The Club at Cottonmill

First Impressions

Sopwell House is a sprawling, whitewashed Georgian manor set in 12 acres of Hertfordshire countryside near the historic city of St Albans. The stylish hotel has two restaurants, a cocktail bar (Octagon), several meeting rooms and a comprehensive spa.

The spa is separated into two areas: Cottonmill and The Club at Cottonmill. Cottonmill offers a good value day spa, with a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, an outdoor terrace, pre- and post-treatment relaxation space, a restaurant and a gym. The Club at Cottonmill is a modern glass extension exclusive to private members and spa day guests who are willing to pay extra. Each level of The Club has views over the hotel grounds.

What's on offer?

Reception is bright with neutral browns, vivid turquoise furnishings, and Crittall style doors and windows. One wall is lined with tempting products to try and buy. The Salon has two pedicure chairs, four manicure desks and a blow dry station. Bright wall art lifts the space.

The receptionist greeted us warmly and led us to The Sitting Room for a welcome fruit drink. Wood-lined walls are balanced out by large windows, and a feature wall displays of enormous cotton-reels, hinting at the history of the area.

We were booked for a spa-day at The Club at Cottonmill, so received a map (it’s a large spa) and wristbands to access the area as well as operate the lockers. The dressing rooms can be found down a flight of stairs (there’s a disabled lift, too) and are Art Deco in style, with emerald-green walls, dark wooden lockers and brass accents. You’ll find your robe and two towels inside your locker.

Four vanity areas have Dyson hairdryers and a stash of products including cleanser, day-cream, deodorant and hair products. There’s a private changing room, loos and large showers with shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, too.

Head back up to The Garden Room for The Club spa facilities. Make a beeline for the indoor/outdoor hydro pool which has air benches, seats and standing stations. At the press of a button, a glass door will slide open to allow access to the Japanese-style gardens. Here you’ll find covered cabanas overlooking a waterway, large loungers, huge plants, sofas in front of open fires and three square, sunken hot tubs. A feature wall of cascading water reminds you that you are at a spa.

The super-hot organic sauna (90 degrees) has sleek curved wooden benches and an open oven to tip coals onto (carefully). The salt steam room has a button by each seat to give a burst of steam to the individual space. Both would take eight people comfortably. Cool off in the experience shower which varies waterpower, light and scent on a two-minute pattern.

Relax between heat treatments on a range of loungers or attractive hanging seats. Enjoy table service - both here and outside - using the QR code (we loved sipping Espresso Martinis in a sunken alfresco hot tub).

Upstairs is The Whisper Room with even more thermal experiences to try. The large traditional wooden sauna has a dual aspect view overlooking the grounds, heated to a relatively mild 65 degrees Celsius. The botanical steam room has a backdrop of intricate veined marble: its trickling water fountain adds a freshness. There’s another experience shower, four infra-red stone beds and, again, comfortable loungers aplenty.

At the far end you’ll find a dark Deep Relaxation room with six colour-changing pods: lay back and watch the colours rotate. The tops of the beds are soft to the touch and gently pulse with calming music.

Each floor has toilets, towels and a drinks station with water and herbal teas. Those on a Cottonmill spa day can also enjoy the original spa facilities: a 14.5-metre swimming pool with two hot tubs which jut out over the Roman steps. A row of loungers run down one side, with views onto the outdoor terrace. There’s also a sauna and steam room and an experience shower.

If that wasn’t enough, Cottonmill offers up to six classes per day including Barre Fitness and Disco Rhythm, as well as Yoga and Group Cycling classes. Personal Trainers can be booked for tuition. The world-class gym is equipped with Technogym cardio strength and training machines.

Tell us about the treatments

We tried the Signature Hammam Vichy (60 minutes, from £135), a limited-edition treatment in collaboration with La Sultane de Saba.

My therapist, Amy, met me at reception and led me to the water treatment room with a shower above the bed. Here, she invited me to sit on a chair so that she could talk me through the treatment before leaving the room so that I could get comfortable on the bed, lying face up.

