Champneys Spa at Mottram Hall

Mottram Hall is an elegant 18th Century country house set in 270 acres of parkland in leafy Wilmslow, Cheshire. Glide up the long driveway and past the property’s own 18-hole golf course to the main entrance, which is fronted by an ornate fountain. A recent £1 million refurbishment of the 120 rooms and suites, Champagne bar, and 2 AA rosette restaurant has set the bar high; sweeping staircases, original parquet flooring and grand chandeliers have all been beautifully restored. The £11 million Champneys Spa —the first of its kind in the North of England — opened its doors in September 2020.

The reception area is light and bright, with orange sofas and a roaring fireplace setting the scene for a design-led spa. Here, you’ll find a pretty-in-pink beauty parlour, retro hair salon, open-plan spa café (with central open fire), a spa shop and well-equipped gym.

Your fluffy white robe, towel and branded flip-flops will be handed to you in a bag at spa reception. The changing rooms are spacious and on-trend. Open the full- and half-height lockers with your own four-digit code and settle down on the round blue cushioned seats to get changed. Four showers - hidden by frosted glass doors and sporting huge rain-shower heads and Elemis amenities - are tucked around the corner. Duck into one of three snug private changing rooms to dress before taking a pew at the statement preening bar, with regal teal and grey chairs, gold oval mirrors, Dyson hairdryers and straighteners. There are three WCs near the entrance.

Enjoy a leisurely wallow in the 13-metre semi-circular pool - bathed in natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows - before relaxing in the bubbling hot tub seating six, or the raised hydro-pool with its oversized swan neck fountain. You’ll find a monsoon shower with three settings (tropical, storm and cool rain) at the edge of the hot tub. Recline on one of the many chic, pale grey rattan loungers poolside, take a nap on circular daybeds for two (some on a raised balcony area) or sip Champagne with friends on comfy sofas in the oh-so-chic private cabanas.

Swimmers should make a beeline for the 20-metre lap pool behind a set of doors. Two full walls of glass let light in as you swim. Surrounding saunas and steam rooms are all housed in glass to make the most of the pool views. There’s a Brechel sauna (cooler than usual) seating six, a salt steam room with gleaming white tiles and a twinkly ceiling, another monsoon shower and a three-level organic sauna. Grab handfuls of ice from the ice fountain to cool down afterwards or hop into the cold room and brave the temperature dip.

Outside in the spa garden, you’ll find an oversized hydro-pool with massage jets, ample daybeds, grey deck chairs, and rattan tables and chairs to sit and enjoy a glass of fizz whilst listening to birdsong. Want to stretch your legs? Follow the steps up to the pretty rose garden with its duck pond and fountain.  

Back inside, you’ll find a studio offering several classes, a spin room, and a dedicated spa restaurant on the first floor.

We tried the Champneys Body Ritual (50 minutes, £98).

My therapist, Eleanor, explained the treatment and then offered some additions: an eye mask (£10), a face mask (£10), a nourishing mitt for the hands (£10) or a nourishing mitt for the feet (£15). Knowing that my eyes are looking pretty wrinkly, I opted for the eye mask.

Eleanor began the treatment with a back exfoliation using Champneys Firming Body Polish followed by a hot stone massage with Aromaworks Purity Oil. Eleanor had listened when I said my lower back and shoulders were tense, and worked on these areas using slow deep massage strokes with the warm stones – heavenly. Eleanor also found the knots in my shoulders and worked on them carefully with her hands. Now very relaxed and warm, I turned over so that Eleanor could place the cooling mask over my eyes. To finish, Eleanor massaged my feet using a nourishing foot butter.

My spa partner had the same treatment using the Slumber Body Balm. We met up in the treatment reception area of the shop afterwards, both looking and feeling very relaxed. My eye area looked brighter and plumped up; my spa partner was very happy with his Body Ritual although he didn’t choose any of the masks or mitts. Sadly, there was no deep relaxation room to snooze in, so we sat on the long seats in the café where we could lie back and relax. 

Mottram Hall offers a wide menu of spa treatments designed to showcase Elemis, Champneys and Clarins products. Choose from many different facials, massages, body treatments, nails by Jessica, and beauty treatments. The exhaustive menu includes treatments for men, mums-to-be and those overcoming, or living with, cancer. On set days, Mottram Hall also offers aesthetic treatments such as fillers and peels by Moreton Aesthetics.

Guests have a choice of two lunch venues, both of which feel comfortable in spa robes. The stylish spa café (with swoon-worthy gold light shades) has a menu of cakes, toasted sandwiches, coffees, smoothies and wines.

You can also try Raffaella’s on the first floor which offers hot lunches. Spa days include a two-course lunch but you can add another course or drinks if you are still feeling peckish/are in the mood for some bubbles. It’s also worth noting that Raffaella’s is quite a bit cooler than the spa area, so dry off well, or add another layer under your robe.

Our two-course lunch began with a delicious trout pate with dill scones – super tasty and light. We chose a salmon poke bowl with rice for our main course.

Guests staying overnight can dine in the hotel’s low-lit Carrington Grill restaurant. We enjoyed starters of silky-smooth chicken liver parfait with toasted sourdough, and mac and cheese with lobster. For the main, we chose the fish of the day which was Coley with prawns and mussels on a bed of samphire in a lobster bisque. The flavours were fresh and it was well-cooked.

We loved

The airy design: light streams in through the glass roofs and walls giving the decorative pinks and golds a warm glow. 

The number of facilities: along with the good-size main pool, there is a large hydrotherapy pool, Jacuzzi, two saunas at different temperatures, steam room, cool room and outside hydro-pool in the very sheltered garden. 

The spa café makes an interesting central meeting point without being too noisy. It has plenty of comfortable seats of various shapes and sizes. It also serves hot and cold drinks and light snacks. 

We didn’t love

Having to ask for a fresh towel: we didn't spot any spare towels around the spa and our spa bag only contained the one. 

The absence of a post-treatment relaxation room: it was suggested that we take a seat in the spa or by the pool.

The cabanas cost £60 a day: despite seating up to six and looking lovely, many spa-goers may not consider this good value.

Lucky locals who can take out membership and use the spa regularly.

Anyone keen on ‘tweakments’: a range of aesthetic treatments such as fillers, micro-needling or radiofrequency treatments can be pre-booked.

Water babies will be spoilt for choice in the four different pools.

We awarded Champneys at Mottram Hall a Good Spa Guide rating of Five Bubbles. The spa has plenty of excellent facilities, a lovely sheltered outside spa garden and some extra special offerings such as the hairdressers/barbers and aesthetic treatments.

Sybaritic Spy visited in October 2023 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.