Elan Spa at Mallory Court

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Mallory Court is an ivy-clad country-manor hotel with tall mock-Tudor chimneys, pitched roofs and leaded windows overlooking rose gardens, topiary and croquet lawns.

Elan Spa, which opened in 2017, is a modern mini version in a separate sandstone-coloured building housed in the grounds. The indoor pool and gym have large leaded windows letting in natural light and garden views. The décor - in muted greys, greens and rich deep blues, with fresh herbs from the gardens and chalk blackboard signs – fits perfectly.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

Elan Spa spans three levels: a ground-floor with facilities and a Sencha spa café; a second-floor with bedrooms and suites, and a top-floor treatment area, reached via coiling oak staircase complete with full-length statement chandelier. All floors are accessible via a lift.

Behind the wooden front doors is a small reception desk. The nail boutique to the left has a curved glass window facing the large courtyard. Behind reception is the boutique fitness suite.

Changing rooms are small and minimalist, with grey walls and pale stone floors. To your left you’ll find a bank of wooden lockers – operated with a quick tap of your wristband (no faffing about with a code here) - containing honey-hued soft robes, towels and slippers. Beneath are benches to change and cubby holes for shoes. There’s also a small private changing room in one corner, and GHD straighteners and a mirror in the other. The four grey-tiled showers have Temple Spa shampoo, conditioner and body wash; there are two toilets, too, and a mirrored vanity area with two hairdryers, plus Temple Spa make-up cleanser and toner.

A door leads from here to the thermal suite - tiled in pale grey mosaics. On your immediate left is the Salt Rock Sauna, heated to a toasty 80-90.C; two wooden benches - for two or four people at a time– sit beneath a wall of pink salt bricks; the equally hot steam room would seat six. Cool off in the shower in the middle. There’s also rhassoul that can be booked privately.

The space opens into the warm pool area, natural light spilling through two walls of leaded windows. A 10-metre swimming pool dominates here, with two powerful cannon jets and a curved bubble jet bench set beneath a huge bay window. The pool – lined with mermaid tiles - is just long enough for gentle laps. Post-dip, help yourself to citrus-infused water in generously sized white cups and lie on one of several brown rattan loungers that line the pool. Spa staff are on hand to take pool-side drinks orders and hand out complimentary berry sorbets.

Arched French doors open onto a decked spa terrace lined with giant phormiums. Bubble away in the warm square vitality pool tiled in aquamarine mosaics, large enough for six. In the winter, snuggle around an outdoor log fire or head to the intimate and very toasty outdoor Finnish sauna.

Up on the top floor is the waiting area for treatments, with its grey leather armchairs and footstool; this also doubles as a post-treatment relaxation space. Help yourself to a cosy blanket from the basket.

TELL US ABOUT THE TREATMENTS

We were booked in for Gaia Raindrop Therapy (120-minutes, £225).

My therapist, Charlie, met me in the lounge and led me to a large treatment room, one of seven, decorated in soft earthy hues. She went through my consultation form and explained that the epic two-hour treatment combines aromatherapy oils and heat to bring balance and harmony both mentally, physically and emotionally (yes please).

Asking me to close my eyes, Charlie presented me with three different Gaia oils to sniff – balancing, calming and awakening – I was drawn to the latter with its uplifting scent of tangerine, grapefruit and peppermint.

Charlie then grounded me with a welcome foot ritual before leaving me to disrobe and lie face down on the heated bed. After three deep breaths of my chosen oil, Charlie poured droplets of warm essential oils across my back and spine before commencing an incredibly soothing massage; long flowing methodical strokes immediately relaxed my body and calmed my mind. After eventually moving onto the backs of my legs, Charlie asked me to turn onto my back, re-adjusting the bed for optimal comfort.

Next, Charlie moved on to the facial element of the ritual. Skin cleansed, she combined Gaia Naturally products with some targeted massage across by chest, shoulders, face and head. The treatment concluded with a massage on my arms using pressure points, followed by the front of my legs where the knee massage felt heavenly (who knew?). The treatment finished up with an eye-rolling-ly good scalp massage.

