What the Spabreaks.com team thought of Bailiffscourt Hotel and Spa

Bailiffscourt is one of the beautiful Historic Sussex Hotels collection, fusing classic style and contemporary spa facilities. On visiting earlier this year with a group of our Spa Experts, Customer Service Advisor Emma told us what she thought…

First impressions

We visited as a group of six, catching the train from Brighton and then getting a taxi from the station to the hotel. The drive to Bailiffscourt was beautiful and really set the scene for the spa break. The surrounding villages were a reflection of what was to come. Arriving at the hotel you’re greeted by a collection of historic buildings. The reception feels like a church with its big arched doors and hidden seating areas.

The hotel

The different areas of the hotel are spaced around a central courtyard. A tunnel takes you to some of the bedrooms, a few are in the main building, and others are peppered around the site. There’s even a chapel on site, so you can imagine how popular the hotel is for weddings.

Our room was huge and traditional in style. The bathroom was about the same size as the bedroom and the bath was massive, sitting alongside a walk in double shower. There were his and hers sinks and it’s all decorated to a really high standard. There’s tea and coffee in the room, and the television was neatly tucked into a box at the end of the bed, which rises up when you want to use it, so it doesn’t detract from the decor. Depending on what room you’re in, the views vary. Those with garden views are wonderful because the grounds are beautiful.

The restaurant

The restaurant is in the main hotel building, and they have a few menus to choose from, but you can also mix and match. I had lobster soup to start, followed by venison wellington as a main course. It was wonderful but I was so full I didn’t have space for a dessert.

Everything is done to an exceptional standard and there’s a good variety of options as well. They are also really accommodating when it comes to dietary requirements. One member of our team has a number of newly diagnosed intolerances and they were really helpful.

In the morning, at breakfast, you can order cooked dishes, which are small but amazing, or have the continental breakfast. Everything has been beautifully done again. For example, porridge could be served with rum or whisky if you wanted it, they have giant croissants, and lots of different breads, which again can be very helpful when it comes to different dietary requirements.

The spa

The spa is in a separate building again and is definitely somewhere you can spend the whole day. You walk into a massive reception area with high ceilings. There’s a lounge for teas and coffees with a balcony looking out onto the outdoor pool. The indoor pool is the same size as the outdoor pool, and they run parallel to each other which is a nice feature of design. The weather wasn’t amazing when we were there, but we were still able to spend time by the outside pool, where there’s lots of seating.

Inside, there’s a sauna and steam room, which didn’t feel busy considering we were there on a Saturday. Everyone had different treatments. I had a facial, which was wonderful. Treatments are in a separate area of the spa and my therapist really took the time to talk me through it and gave me a card afterwards with recommendations for my skin. There is a separate relaxation room post treatment, and there’s a menu so that you can order things over from the restaurant to eat in the lounge rather than having to go back to the hotel.

The location

The location is beautiful. As mentioned, you travel to it through historic villages, the grounds are exceptional, and you’re also really close to the beach. We went down to the beach for a walk in the afternoon. It’s a pebble beach and there’s little there, but we had a stroll and found a cafe. When we got back there was a helicopter landing on the helipad and we had a game of croquet in the gardens - all of which is an idyllic fusion of luxury and relaxation.

The verdict

The experience at Bailiffscourt was wonderful, and everything was done to perfection. I would definitely say it’s at its best as a romantic hotel for couples looking to spend quality time together. It’s a very peaceful place for anyone who wants to slow things down and really take things easy.

Top tips

• Pre-book a taxi from the station to make things easy.
• Take a little time to explore the grounds and wander around - they offer you a map of the hotel and I definitely suggest you take it.
• Spend a full day in the spa - have lunch there, lounge by the pool and really indulge in the experience.
• Leave space for dessert.