Grayshott launches seven-day health programme

Posted on 21/01/2013 by studentspy

The new seven-day health programme at Grayshott Spa in Surrey is the first of its kind in the UK; the health and maintenance programme is based on Grayshott Spa’s experienced health professionals’ research into the latest scientific knowledge.

The theory is simple; The Grayshott Programme allows you to “eat” for health, rather than depriving yourself. They say that understanding the digestive system is the foundation to true health and the first step to allowing your body to heal itself.

Grayshott uses a naturopathic approach to cleansing and rebalancing the digestive system, the naturopathic approach being less traumatic to the body’s system than approaches taken by many other clinics.

The seven day programme includes:

•   Personal health consultations, including blood analysis
•   One-to-one consultation with a herbalist
• One-to-one consultation with a nutritional therapist
•   An eating protocol that will heal and regenerate your body
•   Therapeutic abdominal massages, hydro-baths and castor oil compresses to support healing and detoxification
•   Gentle exercise such as yoga
•   An educational programme including lectures to explain the protocol and plan for on-going maintenance
•   Post-departure support

The naturopathic approach works by using foods tailored to take pressure off your digestive system. This does not mean abstaining from eating, or being forced to have minuscule portions, although certain foods such as grains and dairy foods which can irritate the intestinal lining are banned. You will be given generous portions comprising of healthy proteins, fats, fresh fruits and vegetables…

While not having to abstain from eating, the programme does use the “5-2 eating protocol” which consists of a semi-fast for two days out of the seven, when you will have no breakfast, only fluids, before being given a nourishing lunch to see you through until breakfast the following day.

Guests on The Grayshott Programme have unlimited use of the extensive facilities. Prices start from £1,295 for a single occupancy, standard room in the low season: May to July, September, November, and December. The health programme runs from Wednesday to Wednesday all year round. All meals are included.

At the press launch we were invited to for The Grayshott Programme, one person stated: “I love the idea of not being deprived.” Sounds good to us.

For further information, see The Grayshott Programme.

To find out more about Grayshott Spa, read The Good Spa Guide review.

Spa trends 2013: The Spies’ predictions

Posted on 16/01/2013 by singlespy

We were bang on the money with our spa trend-spotting for 2012.

We predicted brows would be big, and Glamour magazine confirmed that “Bold brows are big news for spring“.

We predicted that spa would be more about a way of life, and indeed, Grayshott Spa launched Grayshott Living in November. (Yes, you LIVE IN THE SPA.)

We also told you how huge nails would be in 2012, and no-one can have missed how this year’s summer games became the Olympics of nail art. We adored all those little union flags at the ends of the fingers…

So, what do we think will be the spa trends for 2013?

Single Spy:

“I think spas will go greyer. As we live longer, more people are coming to spas not to pamper themselves but to stay well. People want to keep physically healthy, so massages that maintain your mobility, regimes that help you stay strong, and exercise routines for those who can no longer touch their toes will all grow in popularity. I also think spas will learn better how to deal with people who want to get well, perhaps because they’ve been subject to serious illness, and need to recharge mentally as well as physically. A spa can be a wonderful place to recuperate, but spas don’t always make this clear.”

Sybaritic Spy

“I predict a rediscovery of the ingredients of the olden days. Honey, for example, has been used as a skin treatment, not just for beautification but to heal wounds and burns, for centuries. We’ll see more honey in facials, more seaweed in wraps and more salts in scrubs. It’s partly because spa-goers are still interested in natural treatments, but also down to a growing realisation that long, long ago, when they didn’t have a pharmacy to pop into, people still managed to make themselves better. Sometimes simplest is best.”

Sedate Spy

“The named therapist will be the buzzword of 2013. People won’t just book in for a massage, but for a massage with a specific practitioner — a person who knows their body well, knows their likes and dislikes, and who can tell if tensions are easing or getting worse. It’s an added benefit if you return for treatment and don’t have to explain to a new person every time that your left knee needs leaving alone because you’ve had surgery, or that your shoulders are your worst nightmare. The therapist can then complete the massage allowing you to relax into almost unconsciousness, and won’t have to distract you by asking a thousand questions.

On a unrelated note, I’d like to see fish pedicures disappear.”

Sassy Spy

“I predict personalised wellness breaks. More and more spas will focus on what is right for you as an individual. Spas will create a bespoke spa stay that also incorporates healthy eating, relaxation, yoga and meditation, rather than simply concentrating on beauty and pampering.”

Shy Spy

“Something I hope will happen: The demise of the £10 spa day. If the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is right, that means you’ll either get a 10-minute massage or a pretty rubbish spa day!”

