There’s nothing like a bit of rest and relaxation after a weekend of food festivals (yeah, life can be tough sometimes) so, after all that over-indulgence, I took myself off to Aqua Sana Spa at Sherwood Forest, part of the Centre Parcs development, deep in the Nottinghamshire countryside.
I had visited before but hadn’t been back for a while, mostly due to how busy it had always been previously. So had anything changed? I grabbed my robe and slippers to find out.
Since my last visit the place had undergone some refurbishment. Gone is the need for a pound for your locker. They now have rubbery wrist bands that somehow operate the lockers (don’t ask me how) the changing rooms have been refurbished too. They are very open plan so theres no hiding whilst you’re getting changed. The Notts Food Fest and the Chilli Fest both made their presence known on my thighs as I tried to juggle my cossie on under a towl. One problem you have when you’re short sighted which becomes apparent at these times is the fact you can’t really wear contact lenses or glasses to a spa so, two circuits of the changing rooms and an unnecessary visit to the toilet as I didn’t want to look anymore stupid than i already did in a dressing gown by letting everyone know that I didn’t mean to open that particular door – I was just trying to find my way out.
As you leave the changing rooms, the first thing you see is Vitale, the Cafe Bar. I booked an Elevenses package so I popped in and booked mine for 11.30 (as you do)
So into the spa. Situated over to floors, around an outdoor heated pool. First stop is the foot jacuzzi. Relaxing but just ok so I venture into the outdoor pool. This requires the removal of the robe which I sheepishly hang up and run into the warm water. The pool is lovely when it’s nice weather. You can soak and watch the planes fly overhead whilst having a jacuzzi.
The spa offers a selection of steam rooms and saunas (some hotter than others) as well as outdoor relaxing areas and chill-out spaces. A new seating area has been put in place since I last visited. There is also the Zen garden and a balcony.
You can also pay extra for beauty treatments and massages. My personal favourite rooms are the Laconium and the Indian Blossom Steam Room
The morning goes quickly and it’s soon time for Elevenses. I take my seat in the Vitale Cafe Bar. I still find it a little odd sitting with strangers in bathrobes but when in Rome.
The Cafe offers a variety of fresh Medierranean food inclusing pasta dishes, soups, malt breads, tapas , ciabattas and Paninis as well as salads and some not so healthy indulgences and even Prosecco. With the Elevenses package you get a choice of tea or coffee which is brought to your table along with a three tiered serving stand .The middle section has salmon and cream cheese bagel, a large cheese twist pastry with a very cheesy centre and ciabatta with roasted vegetables, cheese and meat. The bottom layer had sweet pastries with a crystallised sugar topping plus small dishes of Greek yoghurt and pipettes of fruit compote whilst the top layer had fresh strawberries and sweet waffles. I must admit I felt a bit indulgent eating the waffles and pastrys but they looked so lovely I couldn’t resist.
It was a delicious pause in the Spa experience although after all those pastrys I didn’t feel much like going back into the some of the experiences and so headed into the Aqua Meditation Room for a half hour snooze before heading home.
I would definitely recommend the experience. As a break from today’s hectic lifestyle, a visit is a great was to treat yourself (and your stomach) to a little TLC.
We purchased an Elevenses package from Centre Parcs. The Elevenses experience is available between 9am – 1pm and costs £42 per person Mon – Fri or £52 per person Sat & Sun. Price includes unlimited entry to the Spa plus towel and robe hire.
For more details on this, and their other packages visit: http://www.aquasana.co.uk/index.jsp
Tanya Raybould
