S MAGAZINE ★ 26 MAY 2019 31
Where: In Newmarket, Suffolk – famous as
the home of British horse racing.
The lowdown: Built as a hunting lodge for
the sixth Duke of Bedford in the 