Rockliffe Hall

Rockliffe Hall is an elegant building - part Georgian-part Victorian - sitting in acres of green, pleasant parkland. The large spa is in a modern extension to the side. Saunter through glass doors to the spa reception which is calm and spacious with brilliant pops of colour in the form of stained-glass windows, and brightly coloured sofas and chairs.

At 50,000 square feet, this is a large, well-equipped spa. The stained-glass windows running along one side of the 20-metre pool were rescued from an old chapel on the site. Relax afterwards on well-padded recliners. Children’s swim times are from 8-10am and 4pm until 6pm making this a good choice for families.

A new sustainability initiative sees Rockcliffe declare itself a ‘barefoot spa’, and guests are welcome to bring their own slippers or flip flops, or to spa barefoot. The choice is yours.

There are many rooms to experience in the thermal area. We began at the footbaths, dipping our toes in hot and cold basins in turn. The infrared room proved perfect for easing backache; the salt steam room good for improving breathing; the igloo room offered cooling respite. Take a short snooze in the Tepidarium on the warm tiled seats or enter the Tropicarium which is like a sauna but with more gentle, moist heat.

For those who like their heat experiences, the super-hot Roman sauna and steam room are out by the main pool. The centrepiece of the thermal area is the hydrotherapy pool. The bubbles stay on for about 20 minutes at a time leaving plenty of time to move around the massage area, swan pipes, bubble chairs and lie-back beds.

Outside, past the hot tub and outdoor drench shower is the entrance to the outdoor area. Upgrade your spa day to include a 90-minute session here for £25. It has its own infinity hydro pool outside on a sunny terrace, while inside you’ll find a sauna and seating around a firepit. Order drinks including smoothies, glasses of fizz, wine or beer.

We tried the Comfort Zone Himalayan Splendour treatment (120 minutes, £165).

My therapist, Jessica, explained the elements of this top-to-toe treatment before inviting me to de-robe and get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face down.

The treatment began with a back exfoliation using a Comfort Zone Tranquillity Oil and salt crystals which Jessica sprinkled on top of the oil directly onto my skin – I wondered if I looked rather like a plate of chips, but the combination of silky oil and abrasive salt felt wonderful. Jessica expertly controlled the level of exfoliation by sprinkling more salt on dry patches and less where my skin looked tender.

Holding up a towel to preserve my modesty, she then invited me off the bed and into a warm shower. The oil and salt mixture was easy to remove with just warm water. Once dry, Jessica invited me back onto the bed for the second part of the treatment: a knot-busting massage.

Combining the same lovely oil (which contains cedarwood, orange, and rose essential oils) with bamboo sticks, Jessica loosened the knots in my shoulders and stretched the larger muscles in the thighs, calves and arms.

As the third step of this thorough treatment is a facial, Jessica asked me to turn over so that she could thoroughly cleanse my skin, paying close attention to the pesky milia I am prone to. She then used Comfort Zone’s Sorbet Cream (which felt like silk) to nourish, massaging it deep into the pores. A good amount of Comfort Zone Hydramemory Serum ended this three-step treatment.

My skin looked plumped and glowing; the laughter lines around my eyes (aka wrinkles) appeared softer - even those milia were much less noticeable. If only I could enjoy Jessica’s magic hands and these products once a month (at least).

My spa partner went off with his therapist, Morgan, for a Hot Rocks Massage (90 minutes, £130) which combines warm and cold stones as part of a relaxing yet invigorating massage.  

In the dimly-lit relaxation room afterwards, we lay back on huge, curved recliners under a stained-glass ceiling, sipped herbal tea, chatted and snoozed. The perfect end to a relaxing day.

The treatment menu at Rockliffe Hall offers Comfort Zone facials and body treatments, NEOM spa rituals, massage and treats for men and mums-to-be. You can book yourself in for the salt suite, too, or Rasul. Complete the beauty palette with an OPI manicure or pedicure.
 

The spa’s dedicated restaurant, Nu Sana, is named after the words Nutritious and Sana (or ‘healthy’ in Latin) and sums up their ethos. All the food is nutritious and healthy, but also delicious. Food is served here all day and guests can comfortably eat in their robes until 5pm, after which time, they must dress for dinner (the restaurant is open in the evenings on Fridays and Saturdays).

The large menu ranges from light and colourful salads to more hearty burgers, including chicken and Wagu – and, yes, French fries are on offer. We tucked into succulent Tandoori chicken skewers served with a refreshing mint yoghurt and tomato salad; my spa partner enjoyed his curried lamb with green beans. Whatever you order, make sure it comes with some freshly-made Chai seed bread.

For dinner, we dined at the hotel’s main restaurant, Orangery, where much of the ingredients come from the hotel’s own kitchen garden. We loved tucking into Lincoln Poacher cheese scones with a broth made from tomatoes grown on site and some cultured butter as an alternative to bread.

To follow we opted for delightfully fresh and light confit of trout, followed by cod with mussels, which left sufficient room for a very rich chocolate and mint desert.

Our spa partner tucked into a rich mushroom risotto followed by salt-aged Northallerton lamb served with a lamb fat crumpet, which he described as rich and delicious.

We loved

The sheer glamour of this spa: it’s smart, colourful and stylish.

The number of thermal facilities on offer: you could easily spend an entire day here.

The top-notch treatments are delivered by very capable and experienced therapists.

We didn’t love

The lack of outside space: there are some facilities outside but, in a spa this large, it would be great to have a proper spa garden.

Despite being clean and tidy on the day of our visit, the changing rooms are beginning to look a little dated.

Spa regulars wishing to want to try new experiences and treatments.

Foodies: there is a great choice of dishes in both the spa café and the hotel restaurant.

Couples in need of an indulgent, romantic weekend away.
 

We awarded Rockliffe Hall Spa the highest Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of Five Bubble Luxury for its excellent facilities, unusual and interesting treatments, great customer service and wonderful sense of peace.

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