Step inside Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa and experience a world away from the everyday. Artfully combining striking contemporary interiors and luxurious modern comforts it is the perfect retreat from the stresses of everyday life. Built as a Coaching Inn in the 1680s, it has been sympathetically modernised and extended still maintaining its old-fashioned charm. It now boasts a multi-million-pound spa, and a guest book containing signatures of Bing Crosby, Oliver Reed, Joan Crawford and other A-listers.
Which means if it’s good enough for A-listers then its good enough for us!
The Spa officially opened in 2017 after a multi-million-pound investment and is all it promises and more. It is a world of ultimate relaxation all under one roof.
It was a winters day and the temperature was a chilly five degrees, yet I was sat outside in just my swimsuit, had I gone mad? The outside setting has been made to look like a mini Alpine chalet village with rustic log cabins that include day beds, blankets and heaters all there for you to just cosy up and relax. On the outside they are adorned with twinkling lights, and the mouth-watering smell of coffee and hot chocolate wafts in the air. There’s also a deliciously warm outdoor/indoor vitality pool to take a dip in, it’s a dreamy setting that wouldn’t be out of place at a luxury ski resort.
Adding to the Alpine theme is the ‘Snowstorm Experience’ (the only one in the country), press the snowfall button for a snow shower, or if you’re brave enough select snowstorm, where you literally get covered in snow! The perfect experience to help boost your immune system and eliminate toxins
You can then take your pick from the other 10 unique thermal experiences, whether it’s the Herbal Lanconium (a natural infusion of herbs with periodic bursts of gentle steam) or the Alpine Sauna (a traditional sauna, the hottest of all the experiences) there’s something for everyone you’ll be spoilt for choice, that is if you can drag yourself away from your cosy wooden cabin, but drag I did (reluctantly I might add) to experience for myself the Sabbia Med, a deeply relaxing, uplifting therapy that replicates sunrise to sunset in a 30 minute cycle.
This takes place in a private room, full of sand, deckchairs and seascapes on the wall, the ambience is to recreate a scenic beach scene. Once you’ve got yourself comfy you just relax and let the light therapy begin. Low levels of UV are emitted to release Vitamin D whilst specialised lamps are used to alleviate SAD, it is the most rejuvenating, tranquillising experience I have ever had and with the soft crashing of the waves being emitted into the room, you open your eyes and for a minute forget you are NOT actually at the beach!
Just as nourishing as the spa is lunch that takes place in the Spa’s Herb Garden Brasserie. Lunch is pre-ordered which means there’s no waiting around, giving you more time to savour the flavours of the perfectly crafted dishes. We enjoyed crayfish and beetroot salad with goat’s cheese curd, pan seared seabass with celeriac puree and buttered greens, and blueberry and almond tart with clotted cream ice cream and berry compote the dishes certainly didn’t disappoint and were elegantly presented, flavoursome and fresh.
There’s a spa package to suit everyone, whether it’s a morning visit, evening, full day or overnight the choice is yours.
We were staying in one of the luxury lodges (there are two) adjacent to the hotel positioned in their own private courtyard. Internally the lodges are reminiscent of a small hunting lodge with muted earthy tones on the walls, country chic furnishings, antique dark wood furniture, leather seating and a stunning open tread handcrafted oak staircase that leads to the galleried double bedroom. The large bed encompasses a serene atmosphere and the bathroom with its freestanding roll top bath is the perfect place to soak away the day.
Dinner was held in the AA Rosette Restaurant 1650, with dark wood panelling throughout, art deco touches, dark table cloths and beautiful chandeliers, the ambience was one of a bygone era of grandeur.
The wine list offers a fabulous selection and after a little deliberating we settled on a bottle of the ‘West Coast Swing White Zinfandel’ (I’m quite a simple girl when it comes to wine choices, give me a Zinfandel Rose anytime and I’m happy).
Decadence is assured with a selection of mouth-watering dishes on the menu. We began with a caprese salad which was fresh and had some of the tasty tomatoes I’d ever eaten. A crayfish and crevette cocktail with avocado and granary bread was the other choice and was utterly delicious.
I kept my mains simple with the chargrilled aged ribeye steak, Portobello mushrooms, crispy onions and triple cooked chips – it may be a simple dish but it far from tasted simple, the meat was cooked to perfection, juicy and full of flavour. Hubbie opted for comfort food and indulged in the gourmet pie of the day (beef), seasonal local vegetables, chips and red wine gravy, another hit that had even him wondering if he had room for dessert!
After much temptation and drooling over desserts we decided to share (that means I have one spoonful, hubbie has the rest!) and we settled on the mango and passion fruit cheesecake, a sweet indulgence that had my palette suitably impressed.
The hotel is steeped in history and it is well worth taking the time to explore. With its dark panelling, velvet hues, brass lamps, high ceilings and hidden corners it’s the perfect setting for a Period Drama or Hercule Poirot mystery.
After a restful night’s sleep, we were back in the main hotel for a hearty breakfast. A buffet of cereals, pastries and fruit can be perused while you sip on warm coffee or fruit juice, before ordering something freshly cooked from the menu.
If you’re looking for a spot of pure indulgence, a time to reconnect and rejuvenate in a beautiful spa setting then Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa is the perfect retreat for pampering, rest and relaxation.
BOOK IT
A stay at Ye Olde Bell Hotel and Spa, including spa time, lunch and Full English breakfast starts from £190 per person.
Spa access only starts from £75.
For more information or to make a booking visit www.yeoldebell-hotel.co.uk
