On 1st June, Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa in the Peak District opens its brand new spa after a lengthy, two year refurbishment investing more than £2million in the hotel.

The time and effort resulted in the hotel being awarded its fourth star this year, and when it comes to the guest experience, it really is a treat for the senses.

The hotel

A 19th century manor house hotel, Ringwood Hall is surrounded by 29 acres of parkland and six acres of formal gardens, which really set the tone for your experience. The views from each corner of the hotel are joyful and peaceful, while the hotel itself is all about historic grandeur fused with modern comfort - including a number of rooms with four poster beds.

The spa

The spa really is the piece de resistance at the hotel. A feast of facilities, beautiful products and excellent service, it is a contemporary space with a touch of vintage throughout. Facilities include (but are not limited to) a hammam, a kidney shaped vitality pool with infinity edge looking into woodland gardens and a vitality section for up to eight people, making it perfect for groups.

It also includes unique massage cages which are seats under the water that give a full massage experience. There’s a Himalayan salt sauna with real Himalayan salt bricks backlit with blue light to compliment the colour scheme, blossom steam room with a rose essence for calming and a herbal sauna that uses herbs from the garden, while The Treehouse relaxation room gives the impression of being up amongst the treetops.

Treatments have been extremely carefully considered at this spa, with owners opting for four product ranges including Ytsara, Little Butterly London for prenatal treatments, Lola’s Apothecary and Salt of the Earth for manicures and pedicures, using salt from the Great Salt Lake in Utah, so even a simple manicure becomes a full body experience with the minerals absorbed through the skin. The idea was to stay away from the mainstream product houses and go down a more natural, organic, vegan friendly route.

The restaurant

The main hotel is home to The Coach House Restaurant, an elegant affair, which features exposed natural stone pillars and has its own bar and adjacent conservatory and terrace.

However, the spa also has its own restaurant - the Glasshouse Brasserie - serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and supper with a fusion of healthy and indulgent food. They even have their own pizza oven so you can create your own pizzas - a really lovely idea for hen parties.

The location

As mentioned, the hotel and spa are located in six acres of formal gardens extending to 29 acres of grounds. These rural surroundings are really utilised in the hotel and spa experience, with the sauna and relaxation room for example both looking out into the woodland and adding a sense of calm integration with nature.

The verdict

The hotel and spa manage to be an idyllic environment for couples, thanks to the sense of indulgence and romance throughout, but also for groups of friends, hen parties, and mother/daughter breaks.

Facilities such as the triple treatment room, two foot spas and the vitality pool as well as lots of space in the relaxation areas make it a lovely space for friends to spend time together, but couples can also unwind in peace thanks to the way it’s laid out.

The spa even has a Luxury Private Suite where they offer the three hour Love Knot experience tailored to couples and including specially designed spa baths, a bijou sauna for two, two treatment beds and a relaxation bed as well as 110 minutes of therapy time.

Top tips

• For groups of friends or hen parties, take a look at the spa’s group packages and experiences. They offer make-up sessions that are ideal for hen parties and packages that include cocktail making classes. You can also choose to design your own pizzas at lunchtime in the Glasshouse Brasserie.
• For couples, book the Luxury Private Suite for time together and a really decadent amount of therapy time.

VISIT RINGWOOD HALL HOTEL AND SPA