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, running water 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 purple robe and towel, we entered the spa's own changing rooms. These are small but modern with two large showers containing combined shampoo / bodywash and separate conditioner. A vanity bar has hairdryers and straighteners, and you can help yourself to iced lemon water. Lockers -- of which there are 18 -- vary in size and are operated by a £1 coin. 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 court. Check the website for dedicated swim times for children, who will love the pictures of flowers, butterflies and fruit trees adorning 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; a wider choice of reading material would be a welcome addition. 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, the tennis court or the nine-hole golf course next door.

We enjoyed an Elemis Bespoke Facial (75 minutes, £72).

My therapist, Danielle, met me in the waiting area and led me to a cosy treatment room with a decadent gold-painted ceiling. Danielle invited me to sit on the bed so that she could talk me through the next 75 minutes; she then left so that I could get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face up.

The treatment began with a foot cleanse using a lime compress; this was followed by some Balinese rocking and pressure-point work on the soles of my feet.

For the facial, Danielle treated my eyes and lips to a balm called White Flowers to dissolve any traces of make-up. For the double cleanse, Danielle used a pro-collagen cleansing balm (to melt away any grime), followed by a pro-collagen cleansing cream (to clean out the pores). She followed this with a ginseng toner to rehydrate my skin.

Danielle split a capsule and used its rose-scented oil to massage my face, neck, shoulders and décolletage. Next up: a rose exfoliator to brighten my face; Danielle removed this with a rosewood compress. To refresh my skin, Danielle used a Peptide 4 night-time recovery oil.

As Danielle had deemed my skin to be dehydrated, she applied two masks: a paint-on, peel-off mask followed by a pro-collagen mask to boost collagen production. While the first mask set, Danielle performed a hand and arm massage; during the second, she turned her attention to my scalp.

The facial ended with a multitude of Elemis products: a pro-collagen neck balm, a pro-collagen eye renewal cream, and a pro-collagen day cream containing SPF 30.

Unsurprisingly, my wrinkles appeared reduced while my face looked firmer and plumper. A strawberry smoothie in the relaxation area ended a very relaxing, results-driven facial.

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 makeovers.

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 salads and fish, with desserts ranging from fruit salad to cheesecake.

We waited longer than expected for our Superfood salad which should have been quick to prepare. Our dish was a little oily too. 

Dinner at Nelson's bar was an improvement: our Mexican nachos with melted cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa to start was so large we couldn't manage a main course. Dessert was a pretty plate of tiny cakes, which we enjoyed in our spacious room.

Don't miss breakfast in the Palm Court, a refurbished lounge / bar /restaurant with as many chandeliers as plants.

We loved

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

Our treatment: Danielle is a highly skilled, instinctive therapist who delivered an extremely personalised facial with real results.

The refurbishment: The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel is undergoing a make-over bit-by-bit; so far, so funky.

We didn't love

The wet changing rooms could really do with a makeover.

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 and the newly refurbished Palm Court lounge, which brings the outside in.

We awarded Spa by Kasia a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 4 bubbles. Spa by Kasia is a great modern spa with beautiful gardens, a good range of spa facilities, and a wide menu of treatments delivered by skilled therapists.

Stylish Spy visited in September 2018 and awarded it 4 Bubbles.