Monday 5 January 2015

Champneys Forest Mere: Luxury Spa

Champneys Forest Mere
I will start this post by saying that Christmas didn't quite turn out how it should have. What is a foodies worst nightmare? Not being able to eat and possibly worse still watching others eating.

So picture this on the 23rd of December we did our main Christmas food shopping, little did I know at the time that the shopping trolley I was busy filling wouldn't be consumed by me, yes that's right from the 23rd till the 27th Dec I couldn't eat anything due to feeling poorly. It was a great pre-diet before the New Year, but not recommended however! 

Oh well, hopefully I have seen the back of it now. Don't feel too bad for me, on the plus side I now have a cupboard full of naughties that I plan to work my way through. I also got to have a wonderful meal on New Year's Eve which I will share with you in a bit. 

So on with today's post. I was lucky as one of my Christmas presents to spend New Year's Eve relaxing and unwinding in Champneys Forest Mere. Forest Mere is an award winning luxury spa set in 150 acres in the secluded Royal countryside beside a beautiful lake. 
Champney Forest Mere
Champneys Forest Mere
Champneys Forest Mere
Driving up the tree-lined drive I instantly felt relaxed the spa is certainly in beautiful grounds. 

Our room for the stay was a suite which had a lovely amount of space, with large sofa, super king size bed, shower and bath. Our room was named after the Savoy Hotel who used to own the hotel. The room had doors that opened out onto the beautiful lake above. 
Champneys Forest Mere
One thing that is a definite bonus for the spa is that everything is housed in one building, no going out in the cold here to venture to the spa. 

When we booked in we were issued with a lovely thick robe and not so nice white flip flops. My other half spent the whole time trying to walk quietly in them. It was hilarious all you could here was slap, slap, slap as he walked. Why on earth they do not supply guest with slippers I do not know. Maybe there is logic in there somewhere.  

The Spa housed a 25 meter pool, whirlpool,sauna, steam room and Thalassotherapy pool. Perfect for relaxing in and getting my strength back. 
Champney Forest Mere
The pool was a lovely size, bigger than a number of other pools in spas we have stayed in, but the temperature of it and the whirlpool was ridiculously cold. There are therapeutic benefits too not having the water too warm for muscles, but this was crazy cold. We were told that it was 29 Celsius but there is no way it was this temperature. 

Most of the people staying either didn't go near the pool or got in for a quick dip and got out. This really needs to be resolved as it would certainly be a reason that we wouldn't return. If I wanted a plunge pool I would take one.   

We had two treatments booked during our three day stay a Body Radiance and Thalassotherapy. The first was a Body Radiance which was wonderful, a body scrub was applied to smooth and brighten my skin followed by a relaxing massage. Afterwards my skin felt brilliant and the smell of orange was lovely. 

On New Year's eve we were treated to a foodie feast and great company of other guests. 
Champneys Forest Mere.
The quality of the food throughout our entire stay was wonderful. 

We had a truly relaxing and unwinding stay, that was the perfect way to bring in the new year. With a few adaptations we would certainly return to Champneys Forest Mere, it was in an idyllic and tranquil setting.

Close to Forest Mere and on returning home we visited 'The sculpture park' an amazing park which houses 600 modern and contemporary sculptures, all of which are for sale. However you might have to save your pennies for some which were priced at well over a few hundred thousand pounds! The sculpture park
The sculpture site is wonderful and definitely worth a visit, it had some superb sculptures and we really enjoyed walking round the park.
The Sculpture park
Wishing you a wonderful New Year. Share with me how you spent Christmas and the New Year in the comments below. 



 photo foodieforce_32.jpg

29 comments:

  1. Argh no! I can't believe you were sick over Christmas .... so unfair :( There was one Christmas when I was very poorly and being sick all day so missed present opening and lunch ... but it was back in my sillier years and alcohol was to blame so I can't really get anyone to feel sorry for me about that!

    At least you got this lovely present though. This is my favourite kind of present - and to go away over New Year sounds great to me, it can be a bit of a "nothing" time so it's good to have something fun to do.

    Chloe x

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    1. Hungover sickness is the worst to some extent having no one to blame but myself would have been better, was left feeling rather sorry for myself.

      A new year get away I highly recommend it is a great way to start the new year. your right about it being nothing space. Happy New Year Lucy x

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  2. Wow, this place looks incredible, what a fabulous present! Sorry to hear you were ill, but I'm pleased you are feeling better now and can tuck into all your goodies! :D

    Style Sunrise ☀

    :)
    x

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    1. Happy New Year, there is one bonus I now have lots of food that I can eat. It was a fabulous and relaxing present I'm very lucky Lucy x

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  3. Oh that's such bad luck that you were ill over Christmas :( At least you got to have a lovely New Years though - it looks so relaxing. I spent New Years skiing, which was great fun, but not exactly relaxing!

