of coffee before you switch into detox mode. One sitting room (the Library) is full of toys and books for small children. Staff asked if I wanted hot or cold milk with my coffee -- a little touch that's always appreciated.
What's on offer?
The Swan Hotel is a welcoming Lakeland hotel, restaurant and gastro-pub. My hotel room was lovely, with proper sash windows and a view of the river terrace.
There are brand new treatment rooms on the first floor, with a relaxation room overlooking the river. On the ground floor, there is a health club, with a 10-metre pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and gym.
Each element works well by itself but, because they are separated, the Swan Hotel isn't a place where you can pad around in robe and slippers all day. Especially not my robe, which was a little on the skimpy side! You do need to get dry and dressed between each activity.
The health club lets the side down a little. A warm welcome and a fluffy towel await you at reception, but then you go into quite pokey changing rooms which are for both dry and wet activity. My baggy trousers happily sponged up the puddles on the floor.
The pool is clean and bright, but in the afternoon it was full of little girls and their mummies, a party I was reluctant to gatecrash. The sauna and steam room were okay, but the dribbly shower outside the sauna was a disappointment, and a sharp contrast to the fabulous showers in the treatment room and in my hotel bedroom.
The gym is fitted with cardio and resistance equipment and the instructor was on hand if I needed help. You can book a session with a personal trainer if you wish. Leaning over the water fountains in the gym and pool area, I could see all the plumbing and loose plaster behind. Not pretty.
Which treatments did you have?
I had an ESPA full-body salt and oil scrub, billed as "an exceptional skin softening treatment combining sea salts and aromatherapy oils " (30 minutes, £35); followed by an ESPA holistic face, back and scalp treatment "a full intensive facial to suit your skin type with an oriental head massage, a deep cleansing back exfoliation and massage for the back with aromatic oils to de-stress the mind and body" (90 minutes, £70).
What were the treatments like?
My therapist, Sophie, with her lovely wide smile, was the best I've been to in a long time. She explained what she was going to do, moved noiselessly around the treatment table with smooth transitions between applications, and had just the right firmness of touch. Plus, she didn't lecture me about skin care or stretching. Five bubbles for her, certainly!
Sophie helped me choose my oils by smell and personal preference, rather than by purpose (detox, relax, energise). I like this ESPA approach. I chose "invigorate" with citrus notes of lime and grapefruit for my body treatment; and lavender and woody notes for my facial. We also established that my face reddens easily, even when I'm not nervous.
The treatment room was a good temperature (that is, I didn't notice feeling hot or cold) with fresh air coming in from the window. There was a light hum of traffic noise from the nearby main road and an occasional loud sigh of brakes when a big coach or delivery vehicle came over the bridge. The musak was fine until near the end of the treatment, when there was an irritating drum beat. Despite the aural distractions, though, I mostly lost myself in the treatment.
The salt and oil scrub began with gentle skin brushing, delicious warm flannels, then the salt scrub on back, legs, feet (turn over), arms and hands. Sophie was gentle but firm with the scrub. I like this ESPA product as it doesn't feel as abrasive as some scrubs.
As always, I didn't want the treatment to stop, but I heard Sophie switching on the shower, so I knew it was time to rinse off the salt. Sophie told me to take off just the salt and to leave the layer of oils on my skin.
The shower was gorgeous -- a square plate in the ceiling that really forced out the water. The only problem was that I didn't want to get out. I got my paper knickers wet, but I always pack a pair of "it doesn't matter" knickers for these occasions, so I dried and put them on, ready for the next treat.
The face, back and scalp treatment was divine, mixing cosy flannels and oils with cool balms. The best products were from the ESPA Calm and Soothe range: serum, moisturiser and mask to "pacify skin prone to redness".
As I relaxed under pads of Soothing Eye Lotion, Sophie began my head massage, using Pink Hair and Scalp Mud. I had the sensation of floating away during the treatment, until I woke myself with an irritating little snort. All the time, I was warm, with my feet enveloped in towels and blankets.
After the treatment, my skin felt deliciously nourished. I chilled out on a chaise longue with a lovely view of the river and a large pot of peppermint tea.
What else could you have?
I liked my treatments so much, I'd probably ask for the same again. Especially if Sophie was there.
You can try ESPA facials, body treatments (including hot stone massage) and wraps. There are treatments specifically for men, as well as waxing and beauty treatments. Leave looking as well as feeling lovely with manicures and pedicures by Leighton Denny.
You can choose from a variety of pamper (or, as they put it, "Bling") days, all of which include a one-course lunch and a glass of champagne.
Food facts
The large, airy and light gastro-pub has lots of tables, quiet corners and outside tables on the river. Saintly salad or sinful sausage: you choose. For my lunch, I went for a Fisherman's Platter: locally smoked salmon and trout with potted Morecambe Bay shrimps and cucumber salad.
My husband joined me for our evening meal in the River Room. Dish of the day was a huge mixed grill -- and he was well up to the challenge. My pan-fried sea bass was altogether more restrained.
Was it worth it?
My treatment was definitely worth it, and very good value.
We loved
The treatment, the food, and the cosy hotel room.
We didn't love
The puddles on the changing-room floor.
Who do you think would like it?
Anyone who lives in South Lakeland who wants a treatment from a really competent therapist.
The hotel is very family friendly; a good choice for parents or grandparents with small children. The grown-ups could take it in turns to go upstairs for a treatment while the children explore all the toys and books in the Library, their special seating area.
However, that does mean the Swan Hotel is not really the place to go if you want to relax by a child-free pool.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave The Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge an overall 4 bubbles. The treatment room and therapy were perfect: we couldn't fault them. All the staff were helpful, too.
However, the health-club element let the overall spa experience down. There are some very tired areas which do not match the new luxury in the rest of the hotel.
See more on how we rate the spas.
Would you go again?
Definitely for a treatment, but maybe not for the whole day. We visited in July, but are even now imagining the cosy wood fires in the many fireplaces at colder times of the year.
We visited The Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge in July 2011.
See also:
* Contact details for The Swan Hotel and Spa
* More about scrubs and body polishes
* Find a fantastic spa deal for yourself at The Good Spa Shop
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