Stylish Spy tries a Bamford Signature Massage

TAKE ME WITH YOU…

Although minutes from the M25, The Grove sits in 300 acres of Hertfordshire leafiness. The driveway winds through golf courses and gardens taking you to the hotel entrance and valet parking. The lobby is cool and modern with enormous windows allowing the sunshine in. Rooms are modern and stylish; our beautiful suite overlooked the ornamental gardens. Four restaurants take care of dining.

The Sequoia Spa occupies two storeys, with reception, two sets of changing rooms, a spa café, treatment rooms, Tranquillity Lounge and relaxation rooms on the ground floor, and the indoor pool, spa garden, studio, gym and members’ lounge on the second. Cream walls and floors give the spa a cool, grown-up vibe; long corridors and frequent stairs make it easy to get lost.

SHALL WE SPA?

Spa reception is a large, bright space with an attractive check-in desk, tempting displays of Bamford and Natura Bissé products and – behind a metal sculpture to the left – a sofa area. We were welcomed, invited to sit down, offered spa flip-flops or slippers (the former please) and asked to complete a consultation form. During this time, we also chose our spa lunch from a menu.

If you're visiting for the day, you will head down a mirrored corridor to the exclusive women's or men's ‘treatment’ changing rooms (health-club members and hotel guests use a different changing room; just as stylish, but larger). The décor is chic and neutral, with square-panelled wooden lockers containing waffle robes and a towel, and a glamorous cream leather day bed by which to change. Vanity areas have straighteners and hairdryers. Bamford shampoo, conditioner and body wash is frequently replenished in the four green-glass shower cubicles.

You’ll find the female only thermal suite through a door from here - a striking space with black mosaic-tiled steam room; central, square wellness pool – accessed by four steep metal steps – a petite sauna and an experience shower for instant cooling. We had this entire space to ourselves on our Wednesday morning visit.

The striking 22-metre black-bottomed swimming pool is located up a set of steps from here and sits, rather majestically, beneath a wooden beamed ceiling. A warm, bubbly rectangular Jacuzzi is at the far end; a door from here leads to a shared steam room for six. There are loos here and staff on hand to distribute towels. Open the door to the large spa terrace which has artificial grass and plenty of seating in the summer.

There is also a gym, a studio for classes and a private members’ lounge with sofas, drinks and snacks.

The pre-treatment Tranquillity Room is a calm space with cream walls, large rattan chairs, drinks, snacks and magazine to flick through. The relaxation room has a central fish tank.

Open in the summer months, the walled garden – across the car park from hotel – has its own 22-metre outdoor pool, faux sandy beach, croquet lawn, Grove Grill BBQ and a bar. There’s also an Everyman Secret Garden cinema with beanbags and a make-shift bar for alfresco movies.

TREATMENT TALK

We tried the Bamford Signature Massage (80 minutes, £210).

My therapist, Sally, met me in the Tranquillity Lounge (pictured above) and led me to a well-designed treatment room in calming cream and green hues. Inviting me to take a seat, Sally asked what I wanted from the massage (to feel energised) before asking me to select an oil from a choice of three. I was drawn to the one containing Geranium, good for rebalancing hormones, she said.

Sally then left the room so that I could get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face down. The massage began with some reflexology work on my feet which instantly put me at ease. Sally then worked out the knots in my neck (which have been there for nearly 40 years) using just the right amount of pressure to make it effective without me wincing through the face hole.

To my surprise, Sally then climbed onto the bed, straddled me and used her weight to stretch my arms so far behind that my back arched, asking me to take a breath in as she did so. Despite the creaking, this felt incredibly good. Sally then moved onto my legs, massaging them with the same oil before stretching, rotating and shaking them in turn.

Asking me to turn over, Sally popped a cold rose quart mask over my eyes and set to work on my front, massaging my neck and shoulders before turning her attention to my arms, which she stretched so far back I felt like I might just be able to reach the door to make a swift getaway. But I was slowly becoming putty in Sally’s hands.

The epic massage ended with hot towels on my feet and one final stretch of my arms over my head before Sally raised the bed and handed me a glass of water.

The comprehensive treatment menu at The Grove offers targeted facials, rituals, mindfulness therapies, and men's treatments using Bamford and Natura Bissé products.

HOW DID IT MEASURE UP?

This was hands down one of the best massages this Spa Spy has tried.

SPOT OF LUNCH?

Spa goers can lunch in the robe in the Sequoia Kitchen, with its central open-air area with retractable roof. On the menu: wraps, poke bowls and salads with a distinctly Asian theme.

Within minutes of taking a seat, our dishes arrived: a Teriyaki Poke Bowl with organic chicken, pickled carrots, mixed salad, edamame beans and teriyaki sauce, and a Sake Poke Bowl with salmon, avocado, mango and edamame beans. Both dishes were healthy and delicious.

Guests can choose between a glass of Elderflower fizz or Prosecco – we went for the latter – as well as a choice of desserts, including ice cream, fruit and watermelon soup.

GOT ALL DAY?

Use the gym, have a swim, try all the heat facilities, book a treatment and then enjoy lunch.

SHORT ON TIME?

Book the Bamford Signature Massage immediately – we left the treatment room feeling an inch taller.