Give yourself a weekend makeover

All About You online 24.04.2008

Indulge your need for pampering at Thoresby Hall spa hotel

thoresby hall spa hotel If you’re after a weekend makeover in the form of some rest and recuperation, spending two or three days pampering yourself in a luxurious spa is a sure fire way of putting a glow in your cheeks. On a recent weekend break to Thoresby Hall I came back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Thoresby Hall is the perfect getaway for the over-35s as the clientele is slightly older, the pace is very relaxed and the staff are welcoming, helpful and friendly. It’s the type of place where everybody – staff and guests alike – greet you pleasantly in the corridors; day one on the way to breakfast I felt like I had strayed into a morning version of The Waltons’ ‘goodnights’.

The building itself is a mix of old and new, and very much kitted out for ease of access, with ramps and handrails all over to facilitate those with walking sticks and wheelchairs. Also many of the ground floor bedrooms have disabled access bathrooms and are perfect for elderly visitors. Play a small fee and upgrade to a signature room for a more luxurious break – with super-king sized bed, flat screen TV and DVD player as standard.

peacock Our room also had lovely French windows opening out onto a private patio overlooking woodland – with the added attraction of a friendly peacock who was so fascinated he stood staring in at us for a good half hour after our arrival. The fascination was mutual – and we stood with nose and beak only separated by a few millimetres and a thin pane of glass. The grounds of Thoresby are perfect for spotting all types of wildlife, and great for lovely long walks across the vast estate grounds.

thoresby great hall The old part of the hotel is a real delight – dating back to the nineteenth century, the Great Hall is packed with all sorts of treasures; from the tall bronze birds guarding the entrance to the grand staircase, to the fearsome stone lions holding aloft a coat of arms on the huge stone mantel surrounding the blazing log fire. Enjoy traditional afternoon tea on the overstuffed sofas, surrounded grandly by towering ferns, huge urns, entwined statues and an impossibly ornate bird cage crafted to look like a miniature castle.

Next door the library – again complete with roaring log fire – is a cosy retreat to enjoy a gin and tonic; I spent a very pleasant afternoon there perusing a collection of Dickens’ early editions and rediscovering the delights of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five.

thoresby hall blue room Dinner that night in the beautiful Blue Room was a real treat; from the stunning formal setting (dress smartly, no jeans!) to the delicious food to the care and attention of the restaurant manager who really made us feel looked after (and shared with us his ingenious solution to ensuring his red wines are served at the optimum temperature). Thoresby also offers The Bistro dining room for more relaxed dining, with a menu of more rustic fare, and The Pierrepoint restaurant with a large choice to suit all tastes.

But it was the spa of course where the real business of relaxation came into its own. The spa package includes three hour daily sessions every day of your stay, as well as some mini treatments. We had a relaxing head massage, mini facials, a manicure (me) and back and shoulder massage (my partner – who flatly refused to have anything as girly as a manicure, fearing somebody would slap red nail varnish on him when he wasn’t looking!) as part of our package.

But the spa staff are expert at putting slightly uncomfortable men at ease; if the man of your acquaintance is a spa virgin, Thoresby is a nice easy place to ease him into the delights of spa relaxation. Because unlike some spas, which, let’s face it, can often have a certain air of pretension about them, the Thoresby experience is very much relaxed and laid back.

[image5]Equipped with a large sauna, selection of steamrooms including aromatherapy cave and Hamman room, ice cave, two hydro spa pools and a foot spa, swimming pool and conservatory-style relaxation lounge with massage water beds – which allows you to feel you are lying in the great outdoors. A full range of facial, body and other specialist treatments is also available, as well as a fully-equipped gym.

The weekend package is fully inclusive of accommodation, breakfast, dinner, spa sessions, mini treatments and nightly entertainment in the main bar – if taking in a show is not your thing, there is always the games room with snooker and pool tables, or the quieter library bar with its hundreds of volumes.

Other weekend breaks

For a more vigorous weekend programme, Warner also offers a range of dance weekends in its UK hotels, with ballroom, tap, jive, salsa, Latin, Irish and belly dancing on offer. Or if you prefer to exercise mind rather than body, check out the creative writing, painting, language, craft or historical activity breaks. Altogether there are over 600 action-packed special interest activities in its 13 hotels across the UK – with the chance to experience everything from gardening, treasure-hunts, photography, antiques, singing, chocolate-making, the paranormal and much more!

To find out more visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or call 0800 1 388 399

Packages and information

Day spa package – including use of all spa facilities and two-course lunch in Le Bistro, with optional add-on treatments – from £65 per person

1 night mini spa break, midweek – two spa experiences and one 25-minute treatment – from 174 per person

2 night weekend spa relaxation break – two spa experiences and two 25-minute treatments – from 349 per person

For a copy of the spa brochure please call 0800 1 388 399 or visit the website www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk. For further information and advice on Thoresby Hall and for spa and restaurant bookings, call 01623 821 033 or visit www.thoresbyhallspa.co.uk