The treatment began with a scent test from three oils – I was drawn to one containing green tea and ginger. Amy then began by asking me to take three deep breaths of the oil before cleaning my face with a creamy cleanser. She then spritzed toner in the air so that it rained down on my face – this felt very refreshing. The scalp massage that followed was utterly firm – and thoroughly enjoyable.

Amy then coated my skin in a black salt scrub containing olives and eucalyptus, beginning on my legs and moving up to my stomach. Turning over, she coated my back and the backs of my legs before turning the Vichy shower on. Six rows of fine spray rained down onto my back from above; the water cool at first but turning warm and comforting within seconds.

Amy then set to work scrubbing my skin using an exfoliating mitt. This felt coarse but satisfying (dead skin cells be gone). She then left the room so that I could towel dry and pop a new pair of disposable paper pants on. On returning, she re-made the bed and asked me to get comfortable again, lying face up.

Using a combination of Shea butter and my chosen zingy oil, Amy coated my skin in the thick substance, suggesting I leave it on for as long as possible to reap the nourishing benefits.

Raising the bed, Amy led me to the Rose Relaxation Room where I met my spa partner who had apparently slept through his limited edition La Sultane de Saba Signature Upper Body Bliss (60 minutes, from £140), proving – in the simplest of ways – how effective it was.

The Club at Cottonmill offers a good variety of massages, facials, body treatments and manicures/ pedicures. There are treatments for men and mums-to-be, too.

Food Facts

Spa guests can lunch in their robes at The Pantry, linked to the elegant open-plan Brasserie restaurant. The three-course menu is topped and tailed with a buffet for starters and desserts, and plates to order for mains.

After filling up plates with creamy hummus, DIY Caesar salad and chunks of tangy Feta, we tucked into a rustic – and utterly delicious – fishcake doused in a lemony Hollandaise. Our spa partner loved his burger with fries. Despite slabs of fresh Brownie, we were too full for dessert.

That evening we enjoyed dinner at Omboo, Sopwell’s restaurant which opened two years’ ago. Bank seating, rich floral wallpaper, huge plants and hanging pendant lights give it a cosy feel.

The menu is inspired by spices of Asia and the Far East with sharing platters replacing starters and mains and a menu divided into headers such as Snacks, Sushi, Field, Ocean and Farm. Unable to decide, we opted for one of the restaurant’s new set menus (of which there are three) and gorged on crispy duck salad with orange and pomegranate, soft shell crab with dried chilli, yellowtail carpaccio, honey-soy roasted Chilean seabass, seared Wagu beef and seafood fried rice. The table groaned with beautiful plates that we washed this down with a bottle of crisp Sauvignon Blanc. As dinners go, this was one to remember.

We loved / we didn't love

We loved

Our Corner Suite: newly-opened this summer, the six corner suites are designed to reflect the colours and textures of nature. We loved the complimentary Gin tray with its bottle of Sopwell's own London Dry Gin, crystal glasses, ice bucket and pre-cut slices of red Grapefruit.

The Spa Garden: with its day beds, sofas, open fire, loungers, hot tubs and hydro-pool was a delight on our sunny September visit.

Our dinner: staying overnight? Book dinner at Omboo – you won’t regret it.

We didn’t love

How often we got lost: grab a map, spa goers, you’ll need it.

Who do you think would like it?

With its romantic suites and outdoor facilities, The Club at Cottonmill is a great choice for couples.

Londoners wishing to escape the big smoke will find Sopwell House easy to reach.

Club at Cottonmill has ‘special occasion’ written all over it.

What bubble rating did you give this spa?

Once again, we awarded The Club at Cottonmill the highest Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of Five Bubble Luxury for its beautiful spa garden, wide treatment menu, incredible staff, well thought-out heat facilities and noteworthy food.

Stylish Spy visited in September 2024 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.