Cambridge Country Club

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Located in on the outskirts of Cambridge in the pretty village of Bourn, the already-established Cambridge Club knocked down its old golf building three years’ ago and created a new wellness space made entirely out of wood and glass.

Set beside an 18-hole golf course, the Club has an indoor simulator for practice, plenty of spaces to eat and drink - including Spikes Bar and the Cotto Lounge overlooking the green - a Garden Suite for private parties, luxury holiday lodges to buy, plenty of parking and a day spa.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

Park up right outside the building and walk through the sliding glass doors to the main reception. The entire space is light and bright with huge amounts of marble, long corridors, modern artwork and – on our visit – several Christmas trees.

On this floor, you’ll find the pool, the thermal facilities, the changing rooms and a tan box; head up the impressive marble staircase (checking out the ceiling lights on the way) for the physiotherapy room, a vintage barber shop, an all-singing-all-dancing gym, a studio for classes, a Spa Lounge for lunch and The Spa itself.

Spa reception is light and bright with white gleaming floors and walls, a desk with ‘The Spa’ emblazoned across the front and hundreds of Elemis products to tempt.

We were warmly greeted by Louisa who invited us to take a seat around the corner, offered us glasses of water which we sipped on pink chairs in front of glass tables with gold legs (whilst looking across the golf course through full-height glass). Despite the blossom tree in the corner clearly not being real, it added a certain charm.

Here, we completed health questionnaires and chose lunch on iPads, and received caramel-hued robes, branded flip-flops and towels to take with us. Louisa then showed us around the entire space, leaving us on the ground floor in front of the changing rooms. One last item to receive: a tiny slip of paper with a code on it to open doors within the spa (take a photo if you are likely to lose it).

Changing rooms are basic but functional with huge lockers (both tall and wide) for all your winter boots/coats and cases, two showers and one loo behind pale wooden doors, one private changing room and cream squishy blocks by which to change. In front is a vanity bar for two with hairdryers and a large mirror (no bells or whistles, sadly). A swimsuit dryer is in the process of being fitted.

From here, head back up the stairs for the spa. Beyond the reception desk, you’ll find a manicure bar for four with pink chairs and a pedicure room around the corner with four stations, also pretty in pink. Next door is the Himalayan salt room with three tepidarium beds heated to a toasty 35 degrees and salt bricks embedded into the wall – our favourite of the thermal rooms. Four single treatment rooms and a double can be found along the corridor from here, as well as a relaxation room with grey double day beds adorned with pink cushions and grey blankets, a faux fire and the second of three Christmas trees.

Spa goers can walk around the entire space in their robe, including gliding between the floors (but be careful not to slip on all that marble). Downstairs, the 15-metre pool has a darkened floor and pearly dark grey walls making it moody and inviting. Want bubbles? Walk down the steps to the right where there is also a Whirlpool seating four. Want to swim? Take the left and do your lengths. Relax on one of several peachy plastic curved loungers afterwards. Kids swim times begin at 3.30pm – avoid this time if the thought makes you shudder.

To the right of the pool is an open-plan rainforest shower area backed by dark mosaic tiles with three shower heads. On the right from here, a steam room behind a glass door seating six – which was super steamy – and a dual-level sauna seating eight.

TREATMENT TALK

We tried a Luxury Pedicure (90 minutes, £55).

My therapist, Louisa, met me in reception and led me around the corner to the pedicure room. Inviting me to take a seat, she guided my feet into a sink of warm water laced with bubbles and talked me through the pedicure.

Louisa then set to work removing the old polish and removing hard skin – no easy feat. She then applied a scrub to both feet and my legs to remove any dead skin cells. Once my feet were comfortably back in the warm, bubbly water, Louisa turned on the jets. While I languished in foot heaven, Louisa disappeared, returning with a cup of coffee and a slice of shortbread for me to sip and munch whilst she filed my nails into shape.

Pushing the cuticles back, Louisa added a nourishing oil and applied a hydrating mask. After placing a plastic bag on each foot, she popped bright pink heated booties on each one and clipped them shut. While 10 blissful minutes when by, I looked through swatches of Mii polish - of which there were 65 - finally choosing Baltic Blue, a dark bluey-grey. Using Mii’s Soft & Supple lotion, Louisa massaged my feet and legs.

For the nails, Louisa snaked tissue paper between my toes and set to work: a base coat, three coats of my chosen shade and a gloss. Between each coat, she dried the nails with an LED machine. The result? Party season tootsies.

Our spa partner tried the Swedish Massage (30 minutes, £50), followed by an Elemis Nourish Facial Boost (60 minutes, £85). During the former, he fell fast asleep; his first ever facial left him looking super refreshed.

The Cambridge Country Club offers a range of massages – think Bamboo, Swedish and Hot Stones - signature rituals, facials from Elemis and Biotec, Therajet Hydrotherapy Massages, manis/pedis, treatments for pregnant women, mens’ waxing, finishing touches, close shaves and haircuts in the barber’s and Princess Parties for up to eight in the mani /pedi areas.

FOOD FACTS

Those on the Mindful package can enjoy a two-course lunch as part of their day in The Spa Lounge where you can eat in your robe. Grey squishy sofas and chairs in front of glass tables frame sit on a plush carpet. There’s a large bar, a real fire (sadly not lit on our visit) and yet another Christmas tree.

On the menu: a couple of salads, four hand-stretched pizzas, a Clubhouse burger, a Croque Monsieur and a vegan curry dish. Spa goers on different packages can also have afternoon tea with a glass of Prosecco.

We opted for the Croque Monsieur which was as cheesy as it was filling, served with skin-on fries. Rather more sensibly, our spa partner opted for the chicken Caesar salad which looked fab. We washed both dishes down with glasses of South African Sauvignon Blanc. For dessert, we ordered the New York Cheesecake to share, and two spoons.

WE LOVED / WE DIDN’T LOVE

We loved

Being able to drive up and park right outside the building – it’s the simple things…

The views: the entire building is created with double height glass offering golf course views at every turn.

Our treatments were top notch.

We didn’t love

The changing rooms aren’t just basic but on a different level to the spa, meaning lots of stairs. The code for the doors is also a faff; a wrist band for full access would work better.

The Spa Lounge has carpet on the floor which – despite feeling plush under foot – felt a bit odd in a space in where spa goers eat.

WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD LIKE IT?

Golfers: as well as the 18-hole course, there’s a golf simulator and Spike’s Bar.

Fans of Elemis: the spa menu showcases the brand beautifully.

Those in a hurry: avoid the city – and its parking restrictions – and pop in for a mani, a pedi, a wax or a lash lift. Easy peasy.

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded Cambridge Country Club a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its gleaming new building, good range of facilities, effective treatments and golf course views.


Stylish Spy visited in November 2024 and awarded it 5 Bubbles