Time will tell if we’re right…

Leave a comment, join us on Twitter, send us a message on Facebook or simply email blog@goodspaguide.co.uk and tell us what YOU think will be big in the world of spa in 2013!

The Spa Spies head to Ashdown Park for the Kerstin Florian spa launch

Posted on 08/01/2013 by shyspy

The Spa Spies were invited to Ashdown Park in East Sussex’s beautiful Ashdown Forest for a relaunch of their Leisure Club, and also to meet the Vice President of Kerstin Florian, Charlene Florian.

Arriving at Ashdown Park is a bit like arriving in a Brontë novel. The manor building itself, complete with its own chapel, dates back to the 1860s. The grounds are spectacular, and have over 300 deer running around its 186 acres. Even the autumn mist couldn’t detract from the grandeur of the place.

Charlene Florian herself gave a very informative talk about the brand and their products. The brand philosophy is based on four key pillars: healthy nutrition, regular exercise, psychological well-being, and proper care of face and body. The Kerstin Florian skincare range only fulfills one of these key pillars, but the brand works to promote the other three components as important parts of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

To reflect the emphasis on proper care of face and body, Kerstin Florian skincare range is free from strong perfumes, and heavy preservatives, and instead looks to the science of minerals, herbs, phytotherapy (plants) and marine technology to create its products. Charlene definitely knew what she was talking about when it came to the science bit. Although the brand takes influence from nature, in particular marine life and minerals, the use of science and modern technology to produce products which deliver was fascinating. We left the talk wanting to find out more about the personality of water and how telomeres can be used in skincare! (We’ll come back to this in future posts, readers!)

We were then whisked away for a back, neck and shoulder massage, which was very relaxing. The therapist pointed out the stressed parts of my back and worked on those, leaving me feeling very calm. After this, a dip in the Jacuzzi was in order, followed by the sauna and steam room.

Dinner was hosted by Charlene Florian, and was served in one of Ashdown Park’s private dining rooms. Ashdown Park has a fine-dining restaurant, as well as a more casual Bistro, and several drawing rooms and lounges where you can enjoy afternoon tea in splendid surroundings. The food was delicious, I couldn’t get enough! True to the Kerstin Florian philosophy, Charlene had a slightly healthier option, but from her glowing complexion and healthy looks, the lifestyle obviously works. After dinner, I headed to my room for an early night in preparation for a healthy early-morning walk around the grounds.

My room was in keeping with the grandeur of the rest of the building, with a four-poster bed, and beautiful views of the grounds. I retired to what I can only describe as the comfiest bed I have ever slept in.

I was glad I had risen early for the organised walk, as the groundsman showed us some of the most popular and beautiful areas of Ashdown Park’s gardens. There was still a mist hanging over the park, but it made the atmosphere somewhat ethereal.

Our experience at Ashdown was an interesting juxtaposition of modern day science and cosmetic technology in an olde worlde setting. Ashdown Park is definitely the sort of place to head to for a weekend away from modern city life. We left Ashdown Park feeling motivated to lead a more balanced life, to start following some of Kerstin and Charlene’s philosophies, and to look after ourselves a bit more!

For full details of spa treatments, accommodation and facilities, visit www.ashdownpark.com

For more information on Kerstin Florian spa treatments and products, visit www.kerstinflorian.co.uk

To find your perfect spa, visit goodspaguide.co.uk

The Spies’ top five resolutions for 2013

Posted on 01/01/2013 by singlespy

You might think our resolutions will be all about pencilling in a shoulder-rub every 15 minutes throughout the year. Think again. We’re fans of evidence-based new-year resolutions, here at the Good Spa Guide, so this is what the Spies will be doing in 2013.

1 We will not try any fad diets

This is because diets don’t work. If you consume more calories than you expend, you will put on weight: that’s the simple equation. You need to make this equation work in your daily life for the long term. Dieting — severely restricting the amount of calories you take in — may lead to short-term weight-loss but actually makes you fatter further down the line. It’s because our bodies learned how to cope with food scarcity way back in the Stone Age. We learned how to store fat and survive. The more diets you go on, the more “famines” you expose your body to, the better your body simply becomes at storing that fat, and thus getting fat.

What we will do instead:
Eat healthily.

See more:
International Journal of Obesity

2 We will make ours a Cabernet Sauvignon

In emergencies, champagne will suffice

One proposed explanation for the so-called “French Paradox” — the fact that French people eat a diet with high levels of fat but have much lower levels of heart disease than most other countries — is their consumption of red wine. Red wine contains an antioxidant called resveratrol, which is thought to sweep up cancer-causing free radicals, as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory. All red wines contain some resveratrol but Cabernet Sauvignon-derived wines have the highest levels. Resveratrol is also present in white wines, but at much lower levels. You don’t have to drink wine. It’s the pulp and skins of grapes that seem to do the trick, so grape juice is just as good.

