Hoar Cross Hall

First Impressions

Set in over 30 acres of Staffordshire countryside, Hoar Cross Hall is a Grade II-listed stately home-turned hotel and spa. The gardens are picture-postcard pretty; the interior filled with original features including attractive wood panelling. The spa - complete with new rooftop terrace - is spread across its own wing of the hotel.

What's on offer?

What isn’t, quite frankly? Two pools, extensive thermal facilities, 41 treatment rooms (yup), three relaxation areas, a spa restaurant, a mani/pedi boutique, a spa shop and a wellness suite. Add to that the stunning rooftop terrace opened in July 2024 - with three large spa pools, sauna, and cold plunge tubs. You need the handy fold out map to help you find your way around, though staff are on the look out for confused spa goers and great at setting you in the right direction.

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 here. 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 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.

Up on the spa terrace you’ll find three huge - and delightfully warm - spa pools, two cold plunge barrels for the brave and a sauna to warm up in. There is plenty of seating with recliners under scallop-edged green and white umbrellas and shady cabanas with plump mattresses, each with blankets and pillows. A green oak open-sided bar area provides shelter when needed. Settle in at one of the many tables for a drink or snuggle down beside the fire pit. There are more firepits on the terrace .

Downstairs is 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.

There are 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 jet blowers and 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 and cool showers in the Ice Temple. Water stations are dotted around to ensure you stay hydrated.

Visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows from the pool is The Sanctum, a silent relaxation room with soft carpets, hanging pods and comfortable beds that can be curtained off.

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.

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

Tell us about the treatments

We tried an Elemis Expert Tech Lift and Rejuvenate Facial (60 minutes, £110).

Charlotte, my therapist, spent some time checking my usual skincare routine (not drinking enough water; hardly ever using a toner) and asked what I would like to achieve before leaving the room so that I could settle down on the treatment bed, lying face up.

Charlotte began the facial with a pro-collagen Rose cleansing balm followed by the energising marine wash and an apricot toner, which smelt wonderful. Face clean, she applied a peel and combined it with a hand-held ultrasonic device to exfoliate my skin – the spatula vibrates at a whopping 27,000 times per second to draw out impurities. She then positioned a sling under my jaws and used a low level electric microcurrent to tighten the muscles of the face. This felt a little uncomfortable; particularly around the eyebrows, which made me twitch.

Next came the Oxygen Infusion, Charlotte warning me that the oxygen would feel cold on my skin and would be quite noisy. Charlotte moved the device around my face working on each area a couple of times to force the active ingredients deeper into the skin.

She finished with a lovely gentle face massage which was very welcome after the high-tech.

Once she had finished Charlotte offered me a mirror so I could see the results which were very noticeable. My jaw line was lifted, my eye area much tightened and even the crease between my eyebrows was softened. My skin was clear and smooth and glowing.

Our spa partner tried the Elemis Expert Tech Smooth and Polish Facial and found that he was fascinated by the technology which involved an Ultrasonic Peel followed by a LED Light Mask using red light therapy to stimulate collagen.

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.

Food Facts

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.

We started with some lightly smoked salmon with an egg and potato salad followed by a tasty vegetable tagine with cous cous. Our spa partner chose the tomato and lentil soup followed by slow cooked beef which was so tender it pulled apart. A bowl of fresh fruit was enough to finish our lunch, although there are many indulgent desserts to choose from.

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

Here, our vegetable soup hit the spot; our spa partner enjoyed the treacle-cured salmon with a yuzu curd. For mains, we both opted for the catch of the day which was a generous portion of delicately cooked seabass served with a tasty Paella containing chicken and chorizo. The vegan sticky toffee pud was excellent.

We loved / we didn't love

We loved

The new rooftop Spa Terrace: this is THE place to be, whatever the weather.

The variety of experiences and treatments available: as well as the amazing spa facilities, guests can do Yoga, reformer Pilates, play tennis or archery and even throw an axe.

The eco credentials: the biomass boiler runs on wood chippings from the nearby National Forest; pop any part used products into the drop box and they will be donated to those in need.

We didn’t love

Not having enough time to fully experience all that's on offer.

Who do you think would like it?

Couples: over half of the guests on our visit were couples combining some quality time together in the spa with a romantic meal in the elegant hotel.

Water babies: the sheer number of pools, plunges and fire and ice experiences will keep swimmers happily afloat for most of the day.

Anyone in need of a special treat: from breakfast on the south terrace with a bottle of bubbles to afternoon on the spa terrace and results-driven treatments that will make you look years younger; you can’t help but feel pampered at Hoar Cross Hall.

What bubble rating did you give this spa?

Once again - and without hesitation - we awarded Hoar Cross Hall Hotel the highest Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury for its stunning rooftop spa terrace, faultless customer service, stylish touches and extensive facilities.

Sybaritic Spy visited in September 2024 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.