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If you’re looking for a luxurious UK getaway where you can relax and recharge, with everything you could need under one roof – look no further than Staffordshire’s award-winning Hoar Cross Hall hotel and spa.
Nestled between the picturesque towns of Stafford, Lichfield, Uttoxeter, and Burton upon Trent, Hoar Cross Hall is one of the largest state-of-the-art spa facilities in Europe, having recently undergone a £14 million renovation in 2021.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day – which happens to coincide with our eighth anniversary – Jake and I took a romantic trip to the Staffordshire resort, and frankly, we never wanted to leave.
Check in for our room was from 4pm, but since we were arriving after work, it was around 6pm that we arrived for our visit. Pulling into the long driveway, lights illuminate the path to the impressive hall like a beacon of luxury and relaxation, and the second you step through the doors, soothing aromas are all encompassing, with a smooth and efficient check in before heading to our garden view room.
Our Garden View Room
The Garden View rooms, which – as the name suggests – overlook the ground’s formal gardens, are a delightful blend of vintage features and contemporary touches. Our room boasted a comfortable double bed complete with scatter cushions for a pop of sunshine yellow, with antique-style side tables, gold lamps and a beautiful chandelier.
Elegant but unfussy, it offers a range of carefully considered amenities such as a tea and coffee station, flat screen TV and complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as fluffy robes, a hairdryer and a selection of VOYA organic, sustainable and beautifully scented toiletries, bringing a touch of the spa experience into every room.
It was the perfect space to get ready for our evening meal, with ample space for applying makeup, a wardrobe for hanging up dresses and jackets, and full length mirrors for checking outfits.
The Ballroom – Evening Meal
We headed downstairs to The Ballroom for our three-course dinner, starting with a Tommy’s Margarita from the extensive cocktail menu while browsing the culinary options.
The space is absolutely stunning and steeped in history – the former drawing room boasting an intricate ‘wedding cake’ ceiling, open fireplaces, and most interestingly, a Grade II listed William Morris wallpaper so precious, it can’t be replaced.
The menus are concise but thoughtful and full of flavour – everything we ate over the weekend was beautifully presented, flavoursome, and well cooked. On Friday night, Jake and I enjoyed a leek and potato soup with sea salted focaccia and a fishcake, followed by 8oz fillet steaks from local butcher Paul Shum, who supplies the venue daily with environmentally and ethically sourced meat from just two miles away.
Tender and juicy, the steak was served alongside chargrilled baby gem, tomato, mushroom and a grid of triple-cooked chips which soaked up the chimichurri butter that topped the meat.
The portions are generous, and as such, there wasn’t a chance of finishing a dessert each, so we shared Jake’s favourite sticky toffee pudding, complete with bourbon vanilla ice cream.
Cocktails in The Long Gallery
After our meal, we retired next door to the Long Gallery – a wood panelled corridor lined with comfortable sofas and velvet chairs, warming marble fireplaces and gilded mirrors. Everything about Hoar Cross Hall feels incredibly grand, and exploring its various spaces was a real delight.
In the Long Gallery, initially used for socialising guests, we ordered an Amaretto Sour and a Hoar Cross Bellini. The ambiance is perfect for unwinding as you sip on a mix of classic and innovatively crafted cocktails. Cocktails are around £11-15 each, and instead of paying by card each time, you can scan your wristband for it to be added to your room, which is really convenient and means it can all be paid when you check out.
A slow morning with breakfast at Henry’s
After a restful night’s sleep, we opened the curtains to the manicured gardens before getting ready to head down to the spa to get our bearings before breakfast. The spa days run from 7.30am and we had the majority of the space to ourselves for an hour as we collected our fluffy robe and towel, and worked out where everything was.
While we glammed up for our evening meal, the staff on reception said that most guests wear their robes to breakfast and lunch, so we headed up to Henry’s restaurant straight from the spa and enjoyed a pot of tea and hearty breakfast of local sausage, bacon, egg, hash brown, mushroom and toast – all of which was fantastic.
I love that the different dining spaces all have a really different vibe, with Henry’s boasting rustic wooden tables with painted turned legs, wool throws and gorgeous natural light filtering through the large windows. Another lovely touch is that all of the food is served on Steelite crockery, with Hoar Cross Hall having a real focus on using local and sustainable suppliers to minimise their impact on the environment, with their honey made by resident bees at the hall.
Exploring the spa
The spa facilities at Hoar Cross Hall are second to none, with an extensive range of wellness suites and relaxation areas, and not one, but two heated pools. The hydrotherapy pool is incredibly tranquil, with crystal clear water and jets and waterfalls that massage aching muscles, which leads through to a Nordic heat and ice suite, with hot and cold showers, salt steam room, sauna and my personal favourite, the aromatherapy room. The lavender scented space is heated to between 35-40 degrees, which I found to be a really comfortable temperature to unwind.
The saltwater pool area is a little larger, with little nooks to explore and discover. The main space sees a saltwater pool designed to soothe skin conditions like eczema or acne, as well as alleviate sore muscles and calm inflammation, with hot tubs to melt away stress and powerful massage jets to help stimulate blood circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage.