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    1. I bet skiing at New Year was super fun, your pictures looked beautiful. The spa was wonderful and relaxing Lucy x

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  4. Ohh Sweetie, I am really sorry to know that you were sick on Christmas :(( But I am very glad you got a lovely present for Christmas - so means you are lucky hehehe...

    I love all these pictures and there is very beautiful! I love the sculpture park and your last smiley photograph :)

    We spend Christmas eve at our friend's house. Just our little family and their huge family. We had great fun and we got lots of presents :) I enjoyed with my little friends, we left a mince pie, some Moldovan sweeties and a glass of whisky for Santa! And off course we didn't forget about Rudolph, a carrot and a glass of milk were ready prepared for the hungry reindeer ... ohhh lovely memories :)

    mmm New Year was simple... My friend came to our place we prepared few Russian dishes, drunk Moldavan wine and after went to see Fireworks :) Liuba, x

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    1. Your christmas sounds lovely I like that you keep up traditions and Russian food and fireworks sounds great. Wishing you a wonderful and happy new year Lucy x

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  5. Oh no, sorry to hear about the sickness! The spa looks beautiful though and it's a bit funny about the slippers. I would have been mad about the pool as I love swimming and hate it when it's too cold to get into!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    1. Slightly cold you don't mind but this was freezing I think they had forgotten that we are in the middle of winter. The flip flops was really funny he made so much noice and the quoted he tried to be the louder he got. He couldn't understand how mine made no noise. Wishing you a very Happy New Year Lucy x

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  6. Glad to hear you are better now. I love the look of the sculpture park and the blue man!

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

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    1. The sculpture park was amazing so many wonderful art work
      Pieces and all out in the beautiful fresh air. Happy new year Lucy x

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  7. delicious food indeed! I was ill 1 week before Christmas just up to Christmas and got with a cold again up to NYE hahahaha :) cold weather in UK doesn't really help

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    1. Hope you are feeling better soon. You are right that the changeable weather in the UK is not a great help. Wishing you a Happy New Year Lucy x

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  8. marvelous!!! all those food looks so amazing!! :D

    Animated Confessions

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    1. Good and relaxation is definitely a great way to start the New Year Lucy x

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  9. Sorry to hear you were poorly Lucy; good excuse as you'll have lots of catching up to do now with all the delicious food you missed. What a wonderful place; beautiful setting and suite :-)

    x Roch & Tash x
    www.next-route-style.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Very true might have to give it a while but sure I can make up for lost time. The spa was beautiful and very relaxing Lucy x

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  10. Sounds lush!! Very jealous!

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  11. Oh no! I can't believe that you were poorly, how sad for you! I hope you're completely back on top for soon! But boy it sounds as though your break really should have helped, sounds like a divine trip! I love Sculpture parks, something so odd and slightly magical about them! x

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    1. It did suck you know how much I like my food. The spa and sculpture park was lovely wish it could be a weekend bolt hole Lucy x

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  12. Oh my gaaaad you have definitely convinced me 100% that I need to go here! Firstly, beautiful photos! Secondly oh my god the food. Third, I'm a bit of a weirdo and like cold pools :p I don't really like swimming in warm water, it makes me feel like I'm drowning haha.
    So sorry to hear you were unwell over Christmas :( I think you should have a second Christmas just to make up for it! xxx
    Lucy @ La Lingua Italy

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    1. A second christmas would be fun. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. The spa you would love especially if you like a cold pool this could be ideal Lucy x

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  13. OH NO Lucy, sorry to hear you could not eat on Christmas day that must have sucked! But the NYE food looks incredible! I love the look of the fish dish :) xx

    www.lulabelloves.com/blog

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  14. These things happen still had a wonderful time. I hope you had a wonderful christmas? Happy New Year. The food at the spa was wonderful they certainly know how to spoil guests Lucy x

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  15. Sorry you weren't feeling well over Christmas, but this looks like a lovely consolation prize! A spa day at a beautiful hotel & yummy food! Hope you're feeling back to your old self by now lovely.

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  16. I love the woodland area surrounding the spa, and the food looked great as well!

    www.liakadatravel.com

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  17. You look like you had an amazing new year Lucy! Really enjoying catching up on all the blog posts I missed while I was MIA! I think I need a spa treat at some point soon, this looks truly relaxing and I'm sure very well deserved!
    Marie X
    titchytombie.blogspot.co.uk

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