Review of St Mellons Hotel, Cardiff

St Mellons Hotel, Cardiff – 3 bubbles

Close to the Cardiff city centre, yet set in secluded gardens next to a golf course, St Mellons Hotel is perfectly positioned for an escape from the city. With recently refurbished spa and leisure facilities and some excellent Elemis treatments on offer, St Mellons is an affordable choice for a spa day.

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?

St Mellons Hotel is conveniently located a short distance from Cardiff city centre. The hotel is an Edwardian-style country house, set amongst seven acres of landscaped grounds, an orchard and a local golf course. The sweeping driveway leads you straight into the large car park at the front of the building.

What's on offer?

The leisure facilities at St Mellons have had a recent refurbishment, and are at a good standard, with smart, contemporary décor. The locker rooms are spacious and clean, but are shared by pool users, so can get a little slippery at particular times of the day. The gym is fully air-conditioned and professionally trained staff are at hand at all times. There is a selection of high-tech cardiovascular equipment, each machine boasting an LCD TV screen. Also on offer are resistance machines and a selection of free weights. There is a dance studio which offers a wide range of classes, and squash courts.

The 17 metre indoor swimming pool is great for a serious swim. Two of the outer walls are made of panels of floor-to-ceiling windows, which overlook the beautiful grounds. There is a large, slightly raised Jacuzzi which also looks out onto the gardens, and a choice of steam or dry saunas, both heated to the perfect temperature.

The spa has its own reception area, with comfy sofas, wooden floors and soft lighting. The spa has four treatment rooms, each with a high-end treatment bed and individual shower. There are also two manicure stations and a pedicure chair. The relaxation room has adjustable loungers, dim lighting, and had a refreshment station fully stocked with juices, water and fruit. Between the spa and the pool area, there is also a contemporary lounge area that offers a more sociable space to relax in.

The 41 bedroom hotel has definitely seen better days, with the accommodation and public areas being in need of a lot of TLC. Our twin room was quite shabby and dated, and the bathroom needed a deep clean.

Which treatments did you have?

An Elemis back, neck and shoulder massage combined with an Elemis Facial (£65, 55 minutes).

What were the treatments like?

In a word … perfect! My therapist, Chelsea, began my treatment by turning down all the lights and turning on soft background music. She consulted my consultation form before explaining the treatment to me. She allowed me to choose from one of three Elemis massage oils. I chose the delicious-smelling frangipani oil. Chelsea explained that this treatment would help alleviate stress, ease aching muscles and revive.

Chelsea used long, strong strokes and plenty of pressure for my well-delivered massage. She worked particularly hard on the knots around my neck and under my shoulder blades. My skin seemed to drink the oil, and I began to feel tension melting away.

Before beginning the Skin Radiance Booster Facial, Chelsea explained that this treatment had been designed by Elemis to help regenerate skin cells with rich amino acids. She began the facial by cleansing my face thoroughly, and followed this with an extra cleanse around my nose and chin. After applying toner, Chelsea gently massaged in a very fine exfoliant, which she removed with warm lavender-scented towels.

Next, she applied Elemis' Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask, which smelt heavenly and was rather cold. Chelsea then rested an eye pillow on my eyes while she massaged my scalp. My skin felt a little tight after Chelsea washed away the mask, but once she had applied moisturiser, it felt deeply nourished.

Afterwards, the overall condition of my skin was exceptional.

What else could you have?

Spa treatments are by Elemis and cover a full range of body treatments, facials, hand and foot treatments, and treatments for men.

The spa offers many of the treatments as a 30-minute option, allowing you to try treatments, or mix and match treatment combinations, in an affordable way.

Food facts

If you are having a spa day, a light lunch can be ordered from the leisure lounge. We had our evening meal in the hotel's restaurant. We enjoyed the surroundings and the general quality of the food, even though both our main courses (lamb shoulder and duck breast) were slightly overcooked. The hotel also has a number of bars with separate lounges.

Was it worth it?

Spa treatments are reasonably priced considering they are skilfully delivered by professional therapists. There are affordable spa days and breaks on offer, too.

We loved

Chelsea's skilful scalp massage stands out. Chelsea delivered the perfect massage and was knowledgeable and informative.

We didn't love

That the spa doesn't have its own dedicated wet and thermal facilities. The leisure facilities can get busy at particular times of the days, particularly the swimming pool. The lounge near the spa is also shared with health club visitors and golfers.

That the accommodation was not at the same high standard as the spa.

Who do you think would like it?

First-time spa-goers. The spa gives you the opportunity to try out lots of different treatments from one of the leading international spa brands.

St Mellons is a popular stop-over for visiting businessmen and keen golfers. The spa is perfect for a de-stressing massage after a meeting, or a round of golf.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave St Mellons 3 bubbles. We loved the friendly, professional staff throughout the hotel, restaurant and spa, and thought the spa and leisure facilities were at a good standard. Our spa treatments were very good, but we felt that St Mellons does not have the ideal set-up for guests visiting on spa breaks. If the accommodation is brought up to the same standard as the spa and leisure facilities, St Mellons will no doubt make a great destination for spa stays.