Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa

The grounds are lovely, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the staff are friendly. Those things made it easy to unwind, but the finer details were inconsistent enough that 4/5 feels right. My wife and I booked two nights about a week ahead for some much needed rest, with spa access, a 55 minute full body massage and 40 off evening meals included. With extra meals and treatments, we spent around 900 in total. The massage was relaxing and the therapist used the pressure I wanted. It cost about 100. I've had better massages, but I've also paid more. The spa felt past its best, with facilities that were tatty and unclean. Some dental floss floated past me in the hydrotherapy pool, which turned my stomach. Seating around the pool was very limited, so I'd get there early. If you're after a top-end luxury feel and high hygiene standards, you may want to pay more elsewhere. Our room was fairly good quality and had a complimentary upgrade to luxury. The beds were comfy, but I spotted silverfish in the bathroom and the kettle and mugs were dirty. The restaurant offered fine dining style food at around 40 to 50 per person for three courses, excluding drinks. The food was fairly good but not memorable. I had the flat iron steak and roasted lamb. The steak came cold, though the chips and garnishes were nice. Breakfast was worth getting to early. Quite a few things had run out by 8:30 to 9:00am, and it wasn't clear how often they were replenished. The place has the basics for a relaxing break and 4/5 seems fair, but more attention to cleanliness and consistency would go a long way.

The location can be a little inconvenient without a car, but it was absolutely worth the trip for us. From arrival at Grange Utopia Spa, the staff were warm, attentive and professional, making us feel cared for throughout. The grounds were peaceful, beautifully kept and a lovely setting for a relaxing escape. The spa had a luxurious, calming feel, with exquisite facilities. The treatments were outstanding, among the best I've experienced, and every therapist was knowledgeable, skilled and seemed to genuinely care about making it special. We'll definitely return.

The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable, and the shower was decent, though without a door the bathroom got wet. But that was about the only bright spot in a weekend that left us disappointed. The hotel felt more like a conference venue than the spa setting we’d pictured, and the decor wasn’t what we expected. The sauna was okay, but the pools and jacuzzi areas were dark and crowded, with nowhere to sit by the pool. We’d booked the same facials, but they weren’t consistent. One of our daughters’ treatments lasted 25 minutes instead of 40, and we got half the cost refunded. Dinner was a disaster: our food took an hour and a half, and two couples nearby waited even longer before giving up and leaving. The portions were tiny and the food average. Our lovely waitress seemed very embarrassed and did her best to help. The breakfast buffet wasn’t inspiring, though the avocado toast we paid extra for was delicious. We’d hoped for lovely surroundings, healthy food, clean facilities and great treatments for a spa weekend with our daughters. We wouldn’t return.

The facial was a relaxing part of a lovely spa day. Paige, the therapist, also gave me a written list of the products she used, and the Temple Spa Products left my skin feeling really soft. The sauna in the women’s changing area was piping hot, just right for a proper sweat. The steam room was by the smaller pool and jacuzzi, while the larger pool was upstairs. My sister and I were checked in straight away and given a printout of our spa itinerary. We left a £5 deposit on our bank card for the locker keys, which would be returned at checkout. There was complimentary tea and flapjacks in the restaurant. Each changing-room locker had a robe and towel, and we’d brought our own flip-flops since you can buy them at reception. I enjoyed my time at this Roman-themed spa. Thanks so much!