Lincombe Hall Hotel & Spa

Perched on a hill overlooking the English Riviera, Lincombe Hall is a quintessentially British coastal retreat. After parking in the hotel carpark, edged with palms and kamikaze squirrels, head up the hill to the grand 19th century white house and through the revolving doors to the hotel reception. The spa is in a separate building to the hotel but connected via an internal corridor. 

A designer spa for grown-ups. On one floor you’ll find the spa reception with a corridor leading to the changing rooms, sleek lap pool, hydrotherapy pool and thermal pods. Stairs lead down from the spa reception to four beautifully designed treatments rooms, a couple’s treatment room and mani/pedi suite all in dark green, gold and hand-picked natural materials.

The reception area is a calming combination of blues and greys with seating in the middle, positioned below the centrepiece pendant light. A display of Temple Spa products line one wall and, on the other, two shelves with rows of elegant glass jellyfish paperweights – trailing tentacles sparkling in the light.

You approach the spa changing rooms down a long well-lit corridor, lined with white textured tiles and a glimpse of the outdoor summer terrace. On the ladies changing room door, the first thing you see is ‘the hand’ print on the glass. You’ll be forgiven for thinking someone is adjusting their clothing – but panic not, this Hitchcock-esque quirk is all part of the design.

There is a communal leather seating area with a central column clad in mermaid-tail tiles. Plenty of large lockers are to one side of the seating. There is a vanity area with mirrors, Dyson hairdryers and GHD straighteners. The two showers are stocked with Temple Spa Good Hair Day shampoo and La La Lagoon shower gel. The two individual changing cubicles have motion sensor smart lights, glass frosted doors and leather seating. Fluffy white dressing gowns (one size), slippers and large grey towels are provided in the lockers (or in your bedroom, if you are staying overnight) and there’s a swimming costume dryer.

The sleek 15-metre lap pool is large enough for a few lengths, edged with floor-to-ceiling windows and blue jellyfish artwork that reflects ethereally in the water and on the ceiling. The neighbouring 13-metre hydro pool, a balmy 34 degrees, has 10 different stations including hot and cold jets and bubbling volcanoes. Hang your large grey towel on one of the diving men hooks, then sink onto a leopard print cushion on one of the 14 stylish pool-side loungers and order a glass of bubbly.

Four glass-fronted thermal pods overlook the pools. Start your thermal journey in the large Ibeca wooden-clad Scandinavian sauna – with lazing room for eight people – before cooling off in the Nordic-inspired bucket shower.

The aromatherapy steam room, with its mosaic walls and sparkly ceiling, is scented with essences of either coconut, orange blossom, eucalyptus or vanilla – depending on the day. For those brave enough, there’s an ice room complete with ice fountain and beautifully backlit ice wall.

The pièce de résistance is the heated Himalayan salt room, which you need to book. Lay on one of two wooden loungers on a floor of pink salt and gaze at the twinkly ceiling or glowing orange and red brick wall.

During the summer months, you can enjoy the outdoor terrace with loungers and the 15- metre outdoor heated pool. There’s also a mini gym, complete with kettle bells, medicine balls and Life Fitness machines. 

We tried the Champagne & Truffles Deluxe Treatment (90 minutes, £135).

My therapist, Jaydee, led me to ‘Nirvana: Peace & Enlightenment’ – one of four uniquely named rooms. The dark green and gold wallpaper and glowing salt lamp felt cocooning. There were quirky design details such as wooden honeycomb shelves and gold hands on the walls to hold your jewellery.

Jaydee talked me through my treatment and asked me about my areas of concern, before leaving me to disrobe and lay on the bed face down. She began the treatment with a foot cleanse, followed by a heavenly hot stone back massage.

I turned onto my back for the facial. Jaydee started with a deep cleansing ritual that included a glycolic acid resurfacing peel, The Big Reveal. The naturally derived sugar cane removes dead skin to brighten the complexion -- it felt quite refreshing. Jaydee performed a skin lifting massage using lymph draining techniques to strengthen muscle tone on the face and jowls and using a vibrating tool.

Jaydee applied a triple-infused hydrating warm alginate mask. Once solidified, she peeled it off in one layer. She then gently painted a power-house concoction of pure gold, black summer truffles and diamond illuminating powder onto my skin. The thick, gold Trufflesque mask felt as luxurious and indulgent as it sounds. The gold elixir was massaged into my skin to absorb all the goodness.

To finish, Jaydee drizzled hot oil onto my hairline and delivered a sublime scalp massage. I was so relaxed I had zoned out, so when she placed cold stones below my eyes, I felt refreshed and revitalised. Finally, Jaydee final applied Temple Spa Skin Truffle and, as I came to, handed me a glass of water.

I tied back my oil-slick hair and admired my skin in the mirror – it really was radiant, plump and glowy. Jaydee led me to reception for my glass of champagne with strawberries and hand-made truffles – now I felt super-relaxed and utterly spoilt.

Lincombe Hall Spa offers a good range of Temple Spa facials, massages and body treatments, as well as treatments ‘for him’, mum-to-be and longer treatments such as bespoke facials and Ultimate Detox Package. They also offer Jessica manicures and pedicures. 

Spa day guests can dine in their robe in the hotel restaurant – grab a table by the floor-toceiling windows for views over the gardens and across Torquay rooftops. The Brasserie
menu features steaks, pad thai or gourmet burgers. Open sourdough sandwiches, Lincombe Hall afternoon tea and free-from alternatives are also available.

For guests staying overnight, don’t miss the local fish dishes on the three-course set menu served in The Brasserie. We had the grilled Cornish sardines as a starter and a light main of
Fillet of Torbay plaice. There’s also a vegan menu, with dishes such as BBQ jackfruit frites with pineapple chilli chutney and straw mushroom, and cashew pad thai. 

We loved

The design: Every single design detail of this stylish spa has been considered.

The décor and all the extra touches make Lincombe Hall Spa feel really indulgent and easy to relax in.

The treatment: What’s not to love about a treatment that lasts 90-minutes, paints your face in pure gold and diamonds, and ends with a glass of champagne and home-made truffles?

The customer service: No stuffy spa staff here – just down-to-earth, friendly and professional.

We didn't love

Although the pool-side loungers are a great place to unravel with a glass of fizz, we did miss a dedicated relaxation room to completely switch off in, post-treatment. 

Tired seaside parents:

The spa is adult only, plus, there’s a couple’s treatment room, so you can take full advantage of your ‘us’ time.

Design lovers:

The spa’s design and décor has been a labour of love – from the hand-picked local stone sinks to the mermaid-tail tiles in the ladies changing room.

Girlfriends:

Order champagne and catch up poolside in your comfy robes and newlypedicured toes. 

We awarded Lincombe Hall Spa a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles. The spa feels stylish and spacious, with natural materials and quirky touches. The staff are down-toearth and friendly, and the Temple Spa treatments will leave spa-goers feeling well and truly spoiled. Scarlet Spy visited in October 2020 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.

Top tip:  Avoid using the spa pre 9am or post 5pm when it tends to get a little busier – possibly with members. There can only be a maximum of 14 in the spa at one time, so you will always get a seat – but it’s wonderfully serene when there’s just a handful of people in there.

Suave Spy visited in October 2020 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.