When it comes to Hoar Cross Hall we’ve heard from mums and daughters, but we haven’t told the man’s side of the spa story. Here, Michael Smith explains what he thought of this luxury escape when he visited with his partner…

First impressions

The first thing that struck me was how beautiful the building was and lovely the grounds were. They really stood out and are probably the most beautiful outside spaces I have seen at a spa.

The hotel

We had a suite in the new build area, although you can stay in the original building. It had beautiful views from the balcony and the room also had a Jacuzzi bath and its own sauna to relax in. Then there was a lounge area complete with flat screen TV, which was great as we stayed on a Sunday so I watched Match of the Day 2!

The restaurant

I have been vegan now for three months which isn’t always easy when you eat out, but the restaurant was really accommodating. They don’t have a vegan menu, but they have a vegetarian menu and were very helpful advising on the things that I could eat. The service was at a really high level and the food was wonderful. Breakfast was a buffet and there’s a cooked option as well. I had the vegetarian sausages, and coffee and lattes are of course available.

The spa

My highlight, which I wasn’t expecting, after the spa’s elaborate refurb were the huge hanging baskets to sleep in, in the relaxation area. I took a nap and was in there for two hours! It was wonderful!… They also have a new hydrotherapy area, a salt pool, a new thermal suite which has saunas, steam rooms and experience showers that are all really comprehensive. The pool has four Jacuzzis around it and overall it’s a really complete experience where you can definitely spend a full day. There were even groups there, but because it’s so spacious you didn’t notice them.

The treatment

I had a Relaxing Muscle Massage. That was a particularly good massage for men who play sport. It’s not for the faint hearted as it goes into every muscle and eases out the tension, so it can be a bit painful. It was wonderful though because I had been using their gym and it really got rid of the lactic acid.

The location

The spa is 10 minutes from Burton-on-Trent train station, which costs around £10 in a taxi. If you’re going direct from London it’s about two hours on the train with one change, so it’s pretty easy to get to, and once you arrive you have a sense of total escapism.

The verdict

The whole thing has a romantic vibe to it, so it’s great for couples. It was raining when we were there so I didn’t really explore the grounds although I wanted to (something for next time!). That said, it also caters for groups because it’s so big, so it would be great for a baby shower and relaxed hen parties.

Top tips

• Make sure you go into the hanging basket pods in the relaxation room - that’s a must!
• If you can go at the right time of year then head up to the roof terraces or balconies and order a glass of champagne or even dinner.
• If it’s a special occasion then upgrade to a suite, it’s definitely worth it.

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