The Spa at Carden

You’ll find Carden Park at the end of a mile-long winding driveway; follow a lazy river through 1,000 acres of countryside and a well-manicured golf course until the property gently appears in the distance.

The two-storey Spa at Carden is housed in its own modern detached building to the right of the hotel. It opened in January 2020 and has received much acclaim since. 

Enter the striking glass and wood spa building into a large, high-ceilinged lobby and reception area. Dramatic pendant lights hang over a water fountain and behind the reception desk; the entire wall is covered in rich, green living moss.

The friendly receptionists greeted us, offered us a menu to order lunch and asked us to complete pre-treatment forms (there was even a question to indicate our music preference which - after a few wrong turns into traffic on the way in - was welcome).

We were escorted up a sweeping staircase to an expansive and light Elements spa restaurant and bar for tea, coffee or juice, helping ourselves to croissants, fruit kebabs and yoghurt. Floor-to-ceiling windows look directly over the outdoor spa garden and the Cheshire countryside beyond.   

The spacious changing rooms are also on the first floor. Textured walls, duck-egg blue lockers with wood trim, and eight shiny vanity stations with large mirrors await. Strategically placed low seating provides space to perch while changing; there are four private changing rooms, too.

The vanity areas are well stocked with Oskia cleanser, moisturiser, toner, as well as cotton wool, hairdryers and tongs. Pyramids of rolled towels are on several shelves; help yourself. Bathrobes, flip-flops and a handy shoulder bag can be found in each locker; showers are roomy and stocked with Carden Park’s own brand of Yuzu shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

The thermal suite is located on the ground floor. Arrive via the lift or wind your way down a spiral staircase wrapping around another magnificent pendant light with white petals and butterflies. You can access the 15 treatment rooms, three Relaxation Lounges and spa facilities from here.    

The star of the indoor facilities is the 11-metre pool with its bubble seating, two swan pipes and body jets. Through yet more glass, the spa brings the outside in at all opportunities and gives a wonderful feeling of expanse. Bubble away or relax on one of the 10 loungers or four heated beds while gazing out at the spa garden.

Beyond the pool is the hot, dry Finnish sauna and the less intense bio sauna, both seating 8-10 spa-goers who can gaze over the spa garden whilst warming up. Cool down under one of two experience showers afterwards, with overhead and high-pressure side jets, before warming up again in one of three steam rooms. We loved the beautiful blue and brown mosaic tiling of the tepidarium.  

The spa garden is vast with a lot to experience, including (wait for it...) a heated outdoor 11-metre pool with self-activated bubbles and swan neck showers; three square chrome hot tubs, each seating eight to ten; an outdoor sauna seating eight, with glass windows overlooking the garden; a firepit with covered seating for ten; and five oval glass pods where six people can sit on comfy soft seats and admire the views. At the centre sits a large oval Bollinger Garden Bar serving a range of hot and cold drinks and, of course, Champagne.

The Spa at Carden boasts three relaxation rooms - panoramic is a pre-treatment room with glass walls overlooking the gardens and fields, designed with calming soft greys and blues; lie back on big soft chairs and help yourself to an iced tea. A video screen dominates one entire wall in Sensory which, on our visit, was scenes of tropical fish in a coral reef - settle into oversized chairs with a snuggly blanket and let the sound of the waves wash over you. A fire flickers and crackles invitingly in the subdued lighting of the Deep Relaxation Room where you can slumber on wave loungers under a warm blanket, privacy curtains separate each lounger.  

If this wasn’t enough, there’s a Bollinger Beauty Bar on the first floor for manis/ pedis and finishing treatments, as well as a Mesoboost Clinical Facial. If you fancy a work-out, visit the well-equipped gym and a fitness studio across from the spa.

We tried the Shimmering Body Ritual (50 minutes, £95), a Mesoboost Clinical Facial (75 minutes, £155) and a Shellac Pedicure (45minutes, £40).

My therapist, Emma, collected me from Panoramic and led me through a consultation to identify the areas I wanted her to focus on during the back massage.

Lying face down, Emma began the ritual with inhalations of an oil scent reminding me of Cola cubes before using rose quartz up and down the back of my body. Emma then uncovered my back and spread warm oil across it using her forearms. I’d requested she focus on my neck and shoulders; after warming up the area, Emma got stuck in, squeezing my trapezius muscle and moving my scapula to relax the muscles underneath. 

She then reached for a Baobab Scrub and vigorously worked it onto my back and legs, removing it with a dry cloth. Emma then asked me to turn over so that she could scrub and buff the front of my legs and arms.

After lunch, I met Emma in the Bollinger Beauty Bar for the facial. Perched on a pedicure throne, Emma began the needle-free mesotherapy facial by removing my eye make-up and cleansing my skin. A transdermal microchip machine was then used, Emma working the handset to poke a high dose of active ingredients into my skin.

While a mask set, Emma massaged my head and tugged gently on my hair – this sent me to sleep. Emma concluded with a slick of serum, a blob of moisturiser and some eye cream. The products felt comfortable on my skin and yielded results that continued for several days.

For the pedicure, Charley, my therapist, removed my old polish, cut and filed my nails into shape and then turned her attention to my cuticles. Two coats of my Shellac gel polish of choice (a nude Satin Pyjamas) and a high shine Shellac gel top-coat were then applied, each coat cured under an LED light.

The Spa at Carden offers a wide range of treatments by Oskia and Elemental Herbology including facials, massages, hand, foot and eye treatments, as well as a range of beauty treatments. There are also treatments for mums-to-be and those living with, or recovering from cancer, using Made For Life Organics.

Floor-to-ceiling windows flood Elements spa restaurant with light; on a sunny day, there’s an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining. Guests can eat in their robes, and we felt very comfortable doing so.

The menu is varied with a fantastic selection of salads, sandwiches and wraps, there are brunch and afternoon tea options, too, as well as a good selection of puddings and a drinks menu.

We tucked into a flavoursome lamb kofta open wrap with charred peppers, balsamic red onions and coriander yoghurt. Our spa partner enjoyed the chicken and basil pesto ciabatta with colourful side salad and crisps. We just had to try the pink English sparkling wine made from the grapes grown in the local vineyard.

That evening we dined at Redmond’s Brasserie, a relaxed space with tall ceilings; two olive trees covered in fairy-lights take centre stage.

We feasted on a light and tasty red mullet and prawn terrine to start, followed by the recommended smoked haddock and chorizo risotto with poached egg. Our spa partner opted for spiced butternut squash soup and a beetroot gnocchi. Belts unbuckled, we order the dark chocolate mousse with blood orange sorbet, and devoured every mouthful.

We loved

The service: is high quality; friendly staff were on hand to make our day as serene as possible, chatting whilst doing routine facility checks.

The considerate touches: umbrellas by the pools and hot tubs; hand-held showers in the steam rooms; well-placed stands and hooks for robes and towels are just a few examples.

The spa garden: few spas offer as many alfresco facilities as The Spa at Carden.  
 

We didn’t love

Having to leave…

Who do you think would like it?

Everybody: the grounds are beautiful, the food delicious and the spa immaculate. 

Outdoor active types: extra activities on offer include golf, tennis, archery, segways and Vertigo, an aerial adventure course.

Evening Spa Goers: if you live nearby (and may we say, lucky you), book a twilight session, an opportunity to relax and watch the sunset, lying in bubbles whilst sipping bubbles.

We awarded The Spa at Carden a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of Five Bubble Luxury. Across the board, The Spa at Carden has set the bar extremely high with fantastic facilities, tasty food, enviable eco credentials and exquisite service.

Serene Spy visited in November 2023 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.