The Champneys spa at Mottram Hall is a little slice of heaven that I’ve had on my ‘Must Visit’ list for a while, so when I was invited to experience their Cloud 9 membership, I was more than happy to oblige – anything to have a day off from wedding planning stress!
The pretty village of Mottram is just round the corner from where I grew up in Wilmslow but the hotel and spa is tucked away down a long gated driveway, well away from all the hustle and bustle of regular life. Once you’re inside the front doors and enveloped by the distinct smell of luxury Champneys candles, you can forget about whatever else was on your mind just minutes before.
Facilities
The Champneys spa feels soley created for indulgence and relaxation but there’s also a gym, studio space with classes, café and a restaurant so all your wellness needs are well and truly covered under one roof. The spa area is particularly impressive though with three indoor pools, an outdoor pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. But it’s the extra touches that set it apart from your basic gym spa; the mood lighting, the twinkling lights above the steam room, and the many different shower settings that made me feel like I was in a tropical rainforest – my favourite was the rejuvenating mist!
It was nicely busy when I arrived with lots of sun loungers round all the pools as well as more private booths if you wanted to sit with friends and order drinks. I was given a fluffy robe and Champneys flip flops to wear and a little bag to keep my towel, book and phone in – very handy when you’re skipping from one appointment to another!
Treatments
The Cloud 9 membership offers a complimentary treatment each month and 20% off any further treatments. For November it’s their Radiance Renewal Facial which is 50 minutes of pure bliss and includes a face mask, back, neck and shoulder massage and scalp massage.
My treatment was with Molly who was friendly, professional and super thorough. Having worked in spa’s myself I know therapists can sometimes end up going through the motions and mentally clock out when they’re doing the same treatments all day, but I really felt like Molly was putting a lot of effort into everything she was doing. I felt like I’d had so much more than a facial done as there were so many different steps to it!
If you’re like me and really struggle to relax then I’d suggest booking a massage or body treatment for after the facial as I was just starting to sink into a deep relaxation about 40 minutes in, which is not an easy thing to achieve for me!
Food and Beverages
The spa restaurant is where lunch is served for all spa guests and there’s a lovely view of the hotel grounds from the terrace. The décor felt really sumptuous; I could definitely see myself coming for a special occasion there and it was in-keeping with the luxurious style and vibe of the rest of the spa. Unlike a lot of spa packages, the food was actually pretty substantial for a ‘light lunch’! I went with the smoked trout and crab pate for starters and the beef brisket for mains and both were absolutely delicious. I was intrigued by the coconut and redcurrent pudding for dessert but I was surprisingly full – it’s on my hit list for next time though!
After my treatments I went for a refreshing pink lemonade in the café and sat near the cosy fire. Drinks are a little pricey – it was £4.50 for my soft drink – but I guess that’s kind of expected from a four star hotel.
Service
Everyone in the spa was friendly and knowledgeable and the service in the restaurant was quick and efficient even with it being a fairly busy day.
I did spend a while looking for someone to check me in when I first arrived at the reception though so it was a quick turnaround to get into my robe and slippers and up to the restaurant in time for my reservation. My locker was also acting up at the end of the day so I couldn’t get into it but the receptionist was very helpful and managed to crack the code so I didn’t have to drive home in my wet robe and flip flops!
Atmosphere
The overall vibe of the spa was relaxed and welcoming, and made up mostly of small groups of friends and couples. The Cloud 9 lifestyle membership lets you visit any Champneys with up to three friends, for free and with no pre-booking needed which for me would be one of the main benefits. I would have loved to be able to treat my friends to this when we were on maternity leave and all desperately needed to lie in silence in a sauna and decompress! It didn’t feel clique even though it’s a members gym and spa, and I didn’t feel at all out of place on my own.
Overall thoughts
I really loved spending the day at Champneys spa – it’s a beautiful, cosy place to while away an afternoon and the treatments are top notch. I would recommend the Cloud 9 membership if you’re local to a Champneys, but also, like me, if you’re partial to a bit of staycation travelling as you can drop into any of the six Champneys countryside spa’s or its city spa’s. There’s also premium work spaces and meeting rooms available if you’re working on the go, and overnight stays are discounted. Whatever your lifestyle, the Cloud 9 membership seems to have something that will elevate it!
Score: A solid 8/10.
Claire is a Cheshire girl, mum to one and wife to one. She’s also creator of the blog KoKo & Cub which houses tried and tested how to’s (and some how not to’s) as well as general thoughts and musings on everything from OOTD’s to planning a last minute wedding.
