Modershall Oaks spa review: Northern hospitality at its finest

Gentle music is piped around Moddershall Oaks, and this, combined with the fragrance of scented candles signals to your senses that you have arrived at a calm place.

Having left frenetic London behind just two hours earlier, we'd seen concrete turn to greenery as we steamed towards the countryside and by the time we checked in, we were just about ready to sink into the secluded retreat a short taxi ride from Stoke-on Trent.

But let's get this out of the way first: This is not a detox spa. You’ve got your Champneys with its portion-controlling plates for that. Instead this is a combination of spa indulgence  - massages, facials and wraps – with hearty northern food on normal plates, plentiful drink and lush surroundings. Think wine, delicious local steak and desserts that look too good to eat.

[Take a break in the Lake District at Armathwaite Hall Country House and Spa]
[Yorkshire hospitality in a Dickensian setting at Feversham Arms & The Verbena Spa]

Ethos

Walks around the nearby surroundings and grounds are to be enjoyed, with a woodland walk taking you by the tennis courts and into the wooded area covered with ferns. The backdrop to the main restaurant and terrace is a beautiful lake, which, we decided, encourages ‘thoughtful contemplation’.

As a small spa with just 12 rooms, the service feels personal and none of the facilities are too crowded. MO integrates the spa features, such as lolling around in your soft robes, with all the conveniences of a hotel. You can eat breakfast and lunch in your robes, then after a day’s pampering, show off your glow by dressing up for the evening meal (dress code is smart/casual so there’s no pressure to be dolled up to the nines).

The staff deserve a special mention. They were genuinely friendly, effortlessly pleasant and had great chat, as well as being extremely efficient, avoiding the sometimes stuffy, rehearsed guest-staff relations you can experience at spas.

Different packages and rooms are available, some with private hot tub access, which is lovely even in the chilly autumn air.

Rooms are tastefully decorated and the beds gave us an outstanding night’s sleep.

Food

Elsewhere there is a bar and award-winning restaurant, where the staff are amused by our Friday night insistence that we would be drinking water only for our healthy weekend away (it didn’t last, it would have been a shame not to try the wine list).

The menu changes seasonally with much of the produce local, and the quality is a pleasant surprise. From the descriptions and appearance of the dishes we feared the chef had taken inspiration too liberally from Great British Menu, but when we tasted the food, it lived up to its promise, more than matching its prettiness.

Breakfast can be pre-ordered the night before and you can choose from a wealth of hot options including Full English and scrambled eggs and salmon. I’d recommend you plump for this cooked option as the continental offering in the morning is a little disappointing. There are cereals on offer but none of the lavish fruit salads or cold meats and cheese you might expect at a bigger hotel.

Lunch is also a delight, with edible flowers dotting the dishes and plenty of hot and cold options available including lavish salads and perfectly cooked beef.

The spa

Rambling across a hillside, the building is a little confusing and you walk through the gym to get to the rooms. Trees surround the place and if you’ve come from an urban area like Manchester or London, you’ll really feel the mood uplift from all the greenery.

Once inside the spa, you can easily spend the day there. There’s the usual sauna, steam room and hot tubs as well as food spas and a hydrotherapy pool, plus a swimming pool.

High quality Elemis products are used throughout, including in the rooms and in the changing room showers and branded treatments you may recognise from other Elemis spas are available, as well as signature packages.

Ahead of a half marathon I was foolishly running, I opted for the Swedish massage to really de-stress my muscles after all the training and get them ready for the big day. The massage was deft and firm and I felt properly unknotted afterward, as I swept back to the spa in my soft robe.

Room price starts from £150 and Spa Breaks £65. Contact: 01782 399000 or visit www.moddershalloaks.com for more details.

Getting there and away: We travelled on Virgin Trains where ticket prices from Euston to Stoke-on-Trent start at £12 (Standard, Advance).