‘A blissful garden getaway’: Manor House Hotel & Spa, Alsager

If you’ve read any of my other travel articles, you’ve probably realised by now that there’s nothing I love more than a great spa break - after all, what could beat leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind, donning a robe and slippers and taking a dip in a bubbling heated pool surrounded by the luscious green countryside? 

Call me a ‘spa snob’ if you like (in fact, go ahead - it’s got a nice ring to it actually), but, since visiting some of the most beautiful spas in the UK, my standards are now pretty high.

So when I was kindly invited to check out the Manor House - a Cheshire spa I’d seen on social media and had my eye on for a while - I absolutely leapt at the chance.

After just under an hour on the train (changing at Crewe for the last short leg of the journey), my partner and I arrived at Alsager; a small town in Cheshire East that’s surrounded by greenery, making it a nice spot for dog walkers and runners to take in some fresh country air. 

A mere eight-minute walk through the village later, we arrived at the Manor House - a 17th century farmhouse that was lovingly converted into a 53-bedroom 4-star hotel and spa with its own on-site restaurant, The Stables Bar & Grill, in 2013. 

I truly felt like I’d left the real world behind and entered another ethereal realm where everything was always peaceful and perfect.

Since opening, the family run business has continued to up its game, adding unique leisure facilities and features to provide guests with the ultimate relaxation experience; some of which include an alpine-style woodshed with log fire - perfect for cosying up and socialising on cool evenings - a guided meditation room, private garden hot tubs, and live music from sunset DJ sessions throughout the summer to festive acoustic performances around Christmas time.

After fully establishing its leisure facilities at the end of 2022, The Spa at Manor House has become a popular destination, winning multiple awards and notable accolades including bagging a spot in The Times’ Top 50 Spas in the UK.

If that wasn’t reason enough to visit, it’s also the first spa in the UK to have its very own swim-up bar where, regardless of the weather, you can feel like you’re living your best life and enjoy a cocktail surrounded by warm bubbling water - sign me up. 

Arriving bright and early, we made our way into the bright and airy reception area, collecting our robes, towels, complimentary bag and flip flops from a friendly member of the check-in team. To help us find our way around and get the most out of our visit, we were also given a well-illustrated map of the 2,000 square metre English Country Spa Garden and indoor spa facilities. 

Without a moment to spare, we slipped into our swimwear ready for a day of relaxation to commence. 

Already an absolute stunner in its own right, Manor House has added even more bells and whistles to its already impressive list of indoor and outdoor spa facilities and, luckily for us, these features had made their grand debut just in time for our visit. 

Following the popularity of Manor House’s signature swim-up bar, guests can now enjoy a drink in the warm, bubbling waters of The Bothy Bar and Hydrotherapy Pool - a second swim-up spot hidden in the new ‘Secret Garden’ area. The pool is heated to 37°C with jets designed to gently massage muscles and boost circulation, and sits surrounded by tranquil spots for relaxation, including the ‘Greenhouses’ - adorned with lush potted plants and kitted out with heated floors to ensure the spaces can be enjoyed year round - and the Salt Shed; a gently warmed room that overlooks the garden, featuring a Himalayan salt brick wall to aid the respiratory system and calming bird sounds to help you unwind.

Those feeling brave (braver than me, although I was very tempted as it's a super Instagrammable spot) can take a dip in the Secret Garden Cold Water Plunge Pool. Constantly flowing with fresh cold water and surrounded by gorgeous seasonal flowers, it's a surefire way to get the blood circulating and revitalise those senses. If bathing in refreshing cool waters is your thing, don’t forget to give the cascading waterfall a try, too. 

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Secret Garden without an actual garden to potter around in. The Sensory Herb Garden, filled with a hand-picked selection of herbs and flowers, offers a tactile experience while also smelling and looking beautiful.

Every area I visited in this place was more stunning than the next - I truly felt like I’d left the real world behind and entered another ethereal realm where everything was always peaceful and perfect. The garden theming is spot on and so tastefully done that nothing feels naff or gimmicky; just jaw-droppingly beautiful. 

