My daughter and I returned a third time and I have to say we will not be returning. Something is…read moreradically wrong with this place- it used to be great value and well maintained but now it's poorly cared for and the staff reflect this. Firstly there is no warm welcome at all when arriving at the reception and a horrible smell as you go through the door. The breakfast is shockingly poor quality ( the bacon inedible and chewy and the hash browns frozen and tasteless) and frankly for a wellness spa as it alleges to be there is nothing healthy to be eaten here. Barely any fruit and only sweet sugary juices. Afternoon tea was appalling I can honestly say it was the worst experience I have ever had. Gluten free options included a rancid chocolate pot that my daughter described the smell as a hamsters cage! It tasted like the chocolate had been burned and curdled. The only decent thing was the scone and not enough sandwiches. An afternoon tea should offer a selection of teas but we were simply offered tea or coffee, and we had to pay extra for a glass of Prosecco which would normally be included in the price. As for the pool area ..where to start?! No beds free at all and overcrowding meant no space to hang your towel either, all this on a Tuesday! In the steam room the tiles are falling off the seated areas and huge gaps mean it's not comfortable to sit on, the jacuzzi was overcrowded so we had to wait for a space for some time and what a disappointment it was he temperature was lukewarm not hot at all and miserable bubbles barely noticeable. The showers were no better and the only place worth sitting in is the sauna. The therapists doing the treatments were the only highlight but 25 minutes was more like 20 mins on the bed. I had a great back and shoulder massage and a facial but it was just too short to really notice any benefits. It would be better value to have a spa deal without a longer treatment as other spas do. The worst experience was the relaxation room - the dim lights covered up a multitude of sins but in one area the beds were in such a poor condition that the foam was bare and the plastic coating ended up on my daughters face! We were in a better lit place and were appalled to see the state of the beds and quickly left. The shop is a little better in terms of service and help that's about all I can say. This place could be excellent but it is clear there is no maintenance being done and the premises are falling into disrepair with corner cutting and likely staff cutting as there are many empty spaces in the treatment rooms and nail bars and many therapists simply standing about. My advice : make the repairs or cut the costs to your customers or frankly it's likely things will get worse and the reviews will reflect the poor standards.

You have to experience to believe. But a few hints. Modern,…read moreclean, funky interior Gorgeous gardens and surroundings Excellent staff & service Incredible food Relaxing spa and treatments. Fun and motivating gym staff & wide range of classes. You may even spot a celeb or two!!

I had a wonderful spa day at Bannatyne's this week. I had a massage late in the afternoon, but a…read morespa day gives you access to all the facilities for the whole day. So, in the morning I went to the gym, which has a great range of equipment. It was nice and clean and bright, and I enjoyed my work out. The rest of the day I spent in the spa area, the pool was a good size, not really big enough for an exercise type swim, but fine for a relaxing one. The jacuzzi, steam room and sauna where all great, and the loungers round the pool were comfy. Before my massage I spent some time on the heated 'sunbeds' in the treatment area, they're very nice! They'll get your muscles nice and relaxed before your massage! I had the bamboo massage which was great. The therapist didn't check with me before hand so I almost ended up having a Swedish. The massage was great, nice and firm, and really relaxing. Therapist was always checking I was ok with the pressure which was good. Had an awesome day, will definitely be back.

Without a doubt the best spa I have ever been to, great location and brilliant facilities. I came…read moreaway feeling totally relaxed which is exactly what I was hoping for, only problem was heading back down the motorway manged to undo all of that. If you have the time look for mid-week deals as these can bring down the cost a little.

I absolutely love Ragdale Hall! I have been twice, once for the day and once for an overnight stay…read more Ragdale Hall is set off the baten track and is quiet and peaceful - just what you would expect from a spa. On arrival at the spa you are taken to the cafe area served refreshments and asked to complete the paperwork needed during your stay. Then its on to the changing rooms to change into your swimwear and robes (whih are provided). The changing rooms are modern and very clean with plenty of lockers. The pool area is great for relaxing with a jacuzzi and different massage jets, steam room, sauna etc etc. We did a couple of different classes while we were there, aqua aerobics and a pom pom workout both of which were really great fun. The food although healthy was beautiful and was served in a very grand room. You can go back to get more food as many times as you like which is good as it gives you a chance to sample lots of the lovely dishes. We had a couple of treatments there (massage & facial) which were a real treat. The neck shoulder and back massage was fab and just what I needed to de-stress. They use clarins and decleor products and advise you what they are using. Be aware that there are male staff that do the treatments so if you are not comfortable with this, you should advise the staff. There is a lovely quiet room with big comfy sofas and chairs and newspapers, books etc so it's worth grabbing a coffee and heading their for an afternoon chill/nap. The hotel room we stayed in was a spacious triple room with a small lounge area. It was very clean and tidy and nicely decorated and furnished. The beds were very comfortable and we felt right at home. In the morning your breakfast is brought to you in bed which was brilliant. They have a couple of differnet shops within Ragdale Hall which are nice to browse around and you can buy your Clarins/Decleor products from the shop near the treatment room. I can't wait to go back to Ragdale hall. As you would expect, Ragdale Hall is very expensive (especially for the overnight stay) but it is worth signing up with them on their website as you will be sent special offers with some good savings. It is perfect to take your mum/sisters or if you just fancy a girlie, relaxing weekend away.

