Category Archives: Day Spas

Barlborough Spa & Beauty – Chesterfield

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Okay, so first I should say that I have not used the spa facilities; I went for eye lash extensions, so can’t really comment on anything else. It’s a cozy little retreat on a working farm, some way out of town, in Barlborough.

Nicki, the owner,  welcomed me with open arms. When you arrive you enter a large room which has a huge hot tub in the centre, with a sauna and shower to the side. The treatment rooms are just off this, and are small but sassy. She told me that the hot tub can be privately rented and that they hold young girls parties there, which I have since heard are very popular with the little princesses.

As I had worn extensions before I thought I knew what I was in for but this was a completely different experience. Nicki carefully applied each extension to one of my individual natural lashes, choosing the exact length and size to get the desired effect. This took two hours! The reason is so that, as your natural lashes shed, you only lose one, not a clump that is attached to one. Makes sense, if time consuming. They don’t stick together, and I was impressed both with how natural they looked, and Nicki’s patience.

I have since stopped using eyelash extensions, which I will blog about later, but if you want long natural looking lashes for a special event I would certainly recommend this place – here is the link Barlborough Spa.

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Hellaby Hall Hotel & Spa – Rotherham

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Another bargain break, with breakfast, dinner and use of the spa. We were a little worried on the way there as you drive through an industrial estate to get to the hotel. The hotel itself is one third 17th century Hall and two thirds modern extension. The actual hall is lovely, but you enter through the modern side. Here is their link – Hellaby Hall

We stayed two nights on a weekend break. The room was comfortable and spacious, although it could have done with  a refurb.

Food and drink

We went for dinner as 2 courses were included in the deal, which was delicious, with little wait. Not surprising as apart from us there were only two other tables dining in a rather large restaurant.

That evening we sat in the bar in the Hall, which was nice, even though the hotel is also used as a wedding venue and that can make you feel like an unwanted guest!

Breakfast was included with  a pleasantly surprising selection and again friendly staff.

Spa

Use of the large 20 metre pool, sauna, steam room and gym is free for guests and towels are provided. The pool has an adult only section, which is great as it is open to the public with membership. There are beauty treatments, but it’s not really a spa, more a pool with extras.

Summary

We didn’t get the spa feel we were after, but I think it is a case of “you get what you pay for”, and we made the most with our own face packs and the mini break.

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Daresbury Park Hotel & Spa – Warrington

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I went here for a Spa weekend in January. The hotel has had some rough reviews, but I think it depends where you are in the building as some of it needs refurbishing. Our room was in the newer part of the hotel and just a hop and a skip from the “Spa”. I use the term loosely.

Our twin bedded room was reasonably well appointed, with lots of room, 2 easy chairs and a table, plus a reasonable sized bathroom. Mainly the hotel seems to have 2 main sources of clientelle, wedding parties and refugees, neither of which caused us any issues. We also met some other ladies that had taken up the same weekend Spa offer that had enticed us.

The Spa

This is Spindles Health club, which is also open to the public with a membership fee.There is a 15 metre swimming pool, so we chatted to the attendants and found the times when it was likely to be empty. Such luxury! At other times it is over run by rather boisterous hens and/or stags. There is a jacuzzi which is rather odd, as the step into it is so far down you could almost think it is a plunge pool. My friend adores the bubbles, but only attempted it once. Ridiculous shape. Then there is a fabulously designed Turkish bath. It is fairly small but covered in mosaic and the black ceiling has twinkling lights. Incredibly relaxing and I want one… Other than that there is a shower that changes lights and patterns, hmmm.

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We didn’t have any spa treatments included in our stay, but were very  lucky to find an available space, although it had to be straight away.  Otherwise they are booked up with bridal parties, very busy. If you want  to go, booking in advance is a must.

I was impressed with the full body salt scrub that I had, and my friend  enjoyed her massage which we had simultaneously. Fun to chat a little as  we were worked on, and the beauticians were excellent.

Food and Drink

We had breakfast and an evening meals in our package. This is in a large and rather rowdy room rather like a cafeteria. We both found something to eat but I was not very impressed. This is catering en mass for a limited budget, and I felt they were trying to do their best with poor ingredients. On the second morning I asked for a poached egg, and the chef seemed very happy to do this, and she made a good job of it too, bless her.

There is also a bar just outside the restaurant, and we did spend a pleasant evening with a group of like minded people, although the bar prices are a tad on the expensive side.

Summary

If you find a bargain deal on this hotel, take your own beauty treatments and champagne, as we did, ask for something you want for breakfast, and make the most of the limited facilities. It’s not bad, it’s clean, and we had fun!

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Klasse Spa – Barlborough

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Ok this is hard to post publicly on the net but I like to have a Hollywood wax. The full Monty, clean and silky smooth. Fortunately, I have now found a superb beautician, but I made the mistake of booking an appointment at the inaptly named Klasse Spa.

The staff are skittish and poorly trained. I had to chase up messages left on their voicemail to get the appointment in the first place, then they did not seem to have me booked in when I arrived.  The place itself feels unspalike as it is amongst some fairly new industrial buildings, but looked reasonably clean. Luckily I was not there to use the spa, as I have subsequently read some dire reviews on TripAdvisor!

The young beautician was pleasant enough and assured me that they had the best wax and would do a thorough treatment. As she started she told me about her boyfriend, then prattled on about a new machine that they had just got for spot fat reduction – an obvious sales pitch. As she told me to roll from one side to the other I was wary, as those of you who have this done will know it is usual to adopt a variety of positions to get a “clean sweep”. It was over quite quickly, and she had another abortive attempt at selling me sessions with the horrendously expensive fat dissolver thing before I scurried out.

When I got home, to my dismay I discovered that only the visible hairs had been removed; not a full Hollywood, despite assurances it would be. Agh. Very disappointing.

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