6 spas for wine lovers

Spa time:
At 50,000 square feet, the spa at Rockliffe Hall is large and well-equipped; the thermal bathing suite - with its tepidarium, caldarium, infrared room, salt-steam room, Roman sauna, tropicarium, hydropool and ice fountain – is all singing-and-dancing. The treatment menu effectively showcases Neom, OPI and Comfort Zone. On warm days, the modern Spa Garden comes into its own with its infinity edged outdoor pool, glass-fronted sauna, heated loungers and day beds.

Wine o’clock:
Under the culinary expertise of Chef Dion Jones, the two AA Rosette Restaurant at Rockliffe Hall celebrates the best of local produce with a menu that gently moves with the season. Dion pairs his beautiful dishes with the hotel’s brand-new wine list which features over 180 selections, including exclusive wines from Hand Picked Hotels' owners private vineyard in Tuscany, Villa Saletta. La dolce vita? You bet.

Nighty night:
Five-star Rockliffe Hall is an elegant building - part Georgian-part Victorian - sitting in acres of pleasant parkland in County Durham. Rooms and suites have been individually styled to complement the bones of the historic building, with original features, modern touches and woodland views aplenty. An 18-hole golf graces the grounds.

Spa time:
The adult-only Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall is as contemporary as it is comprehensive with floor-to-ceiling windows perfectly framing the landscaped gardens beyond; on sunny days, the area floods with natural light. The large infinity edge pool and indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool will dominate your time; keep an hour or more in the bank to experience the crystal salt steam, toasty Finnish sauna, aromatherapy steam room, Laconium herbal sauna, experience showers and ice bucket.

Wine o’ clock:
Àclèaf is Boringdon Hall’s Michelin-starred, 4 AA Rosette restaurant headed by up Chef Patron Scott Paton. With its extensive wine cellar (stocked with 1,500 bottles of wines with price tags up to £5,000 a bottle) and knowledgeable Sommelier, wine flights go hand-in-hand with delectable dinners. The hotel also runs regular wine tasting events throughout the year for keen quaffers to learn more about the process – and do some tasting, obvs.

Nighty night:
Located just five miles outside the city of Plymouth on the edge of Dartmoor – an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Devon - Boringdon Hall is a 16th century, Grade I listed Elizabethan Manor with an illustrious past (Queen Elizabeth I as one of its original guests). Celebrating an occasion? Book one of the suites fit for a king (and queen).

Spa time:
The garden at The Spa at Carden puts many a spa to shame with its heated outdoor pool, square chrome hot tubs (of which there are three), outdoor sauna, firepit, oval glass seating pods (number = five) and Bolllinger Garden Bar serving glasses – or bottles - of Bolli. The star of the indoor facilities is the 11-metre pool; beyond here, you’ll find a Finnish sauna, bio sauna and three steam rooms.

Wine o’ clock:
The estate on which the spa sits is home to a three-acre vineyard which produces up to 10,000 bottles of sparkling wine each year from the two grape varieties: Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir. In 2021, the restaurant changed its name to The Vines, adding a selection of wines from the estate to its fine dining menu, including this fancy fizz. Like it? Buy a bottle to crack open at home.

Nighty night:
You’ll find Carden Park at the end of a mile-long winding driveway in leafy Cheshire; follow a lazy river through 1,000 acres of countryside and a well-manicured golf course until the property – and lake - gently appears in the distance. Rooms and suites – of which there are 197 – make the most of the views.

Spa time:
Although the hotel feels very British, The Beaumont Spa feels more Paris than Mayfair with aged mirrors, gleaming chrome, monochrome tiles, and easy jazz playing in the background. The etoile of this petit spa is the thermal area which has a cold plunge pool, traditional wooden sauna, white-tiled steam room and an ice fountain. The only spa-based hammam in Mayfair can be found behind a sliding glass and chrome door.

Wine o’ clock:
One entire side of The Colony Grill Room is given over to wine, with bottle-after-bottle stored behind glass doors. Wooden steps beside each allow sprightly Sommeliers to leap up and fetch the perfect blend. Wine Discovery Journeys are available for tables of up to four guests wishing to pair their dishes. Think you know what’s in your glass? Take a guess… you could wipe the £60 per head flight off your bill.

Nighty night:
The grand, whitewashed Beaumont Mayfair is a place of indulgence steps away from the bustle of shoppers - as far as London postcodes go, it’s a beaut. The five-star hotel draws heavily from Art Deco which runs from the lobby - with its chequerboard black and gold floor - through to the restaurants.

Spa time:
The piece de resistancè at The Municipal Spa – which is a graceful extension to its hotel - is the attractive 16-metre pool which has full-height windows showing Liverpool off in all its glory. Pummel post-swim shoulders under powerful swan necks before settling down on a squishy lounger to order drinks from passing spa hosts. The toasty Himalayan salt sauna and steam room are as spacious as they come; Grown Alchemist, Elemis and Mii take care of treatments.

Wine o’ clock:
Beneath the central – and leafy - Seaforth Restaurant is a wine cellar featuring a selection of fine wines to complement meals. Over 50 varieties of wine and Champagne are available to order – by the glass or bottle – including a deep Zuccardi Malbec, an elegant Ultimate Provence Côtes de Provence rosé and a crisp Ca Bianca Gavi white.

Nighty night:
The Municipal is a newly-converted five-star hotel in the beating heart of Liverpool. Once home to council offices, the 1806-built, caramel stone building weeps character, with parquet flooring, sweeping staircases and oval windows. As well as spacious rooms and suites, the hotel has a gorgeous courtyard bar with 20-ft-high ceiling (pictured above), two restaurants and a tearoom.

Spa time:
The thermal space at The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village is simply stunning: a vast glass structure overlooking a decked spa garden with outdoor hot tub and sauna. The central bubbling hydrotherapy pool is surrounded by seven heat experiences, including a herbal sauna, aroma steam room, tepidarium, sanarium and Balinese salt inhalation room. The spa menu is vast, with treatments from Elemis, Neom, ishga, OTO and Natural Spa Factory.

Wine o’clock:
The team works closely with local wine partners to create a balanced list of classic and new indigenous wines, as well as forming relationships with growers in New Zealand, Italy and Australia. Champagne lovers can work their way through the entire portfolio of Laurant-Perrier Champagne; red and white aficionados can select glasses (or bottles) under sub lists according to aroma and taste. A calendar of wine events and tastings takes place annually.

Nighty night:
Ribby Hall is part of a large holiday complex located at the end of a very long driveway in 100 acres of Lancashire countryside. The adult-only hotel is perfect for peaceful stays, or book one of the self- catering cottages (sleeping between two and 14 guests) to holiday en famille. Pooch can come too.