A beautifully restored Cotswolds manor house, Whatley Manor is a truly enchanting property set over acres of lush lawns and gardenscape. Its Aquarias Spa sits perfectly adjacent to the main house and inside, you’ll find one of the largest hydrotherapy and thermal circuits in the UK, including a wave dream sensory room, tepidarium, steam grotto and “experience showers”.
We sent Michaela Deasy-Smith to one of Britain’s prettiest spots to find out why A-Listers like Rita Ora are fans of one of Whatley Manor’s signature treatments – Natura Bisse’s Oxygen Bubble – and how it all works….
The thermal pool is both indoors and outdoors, but the water is warm so going outside in winter temperatures is a pleasure.
But all that aside, I am going to tell you about a dreamy bubble permanently pumping with pure oxygen.
This bubble is a patented design by Spanish luxury beauty company, Natura Bissé. The point of the bubble is that your treatment is performed in the purest conditions, to enhance and detoxify.
A firm favourite of Nicole Richie and Rita Ora, studies have shown treatments that take place in Bubble Pure Air can prevent signs of ageing, but more interestingly, also reduce the effects of jet lag and increase sporting performance.
The Oxygen Bubble is a completely isolated dome where the air you breathe is exactly 99.95% pure. It’s the perfect environment in which bare and treated skin should be allowed to rejuvenated and detox for 90 minutes.
I start my session with a salt treatment. I slather my entire body with salt crystals in coconut shells, then feeling very polished I head to the steam room to clean out my pores, before relaxing in the heated outside pool.
My therapist then shows me to a room where the opaque oxygen bubble is unzipped and I step inside. The air inside feels immediately chilly, but the bed is warm and my therapist manages to completely relax me as she gently massages my entire body, before going deep on my shoulders and lower back. I’m soon sent into a blissful semi-conscious state. Pressure was applied to key points of my body to relieve tension, aid circulation and create a feeling of deep relaxation.
I chose the amazing ‘Diamond’ anti-ageing treatment beloved of A-listers where my face was cleansed, gently exfoliated, and a soothing cream masque applied. This treatment is designed to remove dead cells, clean beneath the skin’s surface and soften age lines and wrinkles, and ends with a deeply relaxing décolletage and shoulder massage. I felt like I was floating on air.
Afterwards, my face felt and looked visibly plumper, hydrated and zinging with brightness.
My therapist leaves me alone to relax quietly for a few minutes before I unzip the bubble and return to normality… but not before I am shown the exact products used, and given a card with each product circled, and then treated to a shot of strawberry smoothie. I feel like I am on holiday.
The food and juice menu, too, are divine. I chose the beetroot, goats curd and candied walnut salad. I could have eaten so much more, but kept it light.
The high – being encased in a bubble of pure oxygen for 90 minutes.
Must-try treatment – The Diamond Natura Bissé anti-aging and sleep inducing facial with a back, shoulder and arm massage for good measure.
The result – Days later my skin was still soft, pores reduced, cheeks nicely peachy, and eye colour bright blue and crystal clear.
Whatley Manor would be a dream birthday or New Year’s break and a wonderful one or two night escape in January or February, when winter sometimes feels like it will never end.
Team up your stay with a spa package and you’ll feel like you’ve squeezed a whole holiday week into one, wonderful, battery-recharging, skin-boosting weekend.
Whatley Manor also offers treatments by Beauty Shortlist Award-winning British brand ila Spa.
For details on ila SPA’s “Beyond Organic” treatments click HERE
The three new ila Spa facials at Whatley Manor are a healing 60-minute Ananda Face Therapy, a restorative 75-minute Rainforest Rejuvenating Face Therapy and a deeply cleansing 90-minute Marine Flora Face Therapy.
These facials complement the existing choice of ila body treatments that include rebalancing massages, detoxifying wraps, revitalising scrubs and well-being rituals. Unique to the Aquarias VIP Suite is the two-and-a-half hour ila Chakra Wellbeing Couples Experience.
This treatment uses a couple’s specific blend of the three most exquisite oils – jasmine, rose and orange blossom to encourage the feeling of togetherness and uplift the soul. It includes a body scrub, hydrobath, body and facial massage and the pouring of warm oil over the third eye (Shirodhara); finishing with a fresh chamomile tea ritual.
ila Spa, winner of 3 Beauty Shortlist Awards in 2016 including “Best Spa Brand”
More on ila Spa HERE
Whatley Manor have a FABULOUSLY FESTIVE ILA SPA DAY OFFER on at the moment, from now until New Year’s Eve – at a special price which includes an indulgent 90-minute ila Spa facial using precious gold and frankincense.
If you need an excuse to escape the madding Christmas crowds (with a friend?!) take advantage of ila Spa’s special Gold Facial offer before they’re all booked up – HERE
Spa Packages at Whatley Manor: prices and details HERE
If you can’t get away (yet), here’s a taster of what awaits…
Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa
Easton Grey
Malmesbury
Wiltshire
SN16 0RB
Tel: +44 (0) 1666 822 888
reservations@whatleymanor.com