Eden Hall Day Spa

Eden Hall Day Spa is a gothic-style listed mansion dating back to 1875 – think grand period drama with turrets, towers and walnut ceilings. The modern spa is set over two floors and has a huge amount on offer, from thermal facilities and pools, to sunny conservatories and spectacular gardens. It’s a lively, sociable spa.

A spa butler met us at the entrance and invited us to sit on comfortable sofas while we filled in our consultation forms. Our butler offered us a hot chocolate which was a nice welcome, though a little unseasonal at the beginning of summer.

The reception is clean and comfortable with stained glass windows and a door leading out to extensive gardens. The spa butler gave us a key-card so we could charge any extra drinks or snacks without carrying cash, a map and an exercise timetable. We were grateful for the tour of the spa as it’s huge, keep your map on hand.

The changing rooms are spacious with plenty of private cubicles, lockers, mirrored vanity stations with hairdryers and body lotion (no straighteners), and toilets and showers (with shampoo, conditioner and body wash).

My top-row locker was big enough to hang my clothes, although I struggled to reach the peg despite being five-foot-six. Each holds a robe and two towels. If you get forget your flip flops, they are available to buy at the spa reception for £3.95.

The thermal spa suite has 12 different hot and cold zones surrounding the central feature of tropical and cool mist showers. The heat experiences are all generous in size and most can fit up to 12 people or more.

The herbal caldarium had a calming lavender scent and the rose-infused steam room was also sweet-smelling. The saunarium is kept to a relatively gentle 60˚C. In the very dark sauna and salt inhalation room, it took time for our eyes to adjust so be careful you don’t inadvertently sit on someone’s lap! Cool body jets, warm body showers and monsoon showers are dotted in between to refresh your body (with little yelps heard when someone selects the icy cold option).

The ever-popular footbaths were quite cool (not cold) with water trickling down the tiled mosaic seats: wonderfully refreshing.

Plenty of reclining loungers line the edge of the 25-metre salt-water pool with a glass wall overlooking the grounds. The pool has two bubble jets in the corner, one with swan-neck fountains. Swim through the plastic curtain to the outdoor vitality pool -- a nice feature for a sunny day.

Outside, there are two outdoor hot tubs set among beautiful gardens, with exotic flowers, plants and several loungers.

Pre-treatment, you’ll wait in the therapy lounge which is stylishly decorated in Laura Ashley duck-egg blue tree wallpaper, a corner fireplace with candles and L-shaped sofas and soft chairs.

Post-treatment, try the slumber lounge which is a low-lit, calming and quiet area with single and double beds. Snuggle up in hanging cocoon pods where you can nap underneath a blanket. If you prefer to read or chat try the bright and sunny conservatory with leather heated loungers and garden views.

The spa also has a manicure/pedicure rooms, a fitness suite and a shop.

We had an Eden Signature Lava Shell/Elemis Kokolokahi Massage treatment (55 minutes, £65)

My therapist, Rhea, led me to a beautiful treatment room with wooden shutters, herring-bone floors and duck-egg blue print wallpaper, and sat me on the bed so that she could talk me through the treatment. Apparently, Kokolokahi (pronounced ‘coco-lo-car-he’) is the process of blending coconut, Argan and Shea oils together to ‘restore equilibrium’.

Rhea asked about my areas of concern (shoulder knots) and then left the room so I could change into disposable underwear and lie face up on the bed.

Rhea began by covering my eyes with a blindfold and wafting five different scents under my nose so that I could identify which I was most drawn – I chose Serenity which contains Rosewood, Bergamot and Lavender Alpine. She then placed a hot Lava Shell in my palm, checking the temperature was okay.

Rhea started the warming lava shell massage, checking at intervals that the pressure was right. She used long, deep massage strokes on my arms and legs before asking me to turn over so that she could concentrate on my back and shoulders. Under the warmth of the stones, I could feel the tension melting away.

I was so relaxed that I drifted in and out of consciousness. The knots were eased out of my back, neck and shoulders, and my skin smelt wonderful.

Eden Hall Day Spa offers a good range of massages, facials, wraps and scrubs, and manicures and pedicures. There are Jennifer Young treatments for those with sensitive skin or those living with or beyond cancer. Men and mums-to-be can also catered for with specialist treatments.

The atmospheric, first-floor Taste of Eden Restaurant is in a former chapel and has art deco lights, an elegant wooden ceiling and garden views through large windows.

Most spa days packages include a three-course lunch with an additional help-yourself buffet of salads, fruit, artisan breads and vegetables. We chose goat’s cheese with honey soused vegetables, followed by marinated chicken with roasted vegetables. For dessert, we had chocolate brownie with marshmallows and a raspberry sorbet – our favourite course of the day.

You can also order drinks and snacks (to be paid for), including Champagne and soft drinks, afternoon teas and tempting ice creams and cakes. If you need to order a free-from meal, the restaurant requires prior notice.

We loved:

The impressive building and grounds: The décor is stylish and the gardens are a welcome break from the heat of the spa.

The outdoor pool: This would be a real treat on a sunny day.

We didn’t love

We felt discouraged to ask for fresh robes: Lunch was a little damp.

The high footfall: It was very loud in the thermal facilities with several shrieks heard coming from the cold showers. The outdoor hot tubs were so busy we couldn’t dip our toes in.

Locals: Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln are all within a half-hour drive, and we met many regular guests during our visit.

Foodies: The food is good, with plenty of choice.

Social spa goers:  Eden Hall is spacious enough for groups of friends with a large thermal suite, roomy conservatories and extensive gardens.

We awarded Eden Hall Day Spa a Good Spa Guide rating of 5 bubbles. This is a busy, sociable, good-value-for-money spa with a great range of facilities. The attentive service starts from the moment you arrive and the treatments are well-executed.

Super Spy visited in July 2017 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.