Wander around in a white robe and try not to look lost! (Whittlebury Hall)

Member Name: catsholiday

Product:	Whittlebury Hall
Date:	02/11/09 (104 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great value, good food, relaxing and thoroughly luxurious

Disadvantages: None that I found

WHERE IS THIS?

Whittlebury Hall, Whittlebury, Nr Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8QH.

This is a hotel, Management Training Centre, leisure centre and day spa as well as a golf course. It is just near Silverstone racetrack so I suspect it might get busy when there is a big race there so this might be a time to avoid.

I booked through Lastminute.com but then I did phone the hotel directly after booking in order to find out more about the spa and treatments they had on offer. They were delightful and explained everything to me, suggested that I visit the day spa website to see the treatments and also tipped me off about the fact that you can use the spa all day on the day you are booked in, you don't have to wait till check in time at the hotel. So you can get there for 10am use the spa and leisure centre and then check in to the room after 3pm. On the day you leave she also told me that if you check out of the hotel before 11am then come to the leisure centre, you can use those facilities in theory till 11am but in realty you can stay as long as you like as they can't really check unless you try to bill something to your room!

THE DEAL:

I paid £150 for two of us for one night with breakfast and an evening meal and I also upgraded to the heat and ice experience which was extra , I believe without the upgrade it would have been £138 for two people but I would recommend the heat and ice upgrade as it is more exciting than just the leisure centre. Any treatments that you want are booked directly with the hotel and are extra obviously.

CHECKING IN:

We arrived at the hotel at about 11.30 and found it really easily. We parked the car then went to the hotel to check in. The receptionist gave us a card with our room number on it and explained that we would use that to charge anything to our room. I had to leave a credit card number at the desk but the bill can be paid in cash or by debit card instead when you check out.

We took our card and our swimming costumes in our small bags and went in search of the spa. It was right next to the hotel and easy to find. However we struggled to find the spa reception area and went heading off down the corridor to the leisure centre at first until some kind person pointed out the way to the two dippy women!

THE SPA:

Finally we got to the spa reception area where we were checked in for the heat and ice experience. The young girl explained that the plastic watch was the key to the locker and told us which locker numbers were ours. The robe, towel and slippers were in the locker. She then explained how to get to the changing room, upstairs and the through the shop and then when we want to come back down the watch thing opened the door into the spa area. Okay so now we have a list of directions and our watch things etc and head off to find the changing room. We got there and then went to the lockers only to discover that neither of us remembered what number locker we had and that the numbers are NOT on the watch band so down we went again to confess our stupidity, get the number and retrace our steps to the changing rooms again.

The Spa reception area had a number of nice chairs and tables for relaxing in plus there was a table with herbal teas and jugs of iced water with slices of lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit in them with disposable plastic glasses for you to help yourself to. Also on this table was an enormous bowl of fresh fruit piled high with various different fruits which you could also help yourself to which I thought was a lovely idea and I didn't see anyone grabbing handfuls greedily.

The changing rooms had the lockers, separate shower cubicles and toilets. There were also hair dryers for use of patrons and in the showers were shower gel, shampoo and conditioner in big containers on the wall and you just pushed the button to get the required amount so there was no waste. The hand wash and hand cream on the basins was Molton Brown and very nice but not sure about the shower stuff as there were no labels on the container.

HEAT AND ICE EXPERIENCE:

Having achieved getting changed and finding our lockers, locking them again, getting in to the spa area and finding the Heat and Ice we felt very pleased with ourselves. I'm not sure if it was because everybody walking around in white robes that made us lose all thinking power but we seemed to be having more trouble than other people knowing where to go and what to do.

Once in the Heat and Ice area you have to hang your robe (with slippers in the pocket) and towel on a hanger and then remember which hanger number you put it on! Then you can start to experience the various parts of the area. We spent quite a lot of the time in the lovely warm round pool which had jets of water squirting at your various wobbly body bits depending on which jets you chose and how you stood or sat. In the middle were big nozzles which squirted warm water at your neck and back which was wonderful for you when you were under it but the spray coming off splashed anyone nearby which was not that pleasant.