We stepped through the Kneipp Foot Massage – a stream of cold water with smooth pebbles underfoot – which feels really refreshing and is a great way to build up to braving the icy plunge pool. This area also offers different nooks for foot and neck massages and body massage jets, which can aid in boosting your metabolism and strengthen your immune system.
In another side room, we discovered the detox centre, with another Saunarium, Sauna and Steam Room, as well as experience showers you could make your way through, from cold mists to high pressure jets, before retreating to the heated loungers where the warming tiles relieve tension – and I couldn’t help but drift off into a light slumber.
Spa Treatments
Jake and I were both booked in for a spa treatment each shortly after midday, with Jake enjoying a full body massage with warming Elemis oils and relaxing techniques which sent him straight to sleep. Meanwhile, I had the Elemis Frangipani Body Nectar Nourishing Wrap, which entailed being massaged with the deliciously scented Elemis Frangipani oil and being wrapped up in towels like a burrito while experiencing an indulgent Elemis facial with the iconically fragrance products like the Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm and Marine Oil.
My therapist Zoe did a wonderful job of explaining every part of the head-to-toe treatment before we started, consulting me on my usual routine and skin type to ensure a personalised experience tailored to my skin, and went into detail about the benefits of each part of the treatment, while also giving me the option to opt out of any of the sections – though I do highly recommend going for the full experience.
As well as the facial, Zoe executed a gorgeous scalp massage with nourishing oils, and informed me of the benefits of hair oiling – something I’ve been intrigued by for some time – and talked me through how to wash it out the following day. The treatment ended by being slathered in Elemis’ Frangipani body cream, which left me feeling so soothed and relaxed. I loved that it brought together elements of massage, aromatherapy and facial treatments for an all-round treat, and found it not just a beautiful experience, but genuinely insightful, too.
The Atrium and discovering the grounds
While Jake finished his treatment, I chilled out in The Atrium, which is a really bright and airy space in the heart of the spa, and a great spot to hit pause on your day and decide your next activity. I sipped on a passionfruit margarita and soaked up the atmosphere before checking out the products in the spa boutique.
After his massage, Jake and I headed outside to grab some fresh air and explore the idyllic grounds. The expansive grounds feature their own tennis court, driving range and a nature walk, as well as a sunken and walled garden, and Shepherd’s Hut where you can grab a drink.
From here, you can really take in the beauty of the historic building, with its Jacobean architecture and grand features. It certainly wouldn’t look out of place in something like Bridgerton or Fool Me Once.
Lunch in The Ballroom
At 3pm, we headed upstairs in our robes to The Ballroom, where I devoured a butternut squash soup, with Jake plumbing for the pate – both very enjoyable. But it was the pork main that really stole the show – a decadent belly pork on a bed of crunchy stir fried veggies, beautifully seasoned and super tasty, complete with sides of sweet potato and truffle fries.
Everything we ate during our stay was amazing – plates of colourful, visually stunning culinary brilliance that left you full but never sluggish. All the ingredients were fresh and wholesome, and all of the waiting staff who served us were friendly, attentive and generally left us feeling well looked after.
Relaxation zones
In the post-lunch hours, we retreated to the spa’s quieter areas. The peaceful sanctum features daybeds and sofas, as well as hanging egg chairs which are ideal for hiding away with a book, while another room is filled with relaxation beds, designed to lower your pulse and encourage calming breathing. Jake and I drifted off in one of the large hanging pods, the effects of our spa treatments continuing to set in.
It’s funny how you never realise how much you need a spa day until you’re there.Jake works a very physically demanding job, while mine sees me in front of a laptop screen for most of the day. I often struggle to switch off, and our visit to Hoar Cross Hall gave me the perfect excuse to reduce my screen time, and spend some quality time with my partner, too.
Valentine’s Deal at Hoar Cross Hall
This Valentine’s from February 9-18, the spa is encouraging guests to lock their phones away to inspire guests to be ‘in the moment’ with their loved one. During their stay, guests will be encouraged to place their phones in boxes, which will be positioned around the property. It comes as research indicates that the average British couple spends just four hours a day together in the same room as a result of conflicting work hours, different interests and alternative bedtimes.
To celebrate the season of love, Hoar Cross Hall, guests can experience a 60-minute couples’ treatment in the dual room, full spa access, an overnight escape in a sublime room or suite, à la carte dinner, a leisurely breakfast, 3-course lunch, with access to the Wellness Suite, Parlour and Spa Boutique from £259 per person.
For an added supplement of £45, guests can choose to add the Be Mine Indulgence package, which includes prosecco, chocolates, and a card. They can also upgrade their facials from the Elemis Pro-Collagen products to the rose range for free throughout February.
Hoar Cross Hall really is the ideal retreat into luxury for couples. From the award winning facilities and treatments, to the outstanding food and remarkable grounds, it had everything you could need and more for a romantic weekend away. Book your own visit to this blissful Staffordshire escape here.
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