Spa by Kasia at the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa

The red-brick Grosvenor Pulford Hotel is a nineteenth-century property with a 2 AA Rosette restaurant, a cosy bar (with an open fire), a tennis court and a modern spa.

Immaculate landscaped gardens feature lily ponds, bridges and Japanese accents, while Spa by Kasia, which opened in 2007, is full of Eastern promise: think Buddha statues, orchids and Moroccan lanterns.

Staff welcomed us at the spa's reception and invited us to swap our shoes for a pair of fluffy slippers in preparation for an Asian Tea Ritual: a tray containing delicately flavoured strawberry and mango tea, a fragrant orchid and a hot towel. This set us up nicely for the day ahead.

Armed with a white robe, we went to the wet changing rooms which are slightly dated, with pine lockers and showers which have seen better days (plastic shower curtains; no shampoo/conditioner). A few upgrades would not go amiss. The space is functional, though: lockers are large and there are private changing cubicles and baby changing stations.

The spa's own changing facilities are more luxurious, with conditioner in the showers, but more places to sit down would be a welcome addition, particularly during busy periods.

The Greek-themed, 15-metre pool is part of the hotel's health club and overlooks the  tennis courts. Check the website for dedicated swim times for children, who will love the pictures of flowers, butterflies and fruit trees adorning on the walls. There's a small, round Jacuzzi in the corner.

A small wooden sauna and a moulded-plastic steam room are in the health club, too, both spacious and sufficiently hot on our visit. Loungers are dotted around the pool, while some low tables have newspapers for guests to pick up and read. Cool off in one of two terracotta-tiled showers.

Inside the spa itself is a Hammam Thermal Suite with a heated marble plinth on which you can be scrubbed from head to toe. Two guests at a time can also enjoy Spa by Kasia's Arabian Rasul, a blue-tiled steam-filled room where you can slap mud all over your body before washing it off in a tropical rain shower. Our skin felt silky smooth afterwards.

In the Penchant Snooze Room upstairs are four comfortable beds; it's a great place to doze off post-treatment with its flickering candles and red glass chandeliers. Help yourself to lemon- or cucumber-infused water. If it's a nice day, take your drink to the little summerhouse at the end of the spa garden and snuggle under a blanket on a comfortable sofa.

Feeling energetic? Make use of the air-conditioned Technogym-equipped fitness studio or the nine-hole golf course next door.

We enjoyed two treatments back-to-back: a Bamboo massage (75 minutes, £89) followed by an Elemis Anti-Blemish Mattify and Calm facial (60 minutes, £60).

My therapist, Hayley, met me in the spa reception area and led me to a softly lit room which was clean and modern.

As I lay face down on the warm treatment bed, Hayley began the bamboo massage with a "welcome touch", gently rocking my towel-clad body backwards and forwards with both hands. She then drizzled warm Elemis Frangipani oil, chosen for its hydrating qualities, onto my back. As my body absorbed the warmth, and I inhaled the exotic scent, I began to relax.

This particular treatment allows therapists to perform a deeper, firmer massage by using a heated bamboo cane in place of their hands. Hayley spent a good amount of time releasing the built-up tension from my neck and shoulders before asking me to turn over so that she could repeat the procedure on the front of my legs and my arms. I felt thoroughly de-stressed afterwards.

For the facial, Hayley cleansed my pollution-clogged face thoroughly before removing the creamy liquid with warm mitts. She then massaged he oil from a Cellular Recovery Capsule into my face in preparation for an exfoliation using textured mittens. While a peel-off gel Hydro Soothing Active Mask set to work, Hayley expertly massaged my scalp. A second, creamier mask aimed to reduce redness and even out skin tone.

Hayley then applied a toner to close my pores before quenching my skin with an Elemis moisturising fluid and eye cream. Despite all the products used on my face, my skin looked healthy and rejuvenated.

Spa by Kasia offers a range of treatments, from facials, wraps and scrubs to more unusual treatments such as semi-permanent make-up, laser hair removal and CACI facials using electronic currents. Men and mums-to-be are catered for, too, while bridal parties can have manicures, pedicures and make-overs.

We ate lunch in our robes in the spa café with its Asian décor and doors opening out to the gardens. Among the options for starters and mains are soups, fish, salads and duck, with desserts ranging from fruit salad to cheesecake.

We enjoyed a tasty bruschetta topped with local goat's cheese crumble and a tangy raspberry panna cotta with sorbet; both were a light delight.

Our mouth-watering dinner at 2 AA Rosette Ciro's Brasserie, a Mediterranean-themed conservatory-style restaurant complete with Romanesque statues, drapes and cast iron furniture, was a real treat. Cheese lovers: try the Twice-baked Cheshire Cheese soufflé or the cheese board featuring local varieties; you won't regret it!

We loved

The spa gardens: With their Asian design and fragrant scent, the gardens are a real highlight; explore if time permits.

The staff: The customer service in both the hotel and the spa is excellent.

We didn't love

The changing rooms: A refresh of both changing areas would make a welcome addition to Spa by Kasia.

We spotted couples, families, and groups of friends on our visit.

Green-fingered guests: Budding gardeners will love the outdoor areas at Spa by Kasia.

We awarded Spa by Kasia a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 4 bubbles. Spa by Kasia is a great property with beautiful gardens, a good range of treatments -- some unusual -- and fantastic food.

Super Spy visited in August 2017 and awarded it 4 Bubbles.