Beyond the central pool other excitements included the foot baths which nobody seemed able to make function, a warm marble bench which was actually quite hot, two stone loungers (trepidariums) that were heated and always had someone on them so we didn't get to try them . To add to the wet experience there were a number of different showers offering various experiences, a bucket shower, a drench shower and experience showers which appeared to have mood lights but we were not able to make them work for us. Then there were rooms that either heated you or if you were brave enough you could also experience the ice cave which was freezing cold, had cold showers and buckets of ice for rubbing on your body. We positioned ourselves in the sauna just opposite the ice cave and were entertained by other brave or stupid people sharing ice with friends. My particular favourites were the aromatherapy crystal steam room and the caldarium which was not as hot as a steam room or sauna but still very warming. Next to the sauna was a sanarium but for some reason we managed to miss this one so I'm not sure what pleasures awaited you there.

FOOD AND DRINK:

We felt a little peckish after an hour or so and having managed to retrieve our lovely white robes we went in search of something light to eat. We wandered to the leisure club which appeared to have a restaurant but they only offered the rather yummy looking lunch to people booked in the day spa we think.

They turned us away and sent us upstairs to another relaxation area and we spotted a display table of food. And menus on tables so sat ourselves down hopefully. The food on offer included a muffin at £6, tea at £3.75, a cheese plate with small portions of about 6 cheeses, 4 biscuits and a sliced up quarter of an apple for £7.25 or an afternoon tea for £14.50. Astonishingly expensive we thought. I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and suggested we share a cheese plate but my sister who was paying for lunch as I had treated her to the night away, ordered a cheese plate each. I would suggest if you decide to go that you pack a few sandwiches in the car and pop out to enjoy those or take advantage of the free fruit on offer as these prices were ridiculously expensive.

THE HOTEL:

We returned to enjoy the Heat and Ice experience until about 3.30 when we decided that we had had enough and would go and check in to our room. The man at reception was lovely and handed us our plastic keycards and pointed us in the direction of the lifts. The hotel was huge and we went down so many corridors to get to our room. Every time we went to or from the room we tried a different way but all were equally long and complicated and we usually ended up coming down in a different lift, it was all most confusing.

Everywhere in the hotel and the spa was immaculate, very smart decor, comfortable and quietly calm and efficient. The lobby area was huge, open and airy with a number of areas to sit on brown leather sofas, plush carpets and lovely flowers arrangements. The Silverstone bar area was also huge and looked very traditional, comfortable and pleasant but as we did not have a drink in there I cannot comment on the prices or atmosphere.

OUR ROOM:

As I was going with my sister I requested twin beds and that is what we got. The room was quite large with twin beds, a double sofa bed, coffee table, TV unit and also a desk with plug in internet access which I did not use so I'm not sure about the cost. In the wardrobe was a unit with a combination safe and tea/coffee making stuff including two hot chocolates and two packets of biscuits and of course the kettle with posh cups and saucers.

The beds were really comfortable and there were plenty of pillows. The window opened up onto a flat roof area but it did mean that you could have fresh air and the window open while you were in bed which I like.
The bathroom was fresh, clean and big with a bath and shower over the bath, a toilet and bidet then two basins and a large mirror. We also had lovely little Molton Brown bath gel and shampoo and soaps. We brought some face packs and foot treatments with us so we did spend quite a bit of time in the bathroom cleaning up after the relaxing time. We found the bidet quite useful for washing the foot mask off! We also had two white towel robes as well as the thick soft white bath towels so were able to relax with our face and foot masks in our soft white robes and be extremely comfortable despite looking very strange but we did not care.
The decor was tasteful and the furniture comfortable and there was plenty of space for the two of us and it would be okay to have an extra child in the room too.

