Harley Young takes a break in Knutsford’s leafy suburbia
Pair a local spa destination with quality food and a good value-for-money dine-and-stay package and you’ve got yourself a spontaneous trip that won’t break the bank.
Cottons Hotel & Spa, a Knutsford institution since 1985, has recently launched a ‘Dinner, Bed & Breakfast’ package for £169 (based on two people sharing), designed to give guests some much needed time to relax and rejuvenate at an affordable price.
Cottons kindly invited me and my partner down last weekend (5 July) to try out the package for ourselves and discover why a relaxing weekend away doesn’t have to be a million miles from home - sometimes, a trip down the road to a neighbouring town will suffice.
Knutsford
Located just a short drive away from Manchester city centre (or a mere 15 minutes on the train from Altrincham if you fancy leaving the car at home), Knutsford is a historic and picturesque market town in the heart of Cheshire.
Known for its charming cobblestone streets (similar to that of Chester and York) lined with bunting, an array of independent shops, bars and eateries, and one of the county’s finest country estates, Tatton Park, neighbouring Knutsford is a nice juxtaposition from the hustle and bustle of the big city, yet still has plenty to see and do.
After taking an amble along King Street, weaving in and out of well-dressed charity shops and antiques stores, we stumbled across Wallop; a bar and bistro with an inviting mustard-coloured facade and wide open windows with chill indie music pouring out of them.
We decided it was only right that we stop off for lunch, grabbing a hearty bacon and egg butty and a dark and stormy mocktail to boot, before exploring the town some more and taking a short taxi ride over to the hotel.
Checking in
Arriving at Cottons Hotel & Spa, we were welcomed by a beautiful display of fresh flowers in vases in the reception area and a warm smile from the receptionist who was ready and waiting to check us in.
Swiftly checked in without a hitch, we made our way down the long, winding corridors to where we’d be spending the evening.
We stayed in one of the double rooms; a tastefully modern space with a large double bed, fitted wardrobe, desk and sofa lounge area, and en-suite bathroom complete with complimentary White Company toiletries to use throughout our stay.
Equipped with all you could need for a short break away with an added touch of luxury (think fluffy white robes and slippers), couples and solo travellers can unwind in the knowledge that everything else is taken care of.
The Spa
We wasted no time in changing into our swimwear and flip-flopping our way down to the spa on the ground level, ready for some much-needed R&R.
Those who fancy getting a few laps in can make use of the large indoor pool, or, if you’re like us and feel like spas are strictly reserved for revitalisation, there’s the sauna, steam room, and indoor and outdoor jacuzzis. Just be aware that the loungers are very popular and can get busy quickly during peak times - luckily, we managed to find a pair by the outdoor jacuzzi.
Treatment time
After an al fresco snooze in the sunshine, it was time for even more unwinding with an indulgent 50-minute massage. The ‘My kind of Massage’ treatment by TempleSpa features a deeply relaxing head-to-toe massage with your choice of pressure, designed to combat fatigue, sooth sore muscles and encourage circulation.
I opted for a medium- to deep-pressure massage and my brilliant spa therapist Carol got to work, releasing built-up shoulder knots from weeks of hunching over my desk all day, concluding with a relaxing head and scalp massage that almost made me drift off into yet another slumber.
If you’re particularly impressed by the products used during your treatment, there’s a well-stocked cabinet of high-end products to purchase and take home with you.
Dinner
Feeling fully relaxed and rejuvenated after an afternoon of doing nothing but lounge about, we freshened up and made our way down to the bar for a pre-dinner drink before heading over to Cottons’ AA Rosette restaurant, Curious Kitchen.
Here, menus are crafted using top seasonal produce from local suppliers, ensuring fresh, quality-controlled dishes year round.
To start, I ordered the salt baked heritage beetroot with braised rainbow chard, Ras El Hanout yogurt, confit lemon, crunchy chickpeas and harissa dressing, while my partner went for the classic chicken liver parfait served with fig chutney and toasted Hobbs House Bakery sourdough - both of which were fresh and delightful.
Moving onto the mains, I opted for the corn fed chicken breast cooked over coals with handmade rosemary gnocchi, smoked bacon, charred corn and watercress. Another decent-sized portion but with perhaps one too many flavours going on, though the chicken was perfectly cooked.
My partner chose the tagliatelle carbonara with garlic rosemary and sun blush tomato focaccia and decided to add grilled chicken breast for extra protein. A ginormous portion of pasta appeared with a full sliced chicken breast perched atop - great value for money, but perhaps a little overfacing for the average person and likely to result in food waste, unfortunately.
Not one to finish dinner without dessert, I ordered the sticky toffee and Thwaites Ale pudding with butterscotch sauce and English butter toffee ice cream; a hearty slab of sweet-and-stodgy goodness - just the ticket to round off the meal nicely and fully satisfy those sugar cravings.
Breakfast
Following a restful night’s sleep, we woke bright and early ready for the most important meal of the day.
Served back in the main restaurant where we’d spent dinner the night before, breakfast is presented in a ‘help yourself’ buffet-style manner with an array of fresh juices, pastries, continental meats and cheeses and cooked items to choose from. Hot drinks orders are taken at the table and often arrive just in time for you to come back to your seat with a plateful of food.
We both loaded our plates with a typical Full English breakfast in one way or another, as well as a few pastries for good measure, and were suitably set up for the day.
If you’re looking for an affordable, good value for money stay just a stone's throw away from home, give this package a try while it’s still available. For more information on Cottons Hotel & Spa, visit cottonshotel.co.uk.
Cottons Hotel & Spa, Manchester Rd, Knutsford WA16 0SU
Follow Harley Young on Instagram @HarleyUpNorth
Fact file
Stay
Harley stayed in a standard room (priced at £110) at Cottons Hotel & Spa in Knutsford, located 1.8 miles from Knutsford station. The on-site AA rosette restaurant offers a variety of dining options throughout the day while the Bar & Lounge provides a more relaxed space to hang out or work while eating and drinking.
Facilities & Treatments
Guests can take advantage of the indoor and outdoor spa facilities including an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and relaxation lounge, as well as an outdoor hot tub. There’s also a long list of treatments available to choose from, including the TempleSpa ‘My Kind of Massage’ treatment mentioned above (£89).
Packages
A ‘Dinner, Bed & Breakfast’ package is available for £169 (based on two people sharing). This package includes a stay in one of the hotel’s standard rooms, dinner at the AA Rosette restaurant (£30pp allowance), spa access and buffet breakfast in the morning.
Travel
Harley took the train directly from Altrincham to Knutsford (15 minutes). Cottons Hotel & Spa is just a 5-minute drive away from Knutsford station.
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