Charlie let me slowly come to and met me outside with a much-needed glass of water and a pot of Sencha Green tea to conclude the Gaia journey. She advised me to leave the oils on my skin for as long as possible and keep hydrated (the ritual is designed to release toxins and lymph). On leaving, I noticed I felt much less stressed; a quick glance in the mirror showed my face was glow-y and my arms felt super-soft.

My spa partner, who tried one of the new Elan Spa Signature Rituals, was completely blissed out -- impressed at how seamlessly his therapist, Kaycee, performed the massage element.

Guests can choose from a range of Temple Spa or Gaia facials, massages and rituals from the spa menu, or book a rhassoul.

FOOD FACTS

You can take in your robe in the spa café, Sencha, overlooking the pool, styled in soothing blues with wooden tables and comfortable chairs. On our visit, the delightful Maria offered us a glass of Veuve Clicquot (yes, please) while we pondered the Poke Bowl menu. Select your choice of protein – Korean glazed chicken for me; mackerel for our spa partner - to be added to a base of rice and a colourful combo of edamame beans, avocado, Asian slaw, seaweed, broccoli, pickled ginger and smashed cucumber; a zingy chilli dressing tied it all together beautifully. This, we decided, was the perfect spa lunch – healthy, vibrant, and delicious, as well as substantial but not too heavy. Using chopsticks allowed us to slow down and enjoy every mouthful (cutlery is available is you prefer).

For dessert, we shared the Yuzu Panna Cotta and Matcha and Raspberry sorbet – both fresh and delightful. Hot drinks, beers and wines are available, and you can order them from poolside loungers.

Guests staying overnight can treat themselves and dine in the 3AA Rosette restaurant, The Dining Room, back in the manor house hotel. We kicked off the evening in the firelit lounge with a glass of local Ophelia English sparkling wine and an Old Fashioned cocktail - snacking on olives and popped corn between sips. The attentive waiters delivered bite-sized appetisers to our table; the incredibly tasty liver pate creation hit the spot.

Moving into the restaurant, we were served a delicate mushroom-inspired amuse bouche followed  by homemade sourdough with yeast and truffle butter. For starters: Cornish crab with avocado and chilli crisp for us; our spa partner opted for the Confit egg with serrano ham, Manchego and sour dough. For mains: wild mushroom risotto with parmesan tuille and BBQ beef fillet with pressed ox cheek and sprouting broccoli, all washed down with a glass of English Pinot Noir.

Not wanting our delicious feast to end, we loosened our waistbands and ordered the chocolate mousse with blood orange and the warm rum baba with Griottine cherry and Chantilly cream – both a triumph.

WE LOVED / WE DIDN’T LOVE

We loved

Our treatments: what’s not to love about a two-hour long Gaia ritual with heavenly-scented aromatherapy oils? Our spa partner commented that the Elan Spa Signature Ritual was one of the best treatments he’d had to date.

The extra touches: from the welcome smoothie and eucalyptus-scented hot towels to the poolside sorbets and G&T nightcap at turndown - these thoughtful extras elevated our experience tenfold.

The Blenheim Suite was a fabulously appointed bedroom to waft around in, complete with tall ceilings, rolltop bath and enormous don’t-make-me-leave bed.

We didn't love

Although the treatment floor is a calming space, a separate low-lit relaxation room to get horizontal in post treatment would be the cherry on the cake.

WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD LIKE IT?

Anyone needing some TLC: the homely atmosphere is cocooning; the holistic treatments take care of body and mind.

Romantic breaks: we saw lots of couples on our visit; cosy-up poolside, feast on a seven-course tasting menu in The Dining Room or hole yourself up in a gorgeous manor house room.

Nature lovers: bubble away in the Vitality Pool gazing out at trees and flowers or grab a map and take a Mindfulness Walk through the beautiful rose and kitchen gardens.

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded Mallory Court a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles. This quintessentially English country-house spa offers luxury, pampering, wellness and charm in one beautiful package. The food is delicious; the staff friendly and attentive and the thoughtful extra touches make it stand out from the crowd.