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Pool
Thermal facilities
Accessible Spa
Cancer care trained
Grantley Hall is an impressive countryside estate with a rich and colourful past -- it has hosted royalty, members of parliament, celebrities and socialites. A private residence until 2019, the hotel opened it's doors to guests and quickly gained a host of awards and accolades. The Three Graces Spa is dedicated to 'restoring beauty and balance' through treatments and individual spa journeys, personalised for each guest. Beyond the treatments, you can swim in the 18-metre indoor pool, take a dip in the indoor hydrotherapy pool or heat up and cool off in the sauna, steam room and snow room. The Three Graces Spa Lounge is a restful relaxation area with comfortable loungers and direct access to the sun-trap outdoor terrace with views over the gardens.
Grantley Hall is an impressive Palladian country house set in acres of parkland in Ripon, North Yorkshire. As you come through the gates, you’ll be warmly greeted and directed along a driveway past water cascades, fountains and water rills to the main house, which has been immaculately restored to its former grandeur with oak panelling, marble halls dotted with statuary and an eclectic collection of art. The Three Graces Spa can be found in the new, elegant Fountains Wing.
From the main entrance, turn right along the corridor - pausing to admire the paintings and sculptures – before heading left past the two (yes, two) wine tasting areas. The Three Graces Spa is just opposite an Elite Gym containing – rather unusually - a cryotherapy chamber, altitude training facility, underwater treadmill and 3D body scanner.
The large reception area and spa lounge are light and restful, with pale blue walls and accents of gold and dark wood panels, pulled together with soft grey furnishings. We were greeted, taken on a tour and shown through to the changing rooms.
These are clad in a myriad of marble complemented by dark wood lockers containing a robe, flip flops and two fluffy towels. We loved finding a welcome letter adorned with the official Grantley Hall seal inside, reminding us – if ever we needed to be reminded - that we were somewhere luxurious.
Change beside a central padded seat or nip into one of two private changing rooms with chairs and mirrors for ease. For pre- or post-spa preening, there’s a well-lit area with hair dryers and mirrors. Good sized showers, toilets and a swimsuit dryer complete the offering.
At the centre of the spa is an 18-metre pool set beneath an impressive, vaulted ceiling – a nod to nearby Fountains Abbey. Around the pool are comfortably cushioned loungers separated by plants, barrel tables and statuettes, with curtained-off double loungers in each corner.
There’s a hydro-pool with four ‘armchairs’ and other seating areas with massage jets and a swan pipe to pummel tension out of your neck and shoulders. Swim outside through the sliding door to find more bubble jets in the smaller outdoor hydrotherapy pool - lie back in the warm water and gaze at the garden.
There’s a nicely hot sauna with curved wooden seating and large windows looking out onto the garden and pool area; you’ll also find a dimly lit steam room with twinkly lights in the ceiling and a cold-water hose to use if you overheat - a dose of cold water around the ankles usually works for us. Or cool down under the experience shower by hydrating at the copper water cooler, or by entering the snow room which looks out onto the pool area through a large window. Remember to fully dry off, adorning those flip flops first.
The hydro-pool leads to the spa garden with its large hot tub deep enough to sit with your shoulders under the water – and very useful when it’s cold outside. On warmer days, nab one of the many padded recliners in the garden and enjoy the privacy and shelter from the wind from the surrounding hedges. Shrubs and plants allow you to enjoy being in nature.
As if this wasn’t enough, Three Graces Spa also has a Nordic Spa Garden with two cold tubs that are kept at 0.5 degrees (the label saying ‘Brass Monkey’ gives it away). This particular Spa Spy only managed to get in knee deep before fleeing to the warmth of the sauna.
The tranquil relaxation area has six comfortable massage loungers to snuggle down on after a treatment – wriggle under the quilt and adjust the intensity of the massage to suit.
We tried the Bespoke Mud Experience (180 minutes, £350).
Our therapists, Emma and Megan, worked as team to deliver this multi-phase treatment: an invigorating salt scrub using Himalayan salt, a coating of mineral rich detoxifying muds, then a Rasul session followed by a full body massage including hot poultices.
We began by placing our feet in warm water in lovely brass bowls; this is when Emma chose to explain the details of the treatment. Once we were on the treatment beds, lying face down - and after a few focussed inhalations breathing in fragrant oils – a gong indicated the start of the experience. The vibrations echoed around the room and through our bodies, carrying the message ‘relax and enjoy’.
