It is true what they say, don't judge a book by its cover, and I must admit I did exactly that when we drove up to the Manor House Hotel in Cheshire.
I was here to check out their facilities and brand new spa garden but as I approached the grounds, which isn't far from a housing estate and a nursery, I was a little dubious. The Manor House sits on Audley Road, in Alsager on the border of Cheshire and Stoke-on-Trent, and is around an hour and 15 minute drive from Manchester city centre.
Independently family owned, the hotel started life as a 17th century farmhouse and has just finished its second phase of spa developments with their spa garden, which is said to embrace the English countryside and rural location.
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The location of the hotel is a little surprising as although it is in the countryside, the nursery is just a two minute walk away, a housing estate is adjacent to the right, Alsager golf course to the left and Alsager train station is a 10 minute walk. So I was genuinely curious to see what life would look like inside.
Stepping into the reception, I was immediately taken aback by the size of the lobby. There was a family checking out, and as I waited I took in the light, open spaces and spotted signs for the spa and restaurant ahead.
Reception staff were very friendly and informed me and my friend that our room wouldn't be ready until later but we could head straight to the spa for our Ultimate English Garden Spa Day. I couldn't wait to see what was behind those glass doors.
The spa
Inside
The Spa at The Manor House is home to an impressive 15 metre serenity swimming pool with surrounding boardwalk and glass ceiling, three treatment rooms, a quiet relaxation lounge for post treatment tranquillity, and beautiful, bright, modern changing rooms.
I couldn't believe how vast the indoor facilities were, the indoor pool is huge and you can lounge on their sofa beds or take a rest on the Instagram worthy hanging day bed, which we did and it was total bliss.
Next to the indoor pool you'll find a sauna and steam room with showers if you fancy a deeper detox before a swim. This is all before you even step outside.
After we were shown around the spa facilities we were taken into the changing rooms and told our signature Manor House robe, lido towel and flip flops were located within our personal lockers, accessible via our wristbands. After a quick change into our swimming costumes and robes we explored inside once again and then entered the spa garden, which is only exclusive to guests who have entry.
Outside
Outside is home to the new English Country Spa Garden, and it's impressive to say the least. It features an indoor bar and dining area, a swim-up pool, a sauna and salt hut, an outdoor ice bath, a jacuzzi pool with lounge beds and two separate huts containing cosy seating areas, looking out towards the rolling hills.
Making the most of natural light and fresh air, the new development is inspired by the hotel’s picturesque rural location which looks out onto the fields beyond. Embracing the English countryside, the spa garden combines quintessential landscaping and country garden planting with modern wellness facilities.
You wouldn't think all this was here from the front of the hotel but it is.
The outdoor pool was the right temperature and if it wasn't for the English weather in October, I would have thought I was abroad in a swim-up bar, not in the East Cheshire countryside. Thankfully it didn't rain either so we could enjoy the outdoor pool for longer than usual at this time of year and not get too cold.
At the bottom of the spa garden is the jacuzzi area and this was my favourite part. We had the jacuzzi to ourselves and because of the way it's positioned, it felt more private. Surrounded by lounge beds in a circle it's the perfect spot for a catch-up with friends, and makes for a more intimate setting thanks to the enclosing plants, lights and relaxing music playing in the background.
I particular enjoyed the sauna in which you could see the fields beyond as you relaxed in the heat. I decided against the outdoor ice bath, although I can see this being a great appeal in the warmer months.
The reading areas in the separate huts made for a lovely addition to our experience. You can curl up with a book on one of the swing lounges, while soaking in the views.
Salt Shed
As part of our spa day we also had something called the Salt Shed experience, and I honestly didn't know what to expect. We were taken to a separate area of the spa, to another wooden cabin (similar to the one in the outdoor spa garden which houses the sauna rooms) in the courtyard, opposite the indoor swimming pool.
The experience offers a Himalayan salt wall, lavender cauldron and ergonomic seating where you can relax in 40ºC heat and listen to either a visual or guided meditation. We opted for the guided mediation and for 30 minutes we forgot our troubles and embraced the warmth, and calming tones of the guide.
Treatment
I asked for a 'Drift Away Body Massage', a full body massage formulated with a dreamy blend of Mediterranean essential oils including frankincense, lavender and patchouli. The spa's description said it would guarantee to leave you drifting away, sooth and calm frazzled nerves and wind down an active mind, tension and stress.
We were taken to the double treatment room inside the spa facilities (there's two doubles and one single treatment room altogether), as myself and my friend were having the same treatment at the same time.
The treatment room was warm and inviting, and there was a smell of lavender oil in the air which immediately made me feel relaxed. The massage bed was warm from the heated towels and the whole treatment took one hour in total but felt like minutes.
Working from the back and shoulders, down to the legs and feet, my massage therapist applied just the right amount of pressure that my tight muscles and aching body needed. I work from a desk and suffer with a lot of knots and tightness around my shoulders and back but he was quick to alleviate this.
He also didn't talk much during the treatment which is how I prefer it, I don't like small talk at the best of times and you certainly don't want it when you're having a massage and trying not to think of anything. My friend had a different experience as her therapist was slightly more chatty, not enough to ruin the experience but enough for us to both notice the difference between the two.
After our treatment we were taken to the spa's relaxation room, which was equipped with soft chairs, good enough for you to sink into with a glass of fizz, or a herbal tea, and a magazine as you continued the relaxation and your body adjusted back to a seated position.
The food
During our spa break we had a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner at The Stables Bar & Grill in the main hotel area. The food was really, great quality but the portion size for our lunch was a little too much.
I asked for the butternut squash soup to start and the chicken Caesar salad for the main course. My thinking was to go for light choice before we were due for our treatment but the portion was so big I couldn't eat it all, luckily I wasn't bloated ahead of the massage but it's one thing to be aware of if you're having lunch as part of your spa day.
My friend in particular enjoyed the spring roll, so much so that she ordered the same thing again for dinner later on. I had the steak which was cooked beautifully.
The Stables is a typical English country pub and complements the spa perfectly. If you're already relaxed sometimes the perfect dinner setting afterwards is a friendly, wholesome pub where you don't have to get too dressed up, or worry that you're not, and just enjoy good quality food.
Verdict
Overall, our spa stay was truly relaxing, memorable and a well-needed break. I would definitely go back again, I'm already looking at the price list for a potential weekend away this Christmas.
Their spa days start from as little as £69 depending on the time and day you go. The Ultimate English Garden Spa day we had is from £200 and to be honest I would pay that to go again. The modern spa mixed with the classic character charm of the farmhouse hotel and restaurant adds for a wonderful experience that can easily cater to all.
I'm looking forward to coming back here once the final stages of the spa development is completed, but even without them the spa was enough to wow and impress.
Thank you Manor House hotel for reminding me not to judge a book by its cover and for giving me a luxurious, relaxing experience that I will remember for a while, in particular during times of stress. Head over to their website here to book a stay or check them out on Booking.com for the latest deals.
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