So spa, so good
Nov 21 2009 by Liz Lamb, The Journal
Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year so why not pop along to a spa for the ultimate chill-out or treat a stressed-out loved one to a relaxing pamper present. Liz Lamb profiles some of the best in the region.
Seaham Hall
IT has won a host of awards and is a haunt for celebrities such as Pink, Lionel Richie, Robbie Williams and Liam Gallagher, so it’s no wonder the spa at Seaham Hall is the one of best in the UK.
With a reputation that is so far unrivalled in the North East – it has been voted Best Spa for Style by The Sunday Times and Best UK Spa Destination by Conde Nast Traveller – it has become THE place to relax and be seen in.
I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never visited the spa before but with a celebrity client list to rival any London establishment, and rave reviews from people I know who have visited, it has been top of my to-do list all year.
The drive up to Serenity Spa is as stunning as its oriental-inspired interior. Housed in a dome-shaped building adjacent to the main hotel, the spa is surrounded by County Durham countryside, with views of greenery that seem to go on for miles.
This is an instant stress-buster before you even walk through the doors. I’d had a busy week at work so was looking forward to indulging in relaxation time with a friend.
As soon as you walk into the reception area there is an aura of calm. Inspired by feng shui, the spa is designed to active all five senses.
After being handed a locker key and soft white robes, we decided to try out the ozone-cleansed pool.
The area is situated in the dome-shaped part of the building and has huge floor-to-ceiling windows which show off the countryside and flood the room with light.
Around the pool, guests were chilling out on loungers, reading magazines and drinking juice while wrapped up snug in their fluffy robes.
After a swim around the circular pool we spotted hot tubs on a decked area outside the building and decided to brave the cold Northern air.
Our chills were soon forgotten when we sunk into the bubbles in the hot tub.
From the tub we could see the main hotel, a stunning white historic building with vast lawns and lots of trees and foliage.
My friend and I both remarked on how lovely the view was. It was so peaceful it really did feel like you were a million miles away.
After 20 minutes I had to tear myself away from the tranquility to go for a treatment.
The spa offers more than 45 treatments including hot stones, wellbeing massage, purifying facial and spa ocean wrap.
I opted for a lime and ginger eye treatment and eye mask. My eye area is often neglected so this was a perfect choice.
I was led into a room with dark wood interior and the aromas and candles instantly put me in chilled-out mood.
The treatment itself sent my stress levels packing. I hadn’t felt so relaxed in ages. The therapist gave me a shoulder massage before removing my make-up and then applying products that smelt divine. Even the treatment sounded good enough to eat.
The eye mask was a real treat. I could lie back and relax and forget all my stresses from the past week. The experience last around 45 minutes and by the time I left the room I felt like I could lie down and sleep for a week.
My face, and especially the eye area, were glowing and my skin felt ultra-soft.
I decided to go into a dark lounge area to relax and rehydrate myself with a couple of glasses of water. The room is often used by guests who want to get away from the pool area and have a nap.
After a brief interlude I then went back to the pool area where I relaxed in the sauna and took advantage of the black granite steam room. I also tested out the hydrotherapy bath which has 12 massage stations and is good for people with bad backs.
The massage can even help to combat cellulite.
I had a dinner reservation at 7pm so I decided to pop into Hooker & Young which has a hairdressing salon in the spa building to get my tresses tamed after hours in the pool.
Marcus King, a finalist for North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year, worked wonders washing and blow-drying my hair into a voluminous style ready for dinner.
It was then off for a meal at the Ozone restaurant which is also in the spa building. The eaterie has a relaxed atmosphere so guests can visit in their robes if they want to but as I had spent the day at the spa and was having an evening meal I decided to change out of my wet things.
The restaurant has pan-Asian cuisine with a Western twist. I was very impressed with the quality of the food and had imagined it would be more of the snack bar, but the dishes were impressive.
A hearty meal and a glass of wine was the end to a perfect day.
In my experience Serenity Spa is the ultimate in chilled-out luxury.
It won’t be too long before I go back.
:: Seaham Hall, Lord Byron’s Walk, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7AG Tel: (0191) 516-1400 www.seaham-hall.co.uk. Hooker & Young at Serenity Spa Seaham Hall (0191) 581-9900.
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