Hoar Cross Hall

Set in over 30 acres of Staffordshire countryside, Hoar Cross Hall is a Grade II-listed stately home-turned hotel and spa. The interior has been treated to a £14million upgrade with modern art and sculptures now contrasting with original wooden panelling in the hotel, and white Romanesque architecture in the spa.

The traditional, manicured gardens are picture-postcard pretty; ask for a garden view room if you're staying overnight. An armoured knight (not a real one, of course) will greet you as you head up the stairs to the first floor. The spa is spread across its own underground wing of the hotel. 

At 85,000sq metres, what isn’t? Two pools, extensive thermal facilities, 46 treatment rooms (yup), three relaxation areas, a spa restaurant, a new mani/pedi boutique, a spa shop and a wellness suite. A handy map will help you find your way around.

The spa reception is light and spacious with plenty of staff on hand to help. Pick up your locker wrist band at the reception desk – we brought robes from our room; day guests can collect theirs from the spa reception desk on arrival. Immediately ahead you’ll find a circular Atrium Lounge with seats for relaxing beneath a round skylight.

Changing rooms are large with private changing cubicles, and spacious, clean showers stocked with Voya shampoo, conditioner and body wash. There are two well-equipped vanity areas with cleanser, toner, cotton pads, hairdryers and straighteners in front of mirrors, as well as a dozen or more stools by which to change.

The facilities are roughly divided into four areas with the thermal experiences situated near each of the two pools (vitality; hydrotherapy); you'll find two treatment areas are a little further along. 

For lap swimming, head to the 26-metre saltwater vitality pool which is bathed in green mood lighting. Swim into the starlit cave at one end of the pool before bubbling away in one of two hot tubs at the other. Relax on a heated lounger afterwards.

You’ll find the Aqua Massage and Aqua Detox thermal areas across a little bridge. The former is softly lit with blue tiles and Roman-style statues - here you’ll find a cold plunge pool, a walk-through water jet chamber and a Kneipp foot bath. The Aqua Detox area includes showers, as well as a sauna, a saunarium and steam room, each comfortably seating six people.

You’ll find eight egg chairs and three cosy cabanas down the corridor; grab a cup of fruit infused water and take it to the hydrotherapy pool with its muted blue lighting reflecting off the water. Don’t forget to luxuriate in the nearby hot tub which seats four to six people.

From here, head to the Nordic Heat and Ice Suite with its four zones designed to stimulate your senses. Inhale the delicate scent of lavender in the warm aroma room, inhale lung-clearing salt in the salt inhalation room, bask in the heat at the Aspen wood sauna and cool off with flaked ice in the Ice Temple. Water stations are dotted around to ensure you stay hydrated.

At the other end of the hydrotherapy pool - and visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows - is The Sanctum, a silent relaxation room with soft carpets, hanging pods and comfortable beds that can be curtained off. Soft lighting and muted cream and brown hues give this a very restful feel.

The other silent space is the post-treatment Snooze Room, a low-lit haven of warm water beds, calming ceiling lights and a flickering wall fire. You may find it hard to leave…   

If you want to work out, there’s a well-equipped fitness area with two large studios, a spinning room, and a cardio and weights gym. At least 90 classes a week are on offer here, from archery to Yin Yoga (which we tried).

We tried the Elemis Pro-Glow Genius Biotec Facial (75 minutes, £130), a Voya Menopause Treatment (60 minutes, £100) and a Mii Pedicure (60 minutes, £65).

My facialist, Louise, led me to the treatment room with oak panelling, straw fans and cream walls. The treatment began with a thorough cleanse using a rose-scented balm followed by a creamy cleanser and a spritz of toner. Louise then used a hand-held ultrasonic peel device to exfoliate my skin – the spatula vibrates 27,000 times per second to draw out impurities. A cooling gel eye mask was then placed under my eyes and a sheet mask to my face.