But perhaps not as nice.

Remember:
Drink moderately; one or two small glasses a day, three or four days a week, with meals.

See more:
Experimental & Clinical Cardiology, the official journal of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences.

3 We will use sunscreen

As 2012 was the wettest year on record for us here in the UK, you may think we’re crazy. However: understand your ultraviolets. Sunshine contains both UVA (long wave) and UVB (short wave) rays. More UVB reaches us in the summer, which is when people tan, but UVA reaches us all year. UVA penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB and plays a major part in ageing and wrinkles. So look for a sunscreen or moisturiser that protects against both and use it daily.

Even in the rain.

We will also eat tomatoes.

See more:
The British Association of Dermatologists

4 We will go trampolining

All right, maybe not.

But, to stay healthy, most adults should try to be active daily and should do either:

* 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as cycling or fast walking) every week

or:

* 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (such as running or playing football) every week.

Well, we’re always pushed for time, so vigorous suddenly sounds alluring. If trampolining isn’t practical, you could also try swimming really fast, riding your bike up hills, rugby, or finding that playground skipping rope.

See more:
NHS Choices

5 We will remember our name

2013 brings a new way of thinking for us. We are the good spa guide. When we started in 2006, there were just 50 spas in the UK. We could review all 50 spas. We could have a relationship with all of them . . . and we did. As the spa scene blossomed, we ended up listing 950. We could not review 950 spas, and we certainly could not have a close relationship with them all. So, we’ve gone back to our roots. We now list and review only the good spas in the UK. We’re currently restructuring the site (and aren’t quite there yet) but both the Spies and the spas are excited for 2013. If you see a spa on our site, you’ll know it has the stamp of approval from “the spa bible”.

See more:
The Good Spa Guide

Happy new year!

The Spa at The Twelve Apostles

Posted on 10/12/2012 by singlespy

Cape Town in a British winter is a sunny haven from chill winds. You can see whales migrating across the horizon, soak up some sun, and watch the ocean turn pink in the sunset. Delightfully, you can do all this without suffering undue jet-lag if you’re from the UK or pastures similar, as you fly north to south rather than across time zones. (Although you might wonder just which time zones you’ve crossed if you’re a Brit on arrival and see a sign to Llandudno.) Paradise thus far but, more importantly, what about the spa when you get there?

Clouds over the Twelve Apostles

On a recent trip, two of our Spies checked out the spa at The Twelve Apostles. The hotel itself is pretty swish. It’s built into the mountainside under the peaks of the same name, overlooking the southern reaches of the Atlantic Ocean. The views are fabulous both out to the ocean and with the clouds and mountains behind.

The spa itself is hewn out of the mountainside. The light and bright entrance, where staff greet you with a refreshing drink, is the gateway to a subterranean experience. We didn’t stay in the hotel, so can’t comment on the swimming pools or outdoor experiences, but concentrated on the spa itself.

Welcome to the Spa at the Twelve Apostles

The spa is neat and tidy. Through from the entrance is an area with chairs, tables, healthy snacks, fresh fruit juices and herbal teas, then a white-sofa waiting area where you fill in your consultation form. Along a small corridor are the changing rooms — shared with hotel guests coming in and out from the pools — which are also small but perfectly clean and stocked with all the lotions and towels you need.

Down some steps are the plunge pools, which nestle underneath the white-painted rocks which form the walls and ceiling. These have internal water jets and you can use them if you’ve booked any treatment. Sadly, the warm pool was cold on our visit; one of the staff agreed and set off to call an engineer. Neither of us was inclined to use the cold pool on its own or to brave the salt water floatation pool. I certainly wanted to prepare for my treatment with a restful liquid, reduced-gravity experience, but wasn’t brave enough to clamber over the slippery steps, into brown water, and lie there with the white-painted mountainside threatening to collide with my eyebrows just above my head. Sorry.

My treatment was very pleasant. I’d booked the Apostles Touch signature treatment (105 minutes, R1 250) as I wanted to have a unique experience, not available elsewhere. The treatment involves the stones of Table Mountain, hand-picked fynbos (vegetation) and ocean shells. I enjoyed it very much. The hot-stone foot massage was deeply relaxing, the back-of-the-body exfoliation thorough, and the lava-shell massage moreish. There are nine treatment rooms — obviously I didn’t visit them all, but mine was on the small side, which meant my therapist was doing my welcome foot ritual (bathing my feet) in an uncomfortably small space at the foot of the treatment bed. I felt she deserved more space.

