The Parsonage Hotel Spa

We found the staff friendly and welcoming, and would happily stay here again on our next York visit. We were in The Cottage building for three nights, with a spacious, comfortable room. Breakfast had plenty to choose from at the buffet, and we enjoyed two evening meals at The Fat Abbot, where the food was delicious and the portions generous. A regular bus goes into York city centre, with the stop just a short walk away. The nearby designer outlet is on the same route and has lots of good shops. We didn’t manage to try the spa, but it looked lovely.

Gary at the spa front desk made a real difference for us. We’ve got a lot going on at the moment, and he went above and beyond. He was attentive and welcoming, had us laughing, and helped us feel relaxed. I can’t thank him enough, and hope he sees this because he deserves a great review. He’s a huge asset to the place. The spa itself was fantastic, the treatments were the best, and the staff were amazing at what they do. Our cozy bedroom was beautiful, and the bed was so comfortable that we slept brilliantly both nights. It was an absolutely amazing stay.

Breakfast was lovely, and the on-site pub, the fat abbot, serves lovely food. The staff were always helpful and really nice. Some parts of the hotel felt a bit dated, and reaching the top floor meant quite a climb on the stairs if you have slight walking issues. The hot water only came through as a trickle, and a small window outside the bedroom wouldn’t close all the way, though neither affected our stay. Most importantly, we’d stay here again.

The pool and facilities were nice, but the spa didn’t feel particularly luxurious, and we left a bit frustrated. We hadn’t stayed at the hotel, just visited the spa for the day. I wouldn’t spend extra on a massage unless you have money to burn: the 25-minute treatment was only 17 minutes hands-on and already very highly priced. The room was also rather cold, and the beds weren’t comfortable. The short massage itself was nice. When I raised this with the manager, they simply offered me 20% off a return visit 😂😂😂. We’d been looking forward to coming, but won’t be back.