- Where: Rowhill Grange hotel and Utopia spa, Wilmington, Kent
- Who went: Kyrsty Hazell and her mum
- Treatment: 'Utopia Hot Oil' massage and Luxury Pedicure
- In a nutshell: A beautiful outer city retreat located in the heart of Kent offering the ultimate pampering day escape for couples or friends
- Best for: Going all out and indulging yourself with treatments and delicious food
- Watch out for: The spa does not provide slippers for inside the spa area and treatment rooms. Either bring a pair with you (or flip flops) or face paying £4 for a pair of huge 'one size' slippers you probably won't ever wear again
Review: "Arriving at the Rowhill Grange hotel was a treat in itself. Surrounded by lush gardens and the scenic Kent countryside, it’s amazing that this gorgeous hotel is only one hour from central London
"When we arrived at the hotel, we were guided to the Elements brasserie where we were greeted with a cup of tea and coffee with a selection of yummy pastries. Feeling spoilt from the first moment, we had to complete a health questionnaire, which felt reassuring. We were then asked to take our shoes off, replaced by a funny looking pair of plastic shoes!) and was lead to the spa area by a very attentive member of staff.
"The guided tour was really helpful as I sometimes find spas confusing to get around. Once we knew where to go, we were allocated a locker that contained a robe and towel. The changing rooms featured a mini sauna room and an abundance of hair styling booths and plush showers - everything we needed and more.
"The main spa area felt like you’d stepped into a Roman bath. Featuring a lit-up hydrotherapy pool, bubbling Jacuzzi lie down beds and a sprawling swimming pool surrounded by stone columns and walls covered in Roman paintings, this spa oozed indulgence and we couldn’t have been happier!
"Moving between the under water massage beds, soothing waterfall and super hot steam room, we sipped on green tea before heading to our much anticipated treatment – a Utopia Hot Oil Massage.
"The therapist talked me through which oils she was going to use. As I have sensitive skin, she recommended using a warm rich marinade of fresh mint, cucumber, yoghurt, honey and lemon that is lavishly smoothed over the entire body. The massage was very thorough but not too rough so if you’re not a seasoned spa goer, this would be perfect for a first massage experience.
"To complete the day of being spoilt, we then made our way to the new RG’s restaurant and sat (robes and all) in the conservatory like area where we were treated to a two-course lunch of sea bass, tomato risotto and finished off with a yummy dark chocolate parfait to share.
"In the mood for a last minute treat before we headed home, we decided to treat ourselves to a Luxury Pedicure each. After wearing boots and tights during the winter, our feet were in much need of pampering. The pedicure completely rebooted our tootsies with a foot and leg massage for good measure."
Details
Price: £230 ‘My Day’ spa escape (includes use of spa facilities, two-course lunch and a treatment each) The Luxury Pedicure costs £47 for 50 mins.
Any specific packages to highlight: ‘Half Day’ spa for a quick pick me up that includes four hours of indulgence and a choice of a facial, massage, manicure or pedicure, £99 per person (available from Monday to Friday) The ‘Yummy Mummy’ package helps mum-to-be feel re-energised for when their baby comes along. The Mediterranean Marinade means all treatments are safe for pregnancy.
Website: http://www.alexanderhotels.co.uk/rowhill
Contact: 01322 615136