The Tranquility Lounge

Afterwards, the Spies met up in the Tranquility Lounge, which has four lounge chairs, magazines and teas. Decorated in silvers and greys, this is a calming space in which to relax, recuperate or meditate.

Sadly, we didn’t see the two mountain gazebos for outdoor treatments with ocean views on our treatment plan or visit. Not to be thwarted, we had a drink on the hotel’s terrace instead. We have to count this experience, rather than our spa day, as one of the wonders of the world. Sunset, ocean, mountains, whales — that’s what we’ll go back to the Twelve Apostles for. And a bit of lava-shell massage.

Waterfall in the grounds of the 12 Apostles

If you’re spa-ing at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, we push you in the direction of The Sunset Mountain Serenade (180 minutes, R1 350 per person). Breathtaking views of the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and the Atlantic Ocean as you and your partner are relaxed and then revitalised in outdoor spa mountain gazebos. Includes a champagne picnic, foot ritual and your choice of 90 minute massage. Best enjoyed during a summer sunset. (Weather permitting.)

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Victoria Road, Camps Bay 8005, CAPE TOWN, South Africa, T: +27 (0) 21 437 9000

http://www.12apostleshotel.com

Fancy making your favourite spa home? You can with Grayshott Living!

Posted on 02/11/2012 by studentspy

Have you ever been to a spa so fabulous you could quite easily live there? The Spa Spies have certainly found it hard to drag themselves away from their favourite pampering places. Now, Grayshott Spa in Surrey is offering extended stays of more than one month!

Grayshott Living provides the perfect opportunity for some long-term R&R. Managing Partner Simon Lowe explains the reasoning behind this unique offer:

“We are delighted to be able to invite residents to call Grayshott “home” in response to increasing demand and enquiries from existing guests. We believe this represents a new approach to healthy living in the UK and offers flexibility, security and peace of mind at a very sensibly priced rate.”

Included within the Grayshott Living offering is:

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner with menus created by the dietician and executive Chef Adam Palmer
• Use of all facilities including gym, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and swimming pools, two restaurants, drawing room, bar and cinema
• Experts include the team of qualified nurses, fitness experts, holistic practitioners and dietician
• Unlimited use of the spa facilities and non-chargeable classes including Tai Chi, Pilates and yoga
• Monthly lifestyle consultation including well-being, fitness and nutrition
• Daily room servicing including fresh linen and towels
• All-day complimentary tea, coffee and fruit
• Satellite TV, in-room telephone (calls charged as used) and all utilities
• 24-hour concierge service

Additional services including shopping, chauffeur and car hire, laundry, dry-cleaning, specialist spa treatments, and luggage storage are also available.

You can choose between Junior Suites to Larger Manor Suites – depending on the length and term of the residency and your individual needs. The 37-square-metre Junior Suites are on the ground floor with doors opening onto the gardens. They include a lounge area with a sofa, chair and coffee table, desk and fridge, and a sleeping area with a double bed and a fully-fitted en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower. The Manor House Rooms and Suites are each uniquely appointed and start from 29 square metres. Starting in 2014, studio and one-bedroom apartments with balconies will also be available.

Grayshott welcomes residents’ family and friends to visit and/or stay. Complimentary day and overnight stays for guests form part of the agreement and guests are welcome to use the facilities and dining facilities.

Grayshott Spa was originally the home of Alfred Lord Tennyson. With 700 acres of English National Trust land in the heart of Surrey, but still only an hour from London and convenient for both Heathrow and Gatwick airports, Grayshott Spa is definitely an ideal place to live.

With one monthly bill and no maintenance to worry about, residents can relax and enjoy trouble-free living, making the most of a social environment where they can meet like-minded people of all ages.

There are no membership charges nor any long-term commitment required. Grayshott Living is available for “seasonal agreements” (one to three months) or ”annual agreements” – which can be renewed each year if you want to live there permanently. (One resident who has been at Grayshott for seven years!)

See more information on Grayshott Living, and download a brochure at the Grayshott website.

Read The Good Spa Guide review of Grayshott Spa, Surrey.

Spa wanderlust: Summer returns at the Tanjong Jara Resort, Malaysia

Posted on 26/10/2012 by studentspy

While the weather forecast in the UK may be predicting grey skies for the foreseeable future, the Tanjong Jara Resort in Malaysia is guaranteed to bring that summer feeling back.