Next, a galvanic machine; Louise moved two cool metal prongs around my face which use positive and negative charges to help sculpt. This was followed by an LED face mask – using red light therapy to stimulate collagen. Finally, the oxygen infusion: short blasts of pressurised oxygen to force the active ingredients deeper into the skin. The treatment ended a range of Elemis products to tone and moisturise, leaving me with a next-level glow.

Later in the afternoon, my therapist, Tia N, met me in the treatment collection room. After explaining the Voya Menopause Treatment, she left me to don paper knickers and lie face down on the bed.

She commenced the treatment by applying hot Mindful Dreams Relaxing Body Oil and using long sweeping, wave-like, movements to massage from the soles of my feet to the tips of shoulders. After completing on both sides, Tia focused on my back – kneading out the deep knots in both shoulders. 

The facial element included a cleanse, tone an application of a face mask and a heavenly foot massage. After removing the mask, the treatment concluded with a scalp massage using oil; I was so deeply relaxed I could barely keep my eyes open.

Tia roused me and gently guided me to the manicure & pedicure spa boutique, a retro meets modern space with herringbone wooden flooring, four comfy pedicure chairs and four manicure stations with vintage table lamps.

She began by tackling the hard skin on the bottom of my feet using a foot scrub and various files. She then turned her attention to my cuticles – inadvertently tickling my toes with the cuticle machine - before massaging my lower legs and feet. Two coats of my polish of choice (a pop of Barbie-inspired pink) and a high shine topcoat were then applied while I happily chatted to my fellow spa-goers.

My spa partner tried the Warming Muscle Massage (60 minutes, £95) which he reported was surprisingly relaxing despite usually preferring deep-tissue massages; he enjoyed the social element of his (first ever) pedicure and newly acquired soft feet and neat cuticles.

Hoar Cross Hall's extensive spa menu includes a wide variety of treatments from Elemis, Voya and Grown Alchemist including facials, massages, scrubs and wraps, manicures and pedicures, as well as Holistic treatments, and treatments for men and mums-to-be.

Lunch is served in Hugo’s minimalist-style dining room a short walk from the spa entrance. The atmosphere is light-hearted and chatty, and you can comfortably eat in your robe. There is food to suit most dietary requirements including vegetarian, plant-based, dairy and gluten-free.

Our starters of chicken liver pate with toasted brioche and fig chutney, and Thai-spiced prawn cocktail were perfect precursors to mains of spiced belly of Packington pork and colourful superfood salad.

For dessert, we tried glazed orange crème brulee. The portions are cleverly designed for spa goers to be able to enjoy three courses without feeling stuffed.

Guests staying overnight can dine at the grand 2 AA Rosette Ballroom with its original parquet floors, impressive ‘wedding cake’ ceiling and listed William Morris wallpaper.

Book a table by the window for a view of the garden. We began with a dish of Brixham crab and crème fresh while our spa partner tucked into Hoar Cross Hall honey and gin cured salmon. Our mains of monkfish and seabass with Thai mussels and mash were both delicious; plates were left clean. For dessert, we both opted for the truly delectable chocolate sphere with malt ice cream and chocolate marshmallow.

We loved

The amount on offer at Hoar Cross Hall: a day just isn't enough.

The staff: nothing was too much trouble with staff always happy to assist (special nod to Millie in The Ballroom)

Our Suite: who doesn’t love two side-by-side roll top baths with seemingly endless views across gardens and fields beyond?

We didn’t love

The Snooze Room was chocka on our visit so no post-treatment waterbed nap for us. Any excuse for another visit…

Couples: the beautiful grounds and sumptuous baths make Hoar Cross Hall a perfect place for a romantic break.

Groups of friends: this is a great place for friends to dip, bubble, steam and catch up.

Foodies: will love the delicious food in The Ballroom.

We awarded Hoar Cross Hall Hotel the highest Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury for its extensive facilities, top-class service, wide range of treatments and incredible food.

Scarlet Spy visited in August 2023 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.