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 car park - edged with palms - head up the slope 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; stairs lead down from here 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. Follow the long corridor to the left of the reception to find the changing rooms, sleek lap pool, hydrotherapy pool and thermal pods.

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

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

There’s a communal leather seating area with a central column clad in mermaid-tail tiles with plenty of large lockers to one side. The vanity area has mirrors, Dyson hairdryers and GHD straighteners; the two showers are stocked with Temple Spa products. Individual changing cubicles are cleverly fitted out with motion sensor smart lights, glass frosted doors and leather seating. One-size fluffy white dressing gowns, slippers and grey towels are provided in the lockers (or in your bedroom, if you’re staying overnight); there’s a swimming costume dryer, too.

The sleek 15-metre lap pool is large enough for 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 on our visit - has 10 different stations including hot and cold jets and bubbling volcanoes. Hang your towel on one of the ‘diving men’ hooks, sink onto one of the 14 stylish pool-side loungers – complete with leopard print cushion - and order a glass of bubbly from the poolside phone.

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. There’s also an ice room complete with ice fountain and beautifully backlit ice wall for the brave.

The pièce de résistance here is the heated Himalayan salt room. 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 its 15-metre outdoor heated pool surrounded by loungers. There’s also a mini gym complete with kettle bells, medicine balls and Life Fitness machines.

We tried the VIP Golden Truffle Experience (120 minutes, £220). 

My therapist, Linsey, led me to one of the four treatment rooms with dark green and gold wallpaper, and glowing salt lamp.

Linsey talked me through the top-to-toe treatment and asked me about my areas of concern (the usual knotted neck and shoulders) before leaving me to disrobe and lay face down on the bed. She began the treatment with three inhalations of Templespa’s Breath of Life oil – a sinus-clearing mix of menthol, Eucalyptus and tea tree - before applying a cooling balm to my feet.  

Linsey commenced the treatment with a gentle body brush and skin buff to exfoliate and smooth the skin on my legs, back and arms, before drizzling warm Templespa Truffle Oil onto my skin. Using long, light, continuous brush strokes from the soles of my feet to the tips of my shoulders, Linsey performed a sensory massage which lulled me into an almost meditative state.  

Next Linsey paired the Truffle Oil with toasty hot stones to perform a heavenly back, neck and shoulder massage – stretching and releasing the tension in my neck and easing out my tight muscles.

Turning onto my back, Linsey placed rose quartz stones on my chakra points before commencing a deep cleansing ritual, using a sonic cleanser. Most Revealing glowing skin oxygen peel was then applied to my face; intrigued by the bubbling and fizzing sensation, Linsey explained it’s was just the product resurfacing the skin.

Linsey then applied a Trufflesque Anti-Ageing Mask to my face; while this worked away, she drizzled oil on the front of my arms and legs and gently brushed my skin.

After removing the mask, Linsey performed a skin lifting massage using lymph draining techniques to strengthen muscle tone on the face and jowls. A thick and cooling alginate anti-ageing mask was applied to my face, followed by a scalp massage. Placing hot stones in the palm of each hand, Linsey performed a hand and arm massage using Body Truffle.

Once solidified, Linsey peeled off the mask in one satisfying layer and used a combination of rose quartz (for lymph drainage) and cold eye spoons (for dark circles and puffiness), finishing the treatment with a selection of serums and creams.

Linsey handed me a glass a water and let me gently come to from my blissed out haze. She advised me to rest and drink plenty of water after such an intensive treatment; handing me a mirror I admired my squeaky clean and glow-y skin.

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 (150 minutes). They also offer Jessica manicures and pedicures.

Spa day guests can dine in their robe in stylish Brasserie – grab a table by the windows for views over the gardens and across Torquay’s rooftops. The menu features steaks, Pad Thai and gourmet burgers along with open sourdough sandwiches. Free-from alternatives, vegetarian and vegan options are also available. With a new pastry chef at the helm, Lincombe Hall’s afternoon tea is not to be missed.

For guests staying overnight, book into the brand new AA Rosette Dining Room for locally-sourced seasonal produce that is freshly caught, foraged or pickled. This intimate space has just 10 tables and is all tall ceilings, giant dark wood ceiling fans, bronze print wallpaper and oversized lamps.

We feasted on deliciously tender venison carpaccio with crisp parsnips and truffle to start, followed by a sea bream with Thai green mussels and kohlrabi. Loosening the waistband, we order the decadent dark chocolate pave with hazelnut and blood orange, and savoured every single mouthful.

We loved 

The design: Every single design detail of this stylish spa hotel has been considered. The décor and all the extra touches make Lincombe Hall Hotel & Spa feel really indulgent and easy to relax in.

The treatment: The new Templespa longer treatments are epic. What’s not to love about a 2-hour top-to-toe treatment that includes hots stones, oil brushes and cooling alginate masks? A real sensory experience.  

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

We didn't love 

Although the poolside loungers are a great place to relax on with a glass of fizz, we did miss a dedicated relaxation room to completely switch off post-treatment. Although we are told this is coming…

Worn-out parents: book a sitter and leave the kids behind - this spa hotel is just for grown-ups. The food is delicious, the beds are huge and 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: After exploring the thermal pods and bubbling in the hydropool, order Prosecco and catch up poolside in your comfy robes.

We awarded Lincombe Hall Spa a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles. This adult-only spa feels stylish yet unpretentious; we loved the design - all natural materials and quirky touches. The staff are down-to-earth and friendly, and the Temple Spa treatments will leave spa-goers feeling well and truly spoilt.

Scarlet Spy visited in and awarded it 5 Bubbles.