With coconut palms, beaches and the clear blue waters of the South China Sea, the Tanjong Jara Resort is inviting guests on three different culture-rich retreats based on the ancient Malay concept of Sucimurni – which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being. Combining Malaysian herbs, spices and flowers in both the spa treatments and the cuisine, their three retreat packages offer a rather indulgent way to experience the Malay way of life.

The three retreats – Sucimurni Signature retreat, the Santapan retreat and The Sesegar Bayu retreat – are crafted according to theme. As part of each retreat, guests also experience the resort’s Belaian Kaki foot ritual followed by a 50-minute spa treatment per day at the award-winning Spa Village.

The Sucimurni Signature retreat provides an insight into the traditional Malay way of life, focussing on wellness of the body, mind and spirit. The spa treatments include the Boros Puteri, a facial and body scrub using turmeric and galangal to cleanser and brighten, and Rendam-Rendam, a ‘sitz bath’ or shallow bath used to relieve discomfort in the lower half of your body. Guests can choose from specially crafted daily menus, which feature dishes such as Gado-Gado: a salad of raw herbs and vegetables high in antioxidants. A daily fresh juice designed to detoxify and boost vitamin levels is available at every meal, and personalised activities include a personal bicycle tour through the village or a handicraft tour of Kuala Terengganu.

In the Santapan retreat, guests are given an exploration of Malaysia’s East Coast. The Asam massage uses a scented massage oil containing a delicious blend of Roselle (a type of hibiscus), ginger, nutmeg, galangal and karoteno oil, which is full of vitamins A, C and E to rejuvenate your body and nourish the skin. Menus showcase the region’s finest dishes, such as Nasi Dagang, rice steamed in coconut milk with fresh mackerel curry, and pan-fried red snapper with coconut, turmeric and lemongrass. There’s also the chance to attend an Art of Terengganu Cuisine cooking class with the resort’s best chefs.

Finally, the Sesegar Bayu retreat focusses on rest and relaxation. Guests can learn the art of Malay massage with a trained Spa Village therapist, or try a personal session of Sucimurni exercises. Your traditional Malay cuisine is tailored to your personal preferences, with the aptly named “Menu Master” guiding on signature dishes such as Butter Prawns and Beef Rendang. Also available is the Nelayan restaurant, serving fresh seafood dishes. One thing’s for sure, fussy eaters such as myself may find their horizons significantly broadened! Spa treatments included in this retreat include the Sesegar Bayu, a body rejuvenating treatment and Ulik Nyuir, a Malay hair treatment.

If you’d rather not go for the spa experience every day, the resort offers guests the chance of exchanging their daily spa treatment for a bottle of wine!

The Sucimurni retreats can be booked at the YTL Hotels website.

If you’re not able to head abroad any time soon, don’t fret, you can use the Good Spa Guide Spa Search to find a UK spa where you can warm yourself and relax!

Good Spa Awards 2012 – Prize Winners!

Posted on 04/10/2012 by studentspy

For 2012′s Good Spa Awards we teamed up with Archant Life magazines, who helped us introduce a prize draw offering voters the chance to win a spa package in each region of Britain.

Carden Park Hotel Golf Resort And Spa

Carden Park in the North West kindly supplied an overnight spa stay for two, which includes dinner on the evening of stay, full English breakfast, a 60-minute spa treatment per person, plus full use of leisure facilities. The lucky winner was Gaynor Moore from Liverpool.

Titanic Spa

Titanic Spa in the North East kindly supplied a Simply Spa stay for two, which includes all meals (dinner, bed and breakfast and lunch) plus use of the spa. The lucky winner was Sarah Walmsley from Cheshire.

Whittlebury Hall

Whittlebury Hall in the Midlands kindly supplied a Soothe and Spa stay for two, which includes all meals and a 50-minute treatment each. The lucky winner was Annette Cruttenden from Kent.

Lifehouse Spa and Hotel

Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in the East kindly supplied the Love Life spa day package for two, which includes a 2-course lunch, a 25-minute treatment each and use of the spa, which was won by Elli Constantatou from Essex.

SenSpa at Careys Manor

SenSpa at Careys Manor in the South kindly offered a Spa day for two with breakfast, lunch, refreshments and a 60-minute treatment each, which was won by Judith Patterson from Hampshire.

The Treatment Rooms

The Treatment Rooms in the South East kindly offered a 60-minute massage for two in the double room, which was won by Deborah Thorpe from East Sussex.

Thermae Bath Spa

Thermae Bath Spa in the South West kindly offered the Time For Two package, which includes use of the spa, two-course lunch, Kraxen Stove for two, a choice of: Watsu for two or couples traditional full body massage or couples Thermae facial. This spa package was won by George Brookes from Denbighshire.

