It was early December, the day before my birthday and we had been invited to stay at the magnificent Hoar Cross Hall Hotel and Spa.
Nestled in the heart of Staffordshire, this award-winning resort promises a state-of-the-art spa, stylish bedrooms, spectacular grounds and decadent dining! All of which we were keen to experience, especially as it was a special occasion.
Let’s start with arrival.
Hoar Cross Hall is well and truly hidden in the most beautiful countryside and when you arrive, you are unprepared for the huge Jacobean building that greets you. Centuries of history pour from every stone and window, it is magnificent.
We were amazed at how busy it was. There was a wedding arriving, lots of ladies’ spa groups and couples checking in, the place was simply buzzing. A lovely touch was the welcome glass of fizz as you waited to check in.
Our own room was not ready and so we took ourselves off to Henry’s, the daytime restaurant for a light lunch. Henry’s is situated in the spa area and is open from breakfast through to dinner, offering everything from healthy smoothies to afternoon tea, salads, sandwiches and everything in between.
Not wanting to spoil our appetites for dinner, we chose what we thought would be enough to keep hunger at bay until then. However, the portion sizes are very generous! Our sandwiches came stacked with ingredients and chips on the side, had we polished off the lot we would have been satisfied until breakfast the next day!
We exercised self-control and just ate half.
After lunch, as we were in the spa area, we familiarised ourselves with the layout and where we needed to go for treatments a little later. In the meantime, our room was ready, so we checked in.
Now I say ‘our room’ tongue in cheek. What it actually was, was a Hot Tub Suite – in The West Wing!
Over two levels we had what can only be described as a stunning apartment, complete with Christmas tree, tasteful decorations and a private balcony where we found the lovely hot tub. But the icing on the cake for me personally was the bottle of bubbly, birthday message and gift!
This was ticking all our wow factor boxes.
Settled into our room, it was time for our treatments. We donned the robes and slippers provided in the room and made our way back to the spa for some relaxation. We were to experience the latest treatment on the menu and something very special, the Voya Calm Seas Massage.
This top to toe relieving treatment uses hand harvested organic seaweed leaves and an abundance of nourishing vitamins and minerals to minimise skin sensitivity and restore moisture balance. Layer upon layer of hydration leaves your skin feeling soft, soothed and comforted. This treatment has been designed for anyone undergoing treatment for cancer or recovering from cancer.
We loved the experience and could see how perfect this would be in those circumstances. As neither of us were thankfully in that situation, we asked for a more pressured massage in areas that required some deeper manipulation.
Looking around the spa, the facilities are second to none, it was easy to see why they have won awards and why it is so popular for spa breaks. Your every need, want and wish has been thought about and taken care of. There is everything – a Hydrotherapy Pool, a Saltwater Pool, Detox Centre and a Sanctum where you can completely switch off and indulge in ‘me time’.
Back in our room, we opened the bubbly and enjoyed a relaxing hour before dinner. The hot tub would have to wait!
The hotel must have been running close to full capacity as every area of this enormous hotel was buzzing. It was brilliant to see, and a little strange after two years of very little travelling, limited hotel visits and not being around so many people, but we soon got used to it.
Dinner was in the AA Rosette awarded Ballroom Restaurant, where we dined on a delicious menu of dishes designed by the head chef, matching classical dishes with a contemporary twist and he did this perfectly.
As busy as the restaurant was, service was swift and efficient, and the food was delicious and very well presented. We were full to bursting, the hot tub was calling and that is exactly where we went to finish our bottle of bubbly before a great night’s sleep. It had been a full-on day and with our tummies full, we slept like babies.
The following morning, we ate a light breakfast of fresh fruit and yogurt from the buffet as we were booked into Hugo’s restaurant for lunch!
At this point we realised we needed to walk around the beautiful grounds to help burn off some calories and try to build up an appetite for lunch!
We failed miserably! We just could not eat another mouthful and reluctantly cancelled our reservation in Hugo’s. However, it’s the perfect reason for a return visit!
Did we mention the gents’ barbers or the lady’s hair and spa boutique? They really have thought of everything and now we understand why Hoar Cross Hall is so popular.
The secret is out. Make sure you book your visit to Hoar Cross Hall soon, 24 hours is not enough to take everything in that this wonderful place has to offer, so we recommend a two-night break.
You can thank us later.