I had never heard of The Cove Spa before, but after being given a voucher for my birthday, I…read moredecided to book myself in for a luxury pedicure. On entering the building, I was a little surprised. Most of the spas that I've been to in England have been bright, modern places that border on sterility, and the name makes me think of Maine or Cape Cod: nautical decor and seashells and lots of light and airy spaces. Instead, The Cove is a colourful, Indian-inspired place that is reminiscent of somewhere you might visit in Goa or Kerala. Peaceful Eastern music plays throughout the building, Asian artefacts and colour schemes dominate, and the overall effect is tranquil, comforting and welcoming. Rather than the reclining pedicure chairs with attached basins that I'm accustomed to, at The Cove you're seated on a banquette piled with cushions while you soak your feet in a wooden tub. It's very low-key and natural-feeling, unlike anything I've ever had done in England, and it made me feel sort of like I was on holiday. However, don't mistake low-key for low-quality - staff are well-trained and talented. Kayleigh, my pedicurist, described herself as "a perfectionist" and it shows in the job she did. My cuticles were perfectly trimmed, my nails were shaped well (or as well as they can be - years of ballet have left the toenails growing quite strangely), and everything was massaged, buffed and polished. The only bit we had some trouble with was the calluses on my heels - the combination of going barefoot year-round, and neglecting my foot care for the last 18 months, has left me with extremely thick skin that will probably require chemical peels to treat. However, my heels were considerably softer and smoother after my visit here than they've been in months. Overall I would say it's one of the best pedicures I've ever had. In addition to doing superb work, Kayleigh was both friendly and professional. She was happy to talk when I felt like it, but wasn't exceedingly chatty, which I appreciate more than I can state. As an introvert with a hectic lifestyle, I turn to spas and salons for relaxation. More often than not, I like peace and quiet when receiving a beauty treatment or massage, as it's one of the few times I actually sit down and do nothing. Until about five years ago, this peace and quiet was easy to find, but in recent years beauty therapists seem to have become much chattier, and I find the constant small talk overwhelming. Happily, I didn't have that issue at The Cove, and I left feeling chilled and rejuvenated. Five days after my treatment, I have no noticeable chips or other damage to the polish, which I'm quite happy about. Despite choosing to come here because I had a voucher, I actually forgot to use it, so I'll probably come back soon for a back massage. At £44, the luxury pedicure isn't cheap (particularly to a half-American girl used to US prices!), but it's not considerably more than other salons in St Albans. In addition, each month the spa runs a different offer, and this month (June 2015) the offer was on pedicures - buy four get one free, or buy six get two free, which saves quite a lot of money if you get your nails done regularly. Overall, I was very happy with my experience at The Cove Spa, and would absolutely return. Updated 17/12/2015 - On my second trip here, I'm still very happy with everything. Patricia is wonderful, and I have another lovely pedicure. I really must come and try the other services!

From the owner: The Cove Spa provides a vast range of Rituals & Packages, Holistic Therapies, Beauty and Cosmetic…read moreTreatments using world class products from the IIAA - International Institution of Anti Aging including ENVIRON, Jane Iredale and Advance Nutrition Programme in addition to CoolHerbals' products. We are known as a results driven skincare clinic, performing a number of anti-aging treatments inhouse.

Very nice and good place for you massage so i recommend people to go there for their healthread more

Huntingdon Spa offer the very best deep tissue sports massages I've found in the area, the price of…read morea course of 4 massages is also very reasonable. The newest addition to the team Henry has a great knowledge of sports massages and can get to the most challenging muscle "knots" reducing pain and improving ability to exercise more. I would highly recommend booking a course.