The House Spa at Dormy House

“A beautifully situated Cotswold spa with a fascinating thermal suite, an unusually interesting treatment menu and a setting that makes the journey part of the experience”

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Dormy House sits high in the Cotswolds at Willersey Hill, just outside Broadway, Worcestershire. The drive here from any direction is a joy, particularly on a sunny day (we wound through honey-hued towns and passed some of the area's most iconic hotels). Arriving, clipped trees and tidy lawns made a lovely first impression.

What looks like a relatively compact Cotswold house opens out into a surprisingly large hotel with three contrasting lounges – one light and contemporary, a second dark and moody blue; a third rich-in-red. The hotel bar has comfortable leather armchairs; reception, meanwhile, is refreshingly informal, with staff checking guests in via an iPad.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

The House Spa is a long, light-filled space in keeping with the rest of the hotel, and easily accessible from the main reception.

We began our day winding through a retail area stocked with tempting Aromatherapy Associates, Temple Spa and Tabitha hair products. We were then warmly greeted and shown around the spa before being handed our robes (our receptionist immediately noticed our spa partner's 6ft 3in, broad-shouldered physique and provided a larger robe).

The changing rooms at Dormy are smart and spotless, with around 28 digital-code-operated, half-height lockers containing towels and reusable flip-flops. There are two showers, three toilets and a private cubicle, plus full-length mirrors, quality hairdryers and full-size products. Straighteners are available to borrow from reception.

The indoor 16-metre infinity pool sits in a lovely airy room with spa-like music and 16 chairs with footstools around two sides to relax on after (or before) lengths.

The thermal area is arranged around a central space, with a 90C Finnish sauna, a six-person steam room, snow room (with snow falling across the space; watching it from the sauna was mesmerising) and experience shower (choose between tropical rain, arctic blast or forest mist). Grab a cold towel from the fridge nearby to cool down (a thoughtful touch).

Outside, a six-person stainless-steel spa pool sits up a few steps in the sunniest spot, with jets for the back, calves, feet and glutes. A faux vertical garden and long glass fire provide the backdrop, with a sofa beside the pool and more beds on the Greenhouse terrace.

Two pretty day beds sit just within the treatment area. We asked to use these after our treatments with cups of tea and a gluten-free truffle – a lovely place to pause. There are also six relaxation beds and sofas on the Greenhouse terrace, plus a particularly good single sunbed on the pool level below. 

TREATMENT TALK

We tried a Destress and Unwind treatment (90 minutes, £175).

My therapist, Magda, led me to a comfortably sized treatment room with a fabulous wide, heated couch, a small consultation bench, attractive artwork and music that was barely noticeable.

Magda had clearly read the form I had completed before leaving home, referring to some of the detail during our consultation. She then left the room so that I could de-robe and get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face down.

The treatment began with pressure points down the spine and a breathing sequence, followed by Aromatherapy Associates Destress body lotion. Then came the star of the treatment show: a series of strong, assisted stretches through all my limbs which felt incredible.

The middle section felt like the more conventional massage we all enjoy, using Destress oil. Inviting me to turn over, Magda repositioned the couch to take the pressure off my back in preparation for some deeper stretches; Magda strong and purposeful throughout, never over-pushing and clearly watching that I was comfortable. It takes a confident therapist to take limbs and place them where she needs them to be without causing pain.

The treatment felt highly personalised with 90-minutes feeling much more beneficial than 60. My joints felt loosened and my body (surely) gained an extra couple of inches.

Afterwards, Magda stressed the importance of drinking plenty of water before leading me to a relaxation room for tea and another gluten-free truffle.

FOOD FACTS

The Greenhouse is part of the spa, with bi-fold doors opening onto a wide terrace, perfect for our sunny day visit. There's a bar and a lovely glass central fire, which would be particularly inviting on a coooler day. Food, drinks and smoothies are served until 6pm.

We lunched en robe and shared a ploughman's plate with Cheddar, pickles, cornichons, pork pie and sourdough with salted butter, alongside a chicken Caesar salad. Both were fresh and delicious. We enjoyed a fruit smoothie and chilled water infused with orange slices alongside.

We enjoyed dinner that evening at The Back Garden, where we sat outside in the enclosed garden, with raised beds growing salads and vegetables, and a greenhouse at the end. We started with chicken liver parfait with cider jelly, pickled apple and toasted brioche; our spa partner chose steamed courgette flower with crab mousse and Thai basil and lemongrass sauce. Both were delicious.

For mains, we opted for the fillet of cod with smoked bacon and mussel chowder; our spa partner the decadent chicken and ham hock pie with mashed potatoes and sweetcorn. Both were excellent. Blankets are available for those wishing to have dessert into the cooler evening – sadly we were too defeated.

SWEET STAY?

Our twin room, number 6, was in the main house overlooking the restaurant and kitchen garden. Comfortable and generously proportioned, it was decorated in soft contemporary neutrals with a large bath, walk-in shower, full-size Temple Spa toiletries, fluffy robes and generous towels.

The free minibar was a particularly nice touch, containing lager, Coke, water and milk, plus canned cocktails as part of a fun 5pm cocktail ritual, as well as posh snacks. Ice can be brought to the room on request.

Crisp white sheets, fluffy towels and air conditioning – very welcome on a 30C day- completed a room with no obvious shortcomings.

WE LOVED…

The Destress and Unwind treatment: Magda was an exceptionally confident and talented therapist; the combination of massage and assisted stretching left me feeling genuinely different.

Watching snow fall while sitting in the sauna was one of those memorable spa moments.

The generous bedroom treats and 5pm cocktail ritual made the overnight stay feel particularly thoughtful.

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded Dormy House a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its beautifully designed and maintained spa, fascinating thermal suite, interesting treatment menu and special Cotswold setting.