Earthspa

Earthspa in London have offered the fantastic Stoned in Love with Me spa ritual, which includes an 85-minute hot-stone massage for two people. The lucky winner is Maria Betts from Dublin.

Celtic Manor Resort’s Forum Spa

Celtic Manor Resort in Wales have provided a lovely spa break, the Sunday Spa Rollover for two, which includes dinner, bed and breakfast, an Elemis Modern Skin Facial or blissful Forum Signature Massage each. Tracey Jones from Gwent will be enjoying this prize!

Carrick Spa at Cameron House on Loch Lomond

Winners in Scotland, Carrick Spa at Cameron House on Loch Lomond have kindly provided a spa day for two including use of spa, spa lunch, 60-minute treatment each, which will be enjoyed by Kim Maxwell from Renfrewshire.

Spa Sirène

Last, but by no means least, Spa Sirène at The Royal Yacht Hotel in Jersey have kindly offered an overnight stay for two in a Gold Double or Twin Room with a full buffet breakfast and use of the spa facilities. Amanda Reilly from Jersey is our lucky winner.

We hope the winners enjoyed their time at the spas and liked them as much as we do! The full list of Good Spa Award nominees and winners can be found at www.goodspaawards.com.

The Good Spa Awards 2012: Winners announced!

Posted on 10/09/2012 by shyspy

For 2012′s Good Spa Awards, we gave readers of The Good Spa Guide and Archant Life magazines the chance to vote for their favourite spa. We’re absolutely delighted with the response, with over 13,000 votes flooding in for our fabulous nominees!

As in our previous Good Spa Awards, we also nominated the best spas in Britain in our national award categories. Winners were chosen by the Spa Spies after much debate at Good Spa HQ!

All nominated spas were chosen by our team of expert Spa Spies based on bubble rating. Each spa is rated using our bubble system, ranging from one (let me out!) to five (‘I’m not leaving’). Only top-rated spas were included in our list of finalists, so huge congratulations to our lucky winners, as there was some stiff competition in every category!

Winners of the Good Spa Guide Regional Reader Awards 2012

Channel Islands: Spa Sirene at The Royal Yacht Hotel, St Helier, Jersey

East: Lifehouse Spa and Hotel, Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex

London: Earthspa, Belgravia

Midlands: Whittlebury Hall, Towcester, Northamptonshire

North East: Titanic Spa, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

North West: Carden Park, Chester, Cheshire

Scotland: Carrick Spa at Cameron House on Loch Lomond, Dunbartonshire

South: SenSpa at Careys Manor, Brockenhurst, Hampshire

South East: The Treatment Rooms, Brighton, East Sussex

South West: Chapel Spa, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Wales: Celtic Manor Resort, Newport

See the full list of regional nominees at the Good Spa Awards website.

Winners of the Good Spa Guide National Awards 2012

Finest facial: Carita Pro-Lift Firming Rejuvenation at Sofitel So SPA, St James, London

Marvellous massage: Sundari Odati Treatment at Vale Resort, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan

Customer service: The Mere Golf Resort and Spa, Knutsford, Cheshire

Best day spa: The Spa in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, London

Best hotel spa: Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, St Andrews, Fife

Best destination spa: Ragdale Hall Health Hydro, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

Perfect product: Pinks Boutique Lemongrass and Mandarin Body Lotion

See the full list of national nominees at the Good Spa Awards website.

The Good Spa Guide Regional Awards 2012 – Hurry!

Posted on 27/08/2012 by singlespy

There’s just under a week left in the 2012 Good Spa Awards, so here’s a handy overview of the spas battling it out in each of the regional categories. We considered making each spa mention a direct link through to vote but a) we’d be here all week (and the closing day is Friday 31 August!) and b) Google would look on us as some sort of spa link farm. So, cast your eyes over the finalists in each region, then click through to vote. Vote and you’ll not only make your own super-spa super-happy, you may win fabulous spa prizes, too!

And great to see those comments keep coming in. We love reading them!

Your favourite spa in the Channel Islands

In the running are: Ayush Wellness Spa at the Hotel de France; Grand Hotel, St Helier; Spa Sirene, St Helier; The Club Hotel & Spa, St Helier.

Which spa is your favourite? Vote for your favourite Channel-Island spa now!

Your favourite spa in the East

A few, but fine! Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs Elveden Forest, Brandon; Barnham Broom Spa, Norwich; Champneys Tring, Tring; Greenwoods Hotel Spa and Retreat, Ingatestone; Imagine Spa, King’s Lynn; Lifehouse Spa and Hotel, Thorpe-le-Soken; Maison Talbooth, Colchester; Sequoia Spa at The Grove, Chandlers Cross; SK Clinic and Spa, Bury St Edmunds; Sopwell House, St Albans; Sprowston Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club, Norwich; The Spa at Luton Hoo, Luton; Ufford Park Hotel, Woodbridge.

Vote for the spa that ticks the boxes in the East

Your favourite spa in London

The capital of calm: Adamina Spa, Kensington; Agua at Sanderson, Bloomsbury; Beauty à la Carte at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly; Bentley London, Le Kalon Spa, South Kensington; Berkeley Spa, Knightsbridge; Bliss London, Chelsea; Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair; Chelsea Club Antara Spa, Chelsea; Chiswick Health & Wellness Spa, Chiswick; Chuan Spa at The Langham London, Regent Street; CityPoint Club, Barbican; Cobella Kensington, Kensington; Cobella Selfridges, Oxford Street; COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, Mayfair; Dao Spa, Victoria; Dorchester Spa, Mayfair; Earthspa, Belgravia; EF MediSpa, Kensington; Elemis Day Spa, Mayfair; ESPA Life at Corinthia, Whitehall; Floatworks, Southwark; Four Seasons Park Lane, Mayfair; Gentlemen’s Tonic, Mayfair; Harbour Club Spa & Clinic (an Amida Spa), Chelsea; Himalayan Day Spa, Chiswick; Illuminata, Mayfair; K Spa at K West Hotel, West Kensington; Landmark Spa and Health Club, Marylebone; Lush Spa, Chelsea; Mandara Spa, Westminster; Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge; May Fair Spa, Mayfair; Nickel, Covent Garden; No1 Traveller Heathrow; Pacifica Day Spa in Hampstead and Notting Hill; Peak Health Club and Spa at Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Knightsbridge; Radisson Blu Edwardian New Providence Wharf (East River Spa), Canary Wharf; Refinery, Mayfair; Sanctuary Spa, Covent Garden; Sanook Spa at the Courthouse Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton, Soho; Savana urban spa, Westbourne Grove; Shymala Ayurveda, Kensington; Sofitel London Heathrow; Sofitel So SPA, St James; Spa at 51, Westminster; Spa at Chancery Court Hotel, Holborn; Spa InterContinental, Mayfair; Spa London, Bethnal Green; Spa NK, Notting Hill; Spa Studio at The Lanesborough, Mayfair; Spa Verta, Battersea; St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel; Thai Square Spa, Covent Garden; The Spa at County Hall, Westminster; The Spa in Dolphin Square, Pimlico; Urban Retreat, Harrods, Knightsbridge; Ushvani, Chelsea.

Vote for your favourite spa in the capital!

Your favourite spa in the Midlands

In with a chance: Amala Spa (Hyatt Regency Birmingham), Birmingham; Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest, Newark; Champneys Springs, Ashby-de-la-Zouch; Clumber Park Hotel and Spa, Worksop; Eden Hall Day Spa, Newark; Fawsley Hall, Daventry; Hoar Cross Hall, Yoxall; Le Petit Spa at the Birmingham Mal, Birmingham; Moddershall Oaks, Stone; Ragdale Hall Health Hydro, Melton Mowbray; Stapleford Park, Melton Mowbray; The Malvern, Malvern; The Spa at The Elms Hotel, Abberley; Thoresby Hall (World Spa), Newark; Whittlebury Hall, Towcester.

Vote for the spa that gets it right for the Midlands

Your favourite spa in the North East

We loved: Alexandra House, Huddersfield; Cedar Court Grand Hotel and Spa, York; Eastthorpe Hall in Yorkshire; Harrogate Turkish Baths; Matfen Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne; Rockliffe Hall, Darlington; Rudding Park, Harrogate; Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall; Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa, Leeds; Titanic Spa in Huddersfield; Verbena Spa, Helmsley; Waterfall Spa, Leeds.

Vote for the North East’s finest spa

Your favourite spa in the North West

In the final: Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs at Whinfell Forest; Armathwaite Hall Hotel, Keswick; Carden Park, Chester; Chester Grosvenor and Spa; DreamsDay Spa, Carlisle; Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa; Langdale Hotel and Spa, Ambleside; Le Petit Spa at the Manchester Mal; Lion Quays Waterside Resort, Oswestry; Lowry Hotel and Spa, Manchester; Oxley’s at Ambleside (Blue Fish Spa); Oxley’s at Underscar (Blue Fish Spa), Keswick; Portland Hall Spa, Southport; Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester (Sienna Day Spa), Manchester; Rookery Hall Hotel, Nantwich; Spa by Kasia at the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel, Chester; The Club and Spa at Hoole Hall, Chester; The Mere Golf Resort and Spa, Knutsford; The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village, Preston; The Swan Hotel and Spa (Vu Spa), Newby Bridge; Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa.

