Going for a spa day or a spa weekend is becoming increasingly popular and is a great way to spend quality time with friends and treat yourself. Taking time out to indulge in pampering treatments and relaxing with good food is a great way to recharge your batteries.
The Belfry Hotel & Resort Spa offers all the above and didn't fail to meet our expectations.
A friend and I were booked on a Tranquil Spa Break which includes an overnight stay, full English breakfast, 40-minute spa treatment of your choice, 3-course dinner and entry to the Bel Air Nightclub on site. Full use of the spa facilities are also included as well as use of the pool, plus robes, slippers and towels are provided.
We arrived quite early with the intention of having lunch at the hotel before our spa activities. We received a very warm welcome at the impressive reception area and were shown to our room where we changed into our swimming costumes and donned big fluffy robes and slippers.
Down at the spa we dined at Rocca's Pizza Pasta Restaurant where we had a light lunch of paninis and cold drinks. It was quite busy as Saturday is a very popular spa day but we managed to get a seat and ate a relaxed lunch before hitting the spa.
It's worth mentioning here that all the staff were very pleasant, friendly and professional. Few things can spoil a day out like unfriendly staff but from the reception to the spa to the dinner in the evening, they made us feel not only welcome but special too.
The spa area contains a sauna, 2 jacuzzi pools, a steam room and a swimming pool plus the areas around the pool are dotted with plenty of recliners where you can just chill out. It was very busy as there were many groups of women treating themselves, but everyone acted with courtesy and we got our turn on the recliners. If your prefer your experience to be a little less crowded, I would recommend going mid-week if you are able, or even on a Sunday afternoon.
After indulging in the facilities, it was time for our pre-booked treatments. I opted for the Luxury Salt & Oil Body Scrub which combines sea salts with essential oils to exfoliate the skin, followed by a deeply nourishing moisturiser. It felt so invigorating to leave behind my winter-ravaged dry skin which felt incredibly smooth afterwards. And although I was being exfoliated(!) it was also very soporific and I felt myself drifting off a few times! If your skin is feeling a little unloved after hiding under winter clothes for so long, I really recommend this treatment.
My companion chose the Muscle Reviver Treatment as she hoped it would help relax the tension in her back, neck and shoulders and relieve her stress-related headaches. It did. She said she felt wonderful afterwards and really benefitted from the scalp massage. This is a great one to choose if you sit at a desk all day or just experience tension in your shoulders which needs to be released.
The spa uses ESPA products, which are available to buy from their spa shop after your treatment, or online at espaskincare.com. The brand say they want you to have 'naturally beautiful skin and a renewed sense of inner calm' which I do believe they achieved! The products, although not cheap, perform well and smell gorgeous.
The Spa pride themselves on relaxation and tranquility and I can honestly say that's what we felt. You can't underestimate the feeling of wafting around in a fluffy robe... indulging your body and senses in various treatments, stretching out for a swim in the pool, having your lower back massaged by the jets in the jacuzzi or feeling the toxins drain from your body in the sauna, followed by a snooze on the poolside recliners.
Following a treatment, you can retire to the deliciously hushed atmosphere of the relaxation lounge where there are day beds, padded chairs and loungers, cool fruit-infused water to drink, comfy cushions and soft music. It's surprising how indulging yourself in such a way can be so tiring! I stretched out on a sofa with my feet up and immediately fell asleep!
For an additional cost, you can visit The Belfry’s Fire & Ice experience – 'a 90-minute experience through a varied selection of bio thermal rooms, designed to enhance your mood and invigorate the senses'.
After our spa experience we retired to our room to shower and get ready for dinner.
Our room was a double with two double beds (so was very spacious) patio doors opening on to a balcony with a table and chairs (too cold to sit out unfortunately!) and with superb views out over the countryside surrounding the resort.
It was all tastefully furnished - the hotel is full of golf-related memorabilia and framed wall photos (it is the Belfry, famous for golf after all!) - and the beds were utterly luxurious with the softest of sheets with a smooth but firm supportive mattress and big pillows. There were all the things you'd expect from a good quality hotel such as hairdryer, easy-access Wifi, large screen TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, mini fridge and complimentary snacks.
The bathroom had complimentary toiletries, warm fluffy towels and everything was totally spotless.
Dinner was booked in the Ryder Grill, a casual eating area with a lively atmosphere and a real buzz. This is a huge resort with a lot going on and as such, it caters for all types. The Ryder Grill is not the place to book if you want a romantic meal for two, but it's ideal after a relaxing day in the spa where you can socialise, chat, laugh heartily and enjoy a good meal.
The Belfry say they use only the highest quality ingredients, many locally sourced, all freshly selected and lovingly prepared.
For starters I had the chicken liver parfait with red onion marmalade, compressed apples and chargrilled sourdough, followed by monkfish curry and Eton mess for pud.
My vegetarian companion had warm salad - tender stem broccoli, toasted almonds and chilli with a lemon dressing– followed by roasted tomato tart and the Black cherry Bakewell pud. We both agreed that although the portions were a little on the small side, the presentation, taste and quality of the food made up for it - and of course meant we could squeeze in all three courses!
Again, the staff were exceptionally friendly and keen to look after our needs. We had the a la carte menu but there's also a buffet option where you can choose what and how much you like to eat so it caters for all tastes.
Back in our room, we had one of the best night's sleep ever and despite this being a large and busy hotel, there was no noise to disturb our slumber.
Morning saw us heading down to the Ryder Grill again for breakfast, a serve-yourself cooked English breakfast affair if you desire, along with continental options, fruit, bread and pastries, cereal and yogurts, etc. The food here is very good quality and the cooked breakfast was delicious, accompanied by copious amounts of tea and coffee.
So, if you fancy a spa treat that won't break the bank and the opportunity to enjoy some good food in a lively atmosphere, The Belfry is to be recommended. It's just off the M42 at Sutton Coldfield....
Essential info
The Belfry Hotel & Resort Spa
Lichfield Road
Sutton Coldfield
B76 9PR
Tel: 01675 238600
Visit www.thebelfry.com******__
Spa days from £109
Spa breaks from £139
Spa breaks are based on two people sharing and there is a single room supplement of £50