Review of Vineyard Hotel and Spa, Newbury

Vineyard Hotel and Spa, Newbury - 5 bubbles

The luxury Vineyard Hotel houses a compact and elegant boutique spa, which offers a true relaxation and pampering experience. The professional treatments are well delivered and effective. Plus, the food is wonderful. All in all, a treat.

Was it easy to book?

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?

Was it worth it?

What else could you have?

What do you wish you'd known before you went?

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

Was it easy to book?

Sybaritic Spy and Spouse were invited to re-review The Vineyard to see if they were keeping up to their previous 5-bubble standard. Arrangements were smooth!

First impressions?

Not grand. There is no sweeping drive or avenue of trees. The Vineyard was originally a small manor house, and it has been extended to create an exclusive hotel with 49 rooms, most of which are suites. Beside the entrance, a large pond becomes a focal point at night with flames on the water. There is some intriguing sculpture, as well, with a huge metal object that looks rather like a stylised human spine in the garden. The owner, Sir Peter Michael -- the founder of Classic FM -- collects art; so every corridor and bedroom is hung with amazing drawings and paintings. The Vineyard's owner is also pretty keen on good wine: There are, apparently, 23,000 wines in the cellar. The furniture and beds are all carefully chosen and the soft furnishings are top quality. The Vineyard is both luxurious and restful.

How did they welcome you?

Just inside the door, a dozen or so people were indulging in afternoon tea, complete with three-tier cake stands filled with delicious delicacies and freshly baked scones. We liked the place already!

We were expected. Someone whisked our luggage off to our room, and someone else gave us a brief tour of the spa and pool, and the dining room.

What happens next?

We explored our room, or rather "rooms", for we had a huge sitting room and an even larger bedroom with four-poster bed, and a bathroom replete with roll-top bath, separate shower, bidet, and marble washstand with his-and-hers basins. The Vineyard is definitely the place to come when you want to push the boat out.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Darphin kiwi and pomegranate hydrator facial (70 minutes, £80). My husband had the foot ritual (25 minutes, £45) and a back, neck and shoulder massage (25 minutes, £55).

What were the treatments like?

The Darphin facial was a delightful treatment that Jade, my therapist, carefully tailored to suit me. My consultation form even asked "What texture of creams do you like?" I ticked "rich" and "indulgent", and that is just what I got.

Jade offered me two potions to smell and say which I preferred. I chose the one I found to be uplifting and fresh, which turned out to be tangerine. The other choice was apparently jasmine, which smelt relaxing and indulgent.

The treatment bed was warm and comfortable, with support for my back and under my knees. Jade began the treatment by wrapping my feet in warm towels; a wonderful way to begin to relax. Jade then used firm holding techniques on the pressure points on my forehead, right where I know I furrow my brows. At first, the pressure was uncomfortable; as I relaxed, it became comforting. Jade then moved on to my feet, using firm pressure on the reflexology points. I love having my feet massaged. I could put up with this all day.

Once her initial massage had relaxed me, Jade began the facial proper. A cleanse was followed by a mask which Jade rubbed off with her fingertips to exfoliate my skin. The mask left my skin feeling very clean.

Next was plenty of good, uplifting massage. Jade laid a fine cloth on my skin and painted a thick mask on top of the cloth. This mask apparently contained kiwi and pomegranate, as well as essential oils and vitamins. The mask felt cool and quite heavy.

Once Jade lifted off the mask, she carried out more uplifting massage with the focus on my neck area, my jawline and the sides of my face -- which were apparently quite dry. The various lotions included an anti-wrinkle fluid. Yes, I need that one!

My husband went off for his massage not expecting too much. He came back singing the praises of his therapist, who not only gave him a manicure and pedicure but also did a very firm back, neck and shoulder massage with plenty of stretching of the joints.

How did you feel afterwards?

One look in the mirror was enough. My jawline was much firmer; the dark circles under my eyes were much lighter and less puffy; my congested chin was clearer. My skin looked brighter, as well. For once, I felt I could appear in public without make-up. I would certainly book this Darphin facial for a special occasion or to help improve my appearance after an illness.

My husband's hands and feet looked very smart and he felt that his joints were looser and more relaxed. He especially liked the fact that his neck was much less tense after his back, neck and shoulder massage; he felt that it had undone the accumulated tension of using a laptop and driving.

