Stoke Park Spa Is Awarded The Prestigious 5 Bubble Spa Award

Stoke Park Spa is awarded the prestigious 5 Bubble Spa Award by the Good Spa Guide. Here is there review: 

What's On Offer: 

Stoke Park is a luxury hotel, spa and country club steeped in centuries of history. The long tree-lined driveway sweeps through manicured gardens and past tranquil lakes, the grounds designed by those aristocrats of landscape design, Capability Brown and Humphry Repton.

The main hotel building is a gleaming white Palladian-style mansion. Reception is a grand marble hall and public areas throughout the mansion are lavishly furnished, boasting fine art and antiques. Accommodation comes in two flavours at Stoke Park: traditional in the Mansion, and contemporary in the Pavilion. All 49 bedrooms and suites have been elegantly furnished and look out onto the estate. My spacious corner room had a balcony with fabulous views over the golf course and fountain.

The Pavilion houses the spa, extensive health and racquet facilities, the San Marco restaurant, and 28 stylish bedrooms. The building is a short walk from the Mansion but the concierge gave us a map in case we wanted to venture further afield. All hotel guests have complimentary use of the Health and Racquet Club.

The changing rooms are large and divided into two sections with under-floor heating, Italian marble showers, a private steam room, and vanity stations that wouldn’t look out of place in a hair salon.
The pool room is airy and bright with floor-to-ceiling windows along one side. On the opposite side is a mesmerising tropical aquarium. The 16-metre swimming pool is perfect for serious swimming, while the large Jacuzzi with powerful hydrotherapy jets is perfect for tranquil contemplation. Loungers are scattered around the pool edge, and there are more outside on the sun terrace with serene views over the gardens.

Before your treatments you can enjoy the beautiful atrium lounge, which is separated from the pool by the same tropical aquarium. This peaceful room is filled with comfy sofas and chairs, and there are plenty of the latest glossy magazines available, as well as cool water and herbal teas, healthy snacks and fresh fruit. After your treatment, your therapist will take you through to the relaxation room, where you can indulge in a little snooze. This room is a dimly lit haven with loungers that are wide and comfortable and covered by soft blankets to cosy under.

The state-of-the-art gymnasium has Technogym equipment, with personal televisions on all cardio machines. The Wellness Key allows you to personalise your workout and record and monitor progress on various machines. The gym also includes a free weights area, spinning room with 14 bikes and a spacious studio with over 40 classes on offer. The gym and the studio also have superb views over the gardens.

The hotel is home to an iconic 27-hole golf course and multi-surface tennis courts that play host to the world tennis elite at the annual pre-Wimbledon warm up, The Boodles.
Stoke Park is a family friendly hotel and for hotel guests needing a bit of adult time, the crèche provides a choice of activities for babies and children under eight.

What Are The Treatments Like? 

The spa has chosen brands CACI, Thalgo and Terraké for their extensive treatment menu, with age-defying facials, innovative body treatments, and Polynesian rituals on offer. There is a separate nail bar for finishing touches and a Hair Spa.

I had the CACI Ultimate Facial (90 minutes, £130).

My therapist, Roz, was very friendly and calming, reassuring me throughout the treatment. Therapists at Stoke Park are highly trained, with Roz having specific expertise in CACI therapies, which use electrical probes to transmit a mild current to stimulate and "train" muscles, to tone, lift and firm. She explained the equipment, the process, and talked through my skin concerns.

Roz began the facial with a cleanse and tone, then she began working with the electrical probes. She moved the probes slowly and deliberately around the contours of my face, allowing the tiny microcurrent impulses to be transmitted to specific facial areas. My skin tingled slightly, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. This was the longest phase of the treatment and Roz explained the importance of working deeply into the muscles. During the next phase, Roz changes the rate of the electrical pulses and used a combination of cotton pads and probes over areas with blemishes and scar tissue. Roz returned to focus on the facial muscles a little more, and finished the microcurrent procedure with work on skin tissue, which was quite tickly!

To finish the treatment, Roz placed a HydraTone Mask over my face, a gel sheet with slots cut out for the eyes and mouth. Roz used microcurrent rollers to "charge" the mask, so the current is passed over the whole face. The rollers also gently massaged my face, to help smooth the skin and relax the muscles.

The results were immediately visible. My skin was more vibrant, and was clearer and smoother. My wrinkles appeared softer, and over a week later the effects were still visible.

My colleague had the Thalgo Indocéane Spa Ritual (120 minutes, £160).

This treatment journey is a series of designed to relax mind, body and spirit. Our therapist, Isabelle, began our journey with a soothing Egyptian milk-bath foot ritual, using a creamy product infused with lotus, to relax and calm the senses. Next, she applied a Mediterranean scrub to nourish and polish the skin. The sugary crystal scrub gently exfoliates the skin while the essential oils soothe any inflamed rough areas. The strong smell of sandalwood and ginger filled the room and made the whole process very pleasant. At this stage Isabelle left the room so the mixture could be showered off in private.

The next phase was an Ayurvedic massage using warmed oils and ancient Indian massage techniques designed to encourage your body's energy to flow and release toxins. Isabelle used deep, free-flowing and invigorating movements to alleviate tension and balance the body. The final stage of the journey was a sublime Chinese body wrap using a luxurious body cream infused with sandalwood and jasmine. Isabelle left this on while she delivered a heavenly head massage.

Food Facts 

Humphry’s is Stoke Park's fine-dining restaurant with three AA rosettes. The decor is grand, the staff are knowledgeable and friendly, and the modern British menu is outstanding. The restaurant is named after Humphry Repton who designed the famous bridge that you can marvel at while enjoying the gastronomic experience. The Orangery serves indulgent breakfasts, delicate lunches and unrivalled afternoon teas. Finally, the informal San Marco restaurant is located in the Pavilion and serves light, healthy Italian cuisine. The restaurant also serves spa lunches for those on spa days.

Stoke Park has featured in many popular films over the years and the Afternoon Tea at the Moviesbrings the two together in a very tasty, very British way. Try James Bond’s Tuxedo Éclair, or Bridget Jones’s Fruit Rowing Boat Tartle

We Loved / Didn't Love 

We loved the carefully crafted fusion of classical grandeur and contemporary elegance.

The level of service throughout Stoke Park is excellent.

We didn’t love having to choose between the activities I could fit into my short stay. There are so many varied and interesting things to see and do at Stoke Park

Who do you think would like it? 

Stoke Park is a place that appeals to all. The spa, the restaurants, and the golf all attract a dedicated following.

Anyone who would like to celebrate or those seeking an experience to remember should come to Stoke Park.

What bubble rating did you give this spa?
We gave Stoke Park Spa 5 bubbles. The spa offers an unusual range of top-class treatments in an environment that promotes relaxation and serenity. The therapists are professional and highly trained, and the staff throughout are friendly and helpful. Facilities in the health club are first class and the views are endlessly inspiring. A spa to remember!