DINING:

Our package included a three course evening meal in the Aston dining room. We had booked for 7pm but the restaurant is open for meals until last orders taken at 9.15. The menu looked really tempting but some of the items had a surcharge to pay. Wine obviously is not included in the package either but we shared a bottle which cost about £18.50 between us and we had ice water as well. My sister had scallops as a starter which did have a £6 surcharge and I had a chorizo and spinach terrine. For our main course i opted to pay a supplement and tucked in to half a lobster tail while my sister had a lamb dish both had lots of fresh vegetables accompanying the main meal. As desserts were included we decided that we would indulge, I had a chocolate cold mouse- like pud while my sister had a fruit crumble with nuts. You could have had Wagyu beef for a supplement which was tempting but my seafood passion won. If the desserts did not grab you then a cheese board selection was also an option. The food was excellent, well cooked and presented and the staff waiting on were all extremely polite and very efficient. They do state that you have to dress smart casual for dining and the elegant white robes are not allowed in the dining room.

BREAKFAST:

This was also included and was on offer from 7.00 till 9.00 I believe. It was a buffet service as is normal in large hotels. The staff show you to a table set with all necessary crockery and cutlery the coffee or tea is offered by a waiter walking around, top ups are also offered. The buffet offered fruit juices, fresh fruit cut up or whole, cereals and also dried fruit and yogurt. Also available were Cheese and cold meats, pastries and different rolls and bread and finally a huge area with cooked stuff which included mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, hash browns, bacon and eggs cooked in different ways. All you could possibly require and as much or little as you wanted to eat.

CHECK OUT:

There was a bill put under our door in the morning and if you wanted you could put the invoice, debit/credit card number and keys in the envelope provided and pop it into the Express checkout which we did.

THE LEISURE CENTRE:

Having checked out we took our bags to the car and kept just our small swimming costume bag with us and returned to the Day Spa, walking on through to the leisure centre. Here you are given a wrist band but no number as you can just choose any open locker and once you lock it then that band only will open it. You have to sign in and technically you should leave at 11am but nobody rings a bell and says get out so I think you can stay as long as you want to in reality. There is nowhere to eat so that might limit how long you fancy staying. There are water fountains near the pool and also in the Heat and Ice Experience so you should not get de hydrated if you are sensible.

In the leisure centre there is a large pool with jets at one end which I saw working but each time we went to try them they went off, perhaps someone knew we had stayed after 11am and switched them off. The pool was a really pleasant temperature, quite cool but the centre itself was quite humid, several people were just relaxing on the wooden loungers around the pool but we must have taken too long with our breakfast and they were all taken. The Jacuzzi was in the corner in a Romanesque columned area and it was pleasant for a few minutes but it did get quite hot in there after a while. The sauna was obviously very hot and after just a couple of minutes I had to return to the cool of the pool.
An extremely loud very small lady was running an exercise class in the pool and quite a number of people were joining in but we decided against this however you could still use the rest of the pool to swim or float around in. We had another try at the water jets but were unlucky again so we thought maybe we had had enough and went to enjoy a shower, hair wash and dry ready for departure.

The leisure centre also had keep fit and yoga classes on offer but I believe you had to book but there was no extra charge.

MY OPINION:

I would thoroughly recommend Whittlebury Hall hotel and spa as I felt it was fantastic value for money. There are a number of packages on offer besides the one I bought on Lastminute.com and over the Christmas and New Year period they are offering stays including dinner and breakfast for £49 per person per night which at the time of year is amazing value. If you are interested then this is the link to the hotel website:

http://www.whittleburyhall.co.uk/Index.asp

The package that we had is still available on lastminute.com and I have no hesitation in suggesting taking up this offer as it is amazing value and a thoroughly enjoyable, relaxing experience.

Thank you for reading; I'm sorry you could only experience this through my review. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name.

© catsholiday

Summary: A good value stay and spa package in a lovely hotel