Hollins Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf

Joanna at reception deserves a mention. There was a small booking mix-up, but she sorted it quickly and even upgraded us. She was really lovely. We had a good-value overnight spa break booked through SpaSeekers and brought our dog along. The 50-minute massage was blissful, and we used the pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. Just bear in mind that the pool is open to the public, and a swimming lesson was happening while we were there. Dinner and breakfast were both lovely, and we also tried the driving range on the grounds.

For what we paid, this was well worth a try. We got a proper bargain over the holiday, and the room was clean and pleasant. Reception staff were decent enough. There’s no air conditioning, though, and the car park gets absolutely packed on weekends and holidays.

We only stayed one night, but I’d come back when we’re in the area again. The leisure club was a highlight: a huge pool for laps, a warm jacuzzi with strong jets, plus a sauna, steam room and a two-storey gym with lots of equipment. In the morning the pool and other facilities were clean and not too busy. Breakfast was good quality and cheap at £14 per person for cooked and continental options. We were travelling with my parents and had two rooms linked by an interconnecting door, which was handy. Both rooms had two comfortable double beds and plenty of space. There was tea, coffee and biscuits. The rooms were nice, if a little dated. We stayed in early spring; fans were provided for warmer summer weather, and there were built-in radiators for winter. There were some carpet stains, and the bedside plug sockets were limited, with the only others by the floor railing or on the office desk.

The receptionist were friendly and happy to help with questions, and there was plenty of parking. I enjoyed the walks around the mansion, too. The pool isn’t deep, but it’s fine for adults and children to swim. The jacuzzi and steam room were great. We had a lovely family stay, and I’d recommend booking two days so there’s time to get familiar with the facilities and use them. I’ll definitely come back.