The salt scrub that came next was gentle but effective; the grey and black muds spread on over the scrub was suitably nourishing. While this set, Emma carefully cleaned my feet (so I did not slip when I got up), handed us some towelling mitts and invited us to sit in the Rasul. The steam gradually built up and, while it did, we hosed each other with lovely warm water and used the mitts to loosen the mud. (This is a treatment to share only with your beloved). Once the steam reached full peak, the mud slid off easily; a rain shower of hot water finished the job off nicely. We dried off, adorned fresh disposable underwear and were escorted to the relaxation room where we slid into beds and sipped smoothies made of apple, mango and cherry.
After a 20-minute rest, we were taken back to the treatment room for the second part of the treatment: a full body massage.
This began with another inhalation and that lovely gong sound reverberating around the room. Emma began the massage with long strokes on my back so smooth that I instantly drifted off. That is until she found the knots in my shoulders and worked on them until it felt just this side of painful. Cleverly, she moved away and massaged other areas before coming back to the pesky knots to give them another go. Emma then tapped hot herb poultices on each set of muscles to encourage warmth after the intensity of the massage. My feet and ankles have never been quite so pampered.
The Three Graces Body Balm used for the massage contained St John’s Wort which helps with anxiety and stress; Emma combined this with an orange blossom rich Shea Butter which smelt – and felt – wonderful.
The combined treatment time of three hours meant we left feeling completely relaxed and nurtured afterwards. This really is like ‘balm for the soul’ and should be prescribed once a month for anyone feeling tense or overworked.
The Three Graces Spa offers a variety of treatments from Natura Bissé including facials, scrubs, massages, alongside OPI manicures, Jennifer Young treatments for those recovering from or living with cancers, and treatments for mums-to-be and men.
Lunch and afternoon tea are taken in the elegant spa lounge where you can eat in your robe. The menu on our visit included salads, sandwiches and platters, followed by chocolate or fruit treats.
We choose a healthy green salad with roasted salmon; our spa partner went for a mixed cheese sandwich with a side salad. We followed up with strawberries and yoghurt; our partner contented himself with a glass of white wine.
For supper, try the Pan Asian food at Eighty-Eight just across the driveway. Asian silk-lined walls in vibrant colours, paired with clever lighting, make this space feel intimate and exotic. It was popular and quite buzzy on our visit. You can order small plates to share or simply go for a starter and main course, as we did.
Our spa partner’s roasted Cauliflower Tandoori with hazelnuts and Tahini dressing was impressive: rich and meaty in texture despite being vegan. Our fishy favourite Halibut for the main course consisted of chunky piece of fish served with a luxurious version of prawn toast made with King Prawns topped with a Kefir lime gel.
You can also opt for dinner in Fletchers restaurant inside the hotel. We timed our visit just right for the first local grouse of the year: carefully roasted and served carved along with bread sauce, cranberry sauce and a wonderfully intense jus - a traditional treat.
We loved
The excellent treatments: talented therapists and top-notch products mean treatments yield real results.
The sense of being pampered: treatments are unrushed and personalised; spa assistants look after your needs before you even realise that you need that fresh towel or cold drink.
The inside/outside aspect of the spa: the pools and most heat experiences are inside but swim through to the outside area and enter a different spa world with a hot tub, outdoor sauna and cold plunge baths. Even on a grey and slightly rainy-day, wallowing in the hot tub or hydro pool is a joy.
We didn’t love
The snow room wasn't working on our visit.
Luxury lovers: both the hotel and the spa offer luxury with a capital L. If you can find a reason to treat yourself, this is well worth the expense.
Anyone who wants, or needs, a great massage: our spa partner insisted that his massage was the best… we were inclined to agree.
Foodies: if you love a good meal and a wonderful glass of wine there are plenty of choices and interesting restaurants at Grantley Hall.
Once again, awarded The Three Graces Spa at Grantly Hall a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury. This is an elegant and spacious spa with some good heat experiences. Numbers are limited, so it never feels crowded; the spa garden is a delight, the treatments are excellent, and the careful customer service means you can have a completely relaxing day.
Perfectly blending rich heritage with modern sophistication and vitality, Grantley Hall offers an exceptional variety of drinking and dining, ranging from fine-dining to tempting Pan-Asian. . The diverse range of bars available ranges from the traditional to the energetic and includes a glamorous late night champagne and cocktail venue.
The Three Graces Spa has its own restaurant serving a balanced selection of delicious and nutritious meals and snacks, view a sample menu here.
Grantley Hall has a range of beautifully furnished and appointed rooms including deluxe rooms, executive rooms, junior suites, grand suites, superior suites and royal suites. There is also a luxurious Presidential Suite.
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