What happens afterwards?

A member of staff took us down to the pool area. The treatment rooms are quite a way from the pool, so you have to walk along a corridor, skirting the edge of the reception area. On the plus side, this distance means that the treatment rooms are very quiet. The down-side is that you have to walk through the hotel in your robe. A therapist escorts you, which means that you don't look like you just forgot to get dressed that morning! At the pool, tea and biscuits awaited us. Very civilised.

The circular pool is about 12 metres in diameter and is housed in a glass dome with huge canvas sails at the top for shade. The pool area is light and bright, with two levels of seating. There is a spiral staircase down to the small, but smart, changing rooms. There is one loo and one shower in each of the men's and women's changing areas, with more showers along the corridor, next to the sauna and steam rooms. These changing rooms are stocked with Molton Brown shampoo, shower gel and conditioner. As well as the pool and heat areas, there is a tiled snail shower, and a large Jacuzzi.

For anyone feeling energetic, there is a small fitness suite which offers cardiovascular equipment, weights and mats. But The Vineyard is not really a spa that says "fitness". You can't swim laps in a circular pool but you can drift slowly round enjoying the warmth, the silky water and the quietness.

Was it worth it?

Our treatments were well delivered and very effective. The Vineyard is a very well thought-out spa. The quiet but efficient service in the pool area meant our needs were quickly seen and dealt with. While we were testing the sauna and steam room downstairs (nice hot sauna with twinkly lights in the ceiling, plenty of steam in the steam room), all our towels were replaced with dry ones on the loungers upstairs. The spa was sparkling clean everywhere and the robes and towels were all thick and soft.

The loungers are well spaced around the pool so you don't have to squeeze in close to strangers, and there are tables and chairs in a separate area for meals. Lunchtime Bento boxes with salads and fruit were elegant and the food was fresh and light enough for a day of spa-ing. There were plenty of upmarket, recent magazines and current newspapers to read, and jugs of iced water and bottled water to hand.

The Vineyard is a luxury spa and an overnight stay with a treatment and dinner costs from £379. But save up for that special occasion, as it's a real experience!

What else could you have?

Signature treatments include the Balinese Journey (85 minutes, £95) which includes body brushing and cleansing with hot mitts and then a massage designed to "unblock energy channels" and the Vineyard hot stone ritual. There is a range of Darphin facials including the Darphin enviro-recovery vitamin infusion facial, specifically designed to help combat the effects pollution can have on the skin. The Vineyard also offers ESPA treatments for the face and body. You can also book several treatments for two, from a simple manicure up to a hot stone massage.

If you are looking for a package, try a spa taster day, or you could roll out the red carpet and treat yourself to the ultimate spa day, which includes those lovely Bento-box lunches and three treatments.

For anyone close enough to pop in for the evening, sessions start from £40 without treatments and £70 with a treatment. Both packages include a main course from the conservatory menu.

What do you wish you'd known before you went?

How much I would want to stay another night.

How lovely my skin would look.

To go easy on lunch to leave room for the glorious tasting menu! Oh, and don't choose your own wine -- let the sommelier guide you. We had delicious and unusual wines we would never have chosen ourselves.

Who do you think would like it?

Anyone who likes their food and wine, both of which are taken seriously at The Vineyard. The restaurant is light and bright with huge tables and plenty of space around them, and the service is carefully paced to allow time to enjoy each course. We opted for the seasonal menu. The tasting menu was tempting but after all that relaxation in the spa, we were not sure we could stay awake long enough to enjoy it all.

I suffered food envy when I tasted my husband's venison fillet which came with a venison confit and venison liver. The dish was wonderfully tender and rich. My salmon was good but couldn't compare. I won with the pudding, though, as I chose the chocolate tart with white coffee ice-cream and matched it (on the recommendation of the very knowledgeable sommelier) with a glass of Tokai which tasted of redcurrants and rose petals.

Anyone who wants to unwind and relax with some luxury. The Vineyard is a boutique-style spa with great treatments and a sense of privacy.

Romantics who want to celebrate with some style.

Good Spa Spies: The Vineyard is high on my list of "must return" spas.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave the spa at the Vineyard Hotel 5 bubbles. The standards of service are high; the treatments are good; the spa is well cared for; the hotel is elegant and luxurious.

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