Day Spa Review - Eastthorpe Hall - West Yorkshire Day Spa Eastthorpe Hall

Eastthorpe Hall Essentials

• Address: Eastthorpe Hall, Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire WF14 8AE
• Telephone: +44 (0) 1924 498507
• Opening Hours: Full-day sessions - arrive at 8:45 a.m. for 9a.m. to 5:30p.m. session. Half-day, morning or afternoon sessions also available.
• Prices: Full-day set packages with treatments are £200 plus. DIY packages with use of facilities but no treatments are £75 (in 2010/11). Purchase of at least two treatments are required for the DIY packages.
• Visit their website

Everything about the award-winning Eastthorpe Hall day spa is discreet. Its location on a busy road near a light industrial area south of Leeds may even be a little surprising. Inside, this extended 17th century house is a world of its own.

Offering a variety of spa packages and holistic treatments, Eastthorpe Hall aims to deliver more than physical well-being, going after the New Age triumverate of mind, body and spirit.

With no more than a dozen or so guests at any time, the atmosphere is calm and quiet. Colors are muted. There are no working clocks – and mobile phones must be locked away. Moving gently from one treatment to the next, the day becomes timeless.

The welcome ritual is soft, warm and tactile. Any tension instantly leaves hands and feet – but don’t get too comfortable. Therapists appear at regular intervals, murmuring softly, moving clients on to their next experience. A full-day treatment schedule might begin with steam cabinet and sauna sessions, before moving on to the swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

Accustomed to wandering at will in spas, I felt initially as if my time were being managed. And it was. Each visit is carefully programmed to include all treatments and also to allow friends on a joint visit to spend time together. The trick, as I eventually worked out, is simply to relax into it. Someone is looking after you. There is no need to think about anything. Accept this and the day becomes timeless, punctuated only by rituals, treatments and delicious, freshly prepared food.

I took the feathery mid-morning croissant and zesty ginger and honey cocktail to be a good sign. It was. The lunch buffet is light, colorful and delicious, with dishes prepared to meet guests' dietary requirements. There's fruit juice, wine and wellness water to drink or, for a small surcharge (only £1, so why bother?), a glass of champagne. In the afternoon, as well-being gives way to indulgence, there were homemade cupcakes. And you can’t have cupcakes without coffee; well, I can’t.

Warmth, careful pressure and long, sweeping movements characterize the hour-long hot shell massage. (Think hot stone, but with a uniformly comfortable temperature throughout.) The intense warmth focuses the mind on the exact spot being massaged. It’s a glorious way to spend an hour, to ease away tension you didn’t even know you had.

The treatment rooms use ESPA products, created from plant extracts, essential oils and marine elements, to underpin the spa's holistic concept. Aromatherapy was followed by a reflexology treatment. If you're not keen on any of the treatments, you can talk through the options and tailor a day to your own tastes and needs from the diverse treatment menu.

Holistic is one of those words, like natural, which is too often used simply for some perceived effect. But there is a clear holistic ethos at work here. Every aspect – from interior design to the views out into the garden – has been carefully considered to make the setting comfortable and harmonious.

There’s a gentle, positive vibe which is quite distinctive. The focus is on restorative well-being rather than decadent indulgence. Although half-days are available, it’s the full day experience which gives clients the opportunity to arrive somewhere beyond ordinary relaxation.

Full day guests are asked to arrive by 8:45a.m., which makes for a brisk start for those travelling from Leeds or beyond.

The spa has no accommodation, but the 13th century Old Rectory nearby offers luxury bed and breakfast accommodation in a self contained guest area. If a rush-hour drive sounds too stressful and an overnight stay is not an option, there are also regular trains from the nearby Mirfield station Leeds and Huddersfield. Check National Rail Enquiries for times and fares.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.