By Tracey Leslie
Back again! And this time it has been revamped!
The recent £10m investment into the Champneys brand is certainly keeping them extra busy, with no flexibility to change your appointment time, these guys are fully booked! I definitely saw a change this year, there were more couples, a lot of men taking a break from the hectic world of being ‘available’ 24 hours a day! With a ‘no-phone’ policy there was no excuse to chill out.
The staff at Champneys Liphook are always attentive, the food is delicious, healthy but tasty, the plates have diagrams on showing you how to gauge your portion fat/carb/protein size. And the luxury is that it’s not a restrictive health farm where alcohol is banned, you can have a glass of wine with a meal.
There are so many facilities here that we found this time, and we say it every time we go, that we just don’t have time to fit everything in! We arrived at 10.30am, booked lunch for 1pm and our feet didn’t touch the ground!
My mother is disabled so I made sure she was comfortable in the pool area, before I set off for a swim, followed by trying out all the new snow room, sauna, tropical rain shower, water beds! Exhausting! Time for lunch and then treatments! There was so much to do that I managed to fall asleep during an hour long facial!! Then we chilled outside around the lake, the setting is gorgeous and the views are stunning. The setting is so comfortable, I would feel happy going to Champneys on my own, there are classes and activities on from 7am until 6pm throughout the day, and mixing that with the treatments is exhausting!!!
I am already looking forward to next year!! A lovely experience with a group of friends, on your own, partner or parent. I have been going to Champneys for over 6 years and tried other places but always end up returning to Champneys. One year I even took some clients with me to Champneys to experience a group boot camp weekend enjoying organised activities with a qualified instructor assigned to our group a complete contrast to the visits with my mother for treatments and the odd sneaky class!!
It is a luxury experience unless you are able to benefit from one of their offers but it is worth every penny!!! And I will be back in 2018.
What differentiates it from other places?
Credit: Champneys
Champneys is part of an era, an affordable yet luxurious spa, you are made to feel special and you won’t need to rob a bank! Especially if you make use of a 2-1 deal. Non-intimidating real people, who are all there with the same end goal, fun, fitness and relaxation. Over the years I have been lucky enough to visit a few spas and have found myself going back to Champneys! Some spas are ‘add-ons’ to a hotel and it certainly feels like that. I would highly recommend a trip!
The Heritage
Champneys was launched in 1925, setting the trend as the first health farm of its kind. Although it changed ownership many times it had a new lease of life in 2001 when the business was bought by Stephen Purdew and his mother Dorothy.
Although they were already in the hospitality business owning the newly acquired Eastwell Manor in Kent, Henlow Grange in Bedfordshire, Springs in the Midlands and Forest Mere in Surrey, purchasing Champneys resort in Tring Herfordshire, a brand with a heritage, enabled them to rebrand their existing venue’s, sell products, offer day spas, go on cruise ships – endless opportunities.
They also have six city spa’s, offering an enjoyable day out and are looking to expand overseas.
As the UK’s original health resort, few can lay claim to the traditions inherent in our very being. We’ve set trends and started health revolutions; our passion for well-being drives who we are and what we do. Robed and relaxed, we create moments of calm; it’s what we do best.
All photos are courtesy of Champneys. Find more information on their website: https://www.champneys.com
