The Spa Hotel Review: Wynyard Hall, Durham, UK
Review: Val Jones
This grand hotel is a former stately home and steeped in history, it was built by the Wyatt family for the Marques of Londonderry, becoming a training school for teachers prior to being turned into a hotel in 1987 when it was sold to Sir John Hall.
This great hall is situated 17 miles from Durham and sits in a 15- acre country estate with Roman and Greek ruins in the grounds, there is also a chapel, tea rooms and walled extensive gardens. There are 19 bedrooms and suites all with their own bespoke design the hotel also has three cottages available with private hot tubs. Function room catering for 250 guests and a Grand Marquee that holds up to 650 guests.
Check in was friendly and efficient with our bags being taken to our room, we were shown around the facilities and loved the lounge which spanned the width of the hotel, with lots of comfy seats and a high stained-glass domed ceiling that is especially beautiful, the whole area gave off a feeling of opulence, almost stepping us back in time.
We were staying in The Duke of Wellington Suite, which has amazing views over the lake and grounds, the room is circular with high ceilings, large sash windows and a hidden door which leads into the bathroom – a nice quirky touch. The colour scheme is gold and cream with plush sofas, an in period curtained pelmet decorates the huge king size bed.
The Spa is located in a separate building that was once the old boathouse which sits beside the beautiful lake. In the Thermal Suite we enjoyed the Salt Inhalation room and Herbal Sauna but on the day with the sunny weather we particularly loved the outdoor Jacuzzi with the views over the lake accompanied with a glass of fizz.
The spa was launching a new innovative treatment; the Natura Bissé Bubble Pure Air Treatment which I was there to try. This is essentially a Natura Bissé 3D Collagen Shock Facial treatment in the ‘Bubble’ which is a small domed tent which contains 99.995% pure air, a sterile area where the pure air maximises deep penetration meaning that 20 minutes in the ‘Bubble’ is equivalent to 8 hours sleep. This is a firming, remodelling facial with contouring techniques using 3 types of collagen for triple density and a heating gel that stimulates microcirculation.
My therapist Amy directed me to the Bubble and as I stepped in through the zipped opening there was a slight cooling breeze and I could feel a change in the air. Once I was settled on the treatment bed, Amy first of all cleansed my face with the Cure cleanser and used the Cure toner followed with the Glycolic Peel for a deep down resurfacing exfoliation.Once the Intense Complex Serum was applied I had started feel the benefits of the pure air and did drift away a little. Next was the application of the Essential Shock Cream and the Essential Shock Mask. Last steps were the Intensive Eye and Lip Cream, and to finish Amy applied the Sheer Cream SPF.
This was an amazing experience the ‘Bubble’ certainly made a difference to how I felt during the treatment – a de-toxifying facial with great anti-ageing benefits. The treatment really plumped out my fine lines and wrinkles as when I stepped out of the treatment ‘Bubble’ I could clearly see a difference to my skin and felt comfortable sitting in the lounge for a drink without make-up! This is certainly an amazing experience which I can absolutely recommend.
Wynyard Hall also has a salon on the first floor of the hotel with a full spa treatment menu where my Husband enjoyed the Natura Bissé Citrus Scrub Massage – an antioxidant citric exfoliating massage, which he said revitalised and rehydrated his skin which is especially a great pre-holiday treatment.
For dinner, we visited two AA Rosette restaurant The Wellington, where there are two menus to choose from; the A la Carte or a set menu. I went for the Maple Glazed Sticky Pork Ribs with cabbage slaw for starters and my Husband went for the Garlic Prawns with Asian noodles & bean sprout salad, for main course the choice for both of us was the 30 day Angus Ribeye Steak with sweet potato chips and peppercorn sauce. The highlight for my Husband was the dessert; the best Crème Brulee he has ever tasted – this was served with poached Yorkshire rhubarb and shortbread. We finished with Irish coffees in the Library to end the evening.
Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley, TS22 5NF.
From £200 per bedroom, based on 2 sharing
www.wynyardhall.co.uk