Vote for the North West’s best spa

Your favourite spa in Scotland

The Scottish set: Carrick Spa at Cameron House on Loch Lomond, Alexandria; Crieff Hydro Hotel, Crieff; Fairmont St Andrews, Fife; Fifteen Royal Terrace Day Spa, Glasgow; Gleneagles, Auchterarder; Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Golf, Oban; Norton House Hotel and Spa, Edinburgh; Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, St Andrews; Pure Spa Silverburn, Glasgow; Spa at Blythswood Square, Glasgow; Stobo Castle Spa.

Which spa is your favourite? Vote for your favourite Scottish spa now!

Your favourite spa in the South

Lots to love: Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs Longleat, Warminster; Bishopstrow House Country Hotel and Spa, Warminster; Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Calne; Champneys Henlow, Henlow; Champneys Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes; Chewton Glen, New Milton; Cliveden (The Pavilion Spa), Taplow; Coworth Park, Ascot; Danesfield House, Marlow-on-Thames; Donnington Valley Hotel, Newbury; Four Seasons, Hook; Fredrick’s Hotel Spa, Maidenhead; Hartwell House and Spa, Aylesbury; Lime Wood Hotel (Herb House Spa), Lyndhurst; Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, Chippenham; New Park Manor Hotel’s Bath House Spa, Brockenhurst; Nirvana Spa, Wokingham; Norton Park, Winchester; SenSpa at Careys Manor, Brockenhurst; Solent Hotel and Spa, Fareham; Stoke Park Spa by SPC, Stoke Poges; Vineyard Hotel and Spa, Newbury; Whatley Manor (Aquarias Spa), Malmesbury; Woolley Grange, Bradford-on-Avon.

Give your favourite southern spa your vote

Your favourite spa in the South East

Top bubbles for: Amida Day Spa, Beckenham; Bailiffscourt Hotel, Arundel; Brandshatch Place, Fawkham; Champneys Brighton, Brighton; Champneys Chichester, Chichester; Dove Spa Bromley, Bromley; Dove Spa Reigate, Reigate; Foxhills Health Spa, Ottershaw; Grayshott Spa, Hindhead; Horsted Spa at East Sussex National, Uckfield; Lansdowne Place Hotel and Spa, Hove; Nutfield Priory, Redhill; Pennyhill Park Hotel and The Spa, Bagshot; PH2O Spa at Park House, Midhurst; Radisson Blu Edwardian Guildford, Guildford; Rowhill Grange Hotel and Utopia Spa, Wilmington; Runnymede on thames, Egham; Simply Healing Centre, Rudgwick; Slimmeria, Crowhurst; Spa Tara, Brighton; Spread Eagle Spa, Midhurst; The Treatment Rooms, Brighton; Uniquely Organic EcoSpa, Hove; Vitality Detox Retreat, West Wittering

Vote for your own little-black-book entry for the South East

Your favourite spa in the South West

Top spas: Aztec Spa, Torquay; Babington House, Frome; Barnsley House, Cirencester; Bath Priory (Garden Spa), Bath; Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Mawgan Porth; Bovey Castle Spa, Dartmoor; Calcot Spa, Tetbury; Carlyon Bay Hotel, St Austell; Chapel Spa, Cheltenham; Cotswold House Hotel and Spa, Chipping Campden; Cowley Manor (C.Side Spa), Cowley; Dart Marina, Dartmouth; Daylesford Hay Barn Spa, Daylesford; Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham; Green Street House, Bath; Imperial Hotel, Torquay; Lido, Clifton; Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath; Middle Piccadilly Spa Retreat and Wellness Centre, Sherbourne; Royal Crescent Hotel and The Bath House, Bath; Scarlet Spa, Mawgan Porth; St Michael’s Hotel and Spa, Falmouth; Sura Detox, Dolton; Tempus Spa at the Oxfordshire, Oxford; The Cornwall Hotel, Spa and Estate (The Clearing Spa), St Austell; The Spa at Homewood Park, Bath; Thermae Bath Spa, Bath.

Vote for the spa you love in the South West

Your favourite spa in Wales.

The winning Welsh: Bodysgallen Hall & Spa, Llandudno; Celtic Manor Resort, Newport; Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa, Welshpool; St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot; St David’s Hotel and Spa, Cardiff; Vale Resort, Hensol.

Vote for your favourite Welsh spa now!

Behind the scenes with the Good Spa Spies

It's always nice to have a bit of a lie-down

Category Archives: spa