This wasn’t the first time I had been to the Spa at Carden and it certainly will not be the last. For a UK Spa, the Cheshire country estate features facilities like no other I have ever had the pleasure of visiting.
For me, a spa experience has to fulfil quite specific needs for guests to determine its affordability and Spa at Carden has everything. The outdoor facilities are just idyllic, the garden landscape is just incredible which surrounds the estate and there are plenty of helpful staff on hand to cater to your needs.
For a treat, my boyfriend and I had a spa package, evening dinner and breakfast to celebrate his birthday- and it felt like perfect timing to relax and unwind.
One thing I feel we should mention was the disruption in certain areas (near the Lounge Area) which were a little bit of an eye sore, but apart from that the stay couldn’t have been closer to perfect.
Treatments
On arrival, with it being too early to check in we headed straight for the spa. We would have loved to be in our robes and ready for our treatments a little earlier, but with the school runs and setting off afterwards, we arrived just before our treatments.
When I initially booked my Hand On Heart treatment, it was a treatment that I knew would put me completely out of my comfort zone. If it’s not a firm, tension releasing massage I’m not usually very keen. But the lovely Claire Davies, the therapist who was looking after me, took me to what felt like another dimension.
To begin with it was so soft that it was giving me goosebumps to the point where, if I’m completely honest I didn’t think I would be able to handle the full session. As soon as I let go and relaxed and let myself sink into the bed and fully immerse myself into its destressing movements, I really got into it.
This treatment is slow, with rhythmic movements which encourage the restoration of your inner balance- it really was a lovely, soothing experience and I even drifted off to sleep at one point.
The Spa Garden of Dreams
When you walk outside into the grounds of the outdoor spa you can’t quite believe you are in the UK.
The cold British weather really is the last of your worries once you settle into the hot, bubbling hot tubs dotted around the garden. While enjoying an hour in the outdoor pool before lunch, a little extra which really stood out for me was the waiter on service at the outdoor bar. He went the extra mile to find me some plant milk for a coffee. He came right pool side to deliver my milky coffee while still sat in the hot tub.
Food available at Elements and The Vines Restaurant
I chose the Asian Pad Thai Salad and added Chicken at Elements and, although it was strange that it was a cold Pad Thai (I just assumed it would be hot), it was delicious.
The best thing about the portion size was it was nice and light for us to feel comfortable heading back into the spa for more time in our swimwear. One thing to highlight about Spa at Carden is the consistency of excellent customer service throughout our stay. The staff were so relaxed, smiley and confident to deal with various requests and interactions with guests- and we had no problems spending a little extra cash to enjoy a nice glass of bubbles with our lunch choices.
The views from this particular restaurant are incredible. They look over the spa garden, golfing section and activities including zip wire and the aerial adventure course.
The Vines restaurant is also somewhere that now holds a very special place in my heart. It was a completely different experience to what I have had there before- because it was spent with Charlie and now felt, so extra special. You can expect an unforgettable dining experience at the 2 AA Rosette Awarded restaurant, with theatrical magic and elegant cuisine. You feel so spoilt for choice of what this place has to offer.
Executive Chef Graham Tinsley MBE and Head Chef Harri Williams have created a seasonal à la carte menu with the finest locally sourced ingredients, showcasing true culinary craftsmanship.
We both chose dishes out of our comfort zone including Welsh Beef Fillet, Salmon and some sides/sauces we would usually shy away from (any mustard sauces for me and Salmon for Charlie) but all the dishes complimented each other beautifully.
We finished up with this chocolatey, indulgent dessert accompanied with blood orange sorbet. When arriving at your table looking this good, it is sure to not disappoint.
The stay
If you are lucky enough to stay in the estate rooms front facing, here is what you would see from your room window...
The rooms, as you may not expect at a place like this, are really good value for money. For instance, booking the overnight spa package 'Spa Garden Retreat' for £180 which includes an overnight stay with breakfast and leisure club access, morning spa garden and indoor thermal spa experience, and a dinner allowance of £30- the price is a really huge selling point, because I truly believe most people would expect to pay more for the luxury of the stay provided.
I must admit, I would expect it to be a lot more expensive. Carden allows you to completely relax and unwind in its surroundings. While we were there, they had some building work going on which was a little of an eyesore but, the lovely James (Guest Relations) who shown us to our room on arrival explained they are making slight changes to their lounge area to cater for their various different types of guests.
Verdict
I can't fault the stay. This was my boyfriend's first time at a spa like this and he couldn't believe the extent of it's luxury.
From our fine dining experience, the stunning views and the glorious spa- it's a place you want to take a partner, a loved one OR even whisk yourself away for a relaxing break from home life.
If we had to be picky, we would have just liked a smoother 'get ready before your treatment' because we arrived and sat amongst other spa goers fully clothed when really, we had a minute or two spare to run into the changing facilities to get ready. But other than that, we can't fault it.
If you fancy taking a look at what Carden Park has to offer you can book everything from a Spa Experience, Activity Day or just a relaxed overnight stay here.