After spending a couple of hours leisurely exploring, we headed into The Pool House cafe for a delightful Afternoon Tea with all the trimmings; an array of finger sandwiches, artisanal sausage rolls, freshly-baked scones served with clotted cream and jam, miniature Bakewell tarts, and a generous selection of cakes, served with a hot or cold drink of our choice. I opted for an iced caramel latte whilst my partner Dave went for a pilsner to wash his down with. 

All of which was absolutely fantastic, beautifully presented and made our time at the spa even more special. 

Full to the brim, we made our way back to the spa and dozed on the loungers by the indoor serenity pool until it was time for our treatments. 

Dave, who’d recently had trouble getting a good night’s rest, decided to try out the ‘Sound Asleep’ massage. Using Tribe517 products, this massage is designed to gently realign your body by using warm Heal & Health oil of orange and fennel to help you drift off into a deep relaxation. 

I also went for one of the Tribe517 treatments, choosing the ‘Citrus Salt Ritual’ which uses Himalayan salt to buff away dry skin on the legs and feet before soaking them in a warm orange segment bath. While the salt scrub works its magic, heated stones are glided over your back to soothe sore muscles. Finally, the treatment concludes with a calming scalp, neck and shoulder massage. My therapist, Shelley, was absolutely wonderful and a true ray of sunshine. Her positive energy completely put me at ease and I left the 60-minute treatment feeling fully relaxed and rejuvenated. 

After the treatment, Dave and I reunited in the Relax Lounge; an ultra-cosy, woodland den-style room where you could decompress in little lounging nooks that had curtains for added privacy. We were given a calming chamomile tea and a little chocolate then left to enjoy the space for up to an hour. Both of us looked like we’d just had the best nap of our lives - I’m still convinced that Dave probably did fall asleep during his treatment as I hadn’t seen him that relaxed in a long time. 

By now, our room was ready for us to check into for the evening. 

Our abode for the night was the Manor House King Room; a bright and airy, homely space with tastefully cosy, minimalist decor and a super king bed for maximum comfort. As well as modcons like a flatscreen TV and tea caddy with Nespresso coffee machine, this room’s ensuite benefitted from a spacious bath (just in case you hadn’t spent enough time soaking in the spa earlier). 

Freshened up and looking our best, we headed over to The Stables Bar & Grill for our dinner reservation. Conveniently located within the hotel building itself, this bar and restaurant boasts traditional countryside features and furnishings whilst serving up carefully curated dishes made from locally sourced produce alongside an array of wines. 

We both chose from the ‘Two Courses for £35’ menu: Dave picking the Ssamjang pork rib with Gochujang mayonnaise, Asian slaw and pickled daikon followed by farm salt-aged ribeye and confit potato, dressed with spinach, rocket and chimichurri (£10 supplement); while I went for the grilled chicken supreme with lyonnaise potato, hen of the wood mushrooms and spinach cream sauce followed by a sticky toffee and date pudding served with butterscotch sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream placed atop in a brandy snap basket. All of which was fantastic.

Sufficiently full and satisfied, we took an evening stroll to walk off our meals before retiring to bed for the night.

We awoke the following morning refreshed and well-rested after a much-needed day of rest, relaxation and self care. 

As to avoid congestion, Manor House asks that guests reserve a table at The Stables for their breakfast, so we arrived for our nine o’ clock slot and pulled up a pew beside the window where the morning sun was already beaming through onto the table. 

A member of the restaurant team swiftly took our orders for any cooked items and hot drinks and then we were encouraged to help ourselves to the continental breakfast buffet and juices as and when we pleased. 

We worked our way through our Full English and poached egg and avocado on toast, checked out and ambled our way back to Alsager station where we began to reflect on the trip as we sat waiting for our train. 

“I’d love to come back here - it’s been brilliant. One of my favourite spa trips, in fact,” I said to Dave. 

“I was just thinking the exact same thing,” he replied.

To book a stay at Manor House Hotel & Spa, visit www.manorhousealsager.com. 

Manor House Hotel & Spa, Audley Road, Alsager, Cheshire, ST7 2QQ

Follow Harley Young on X @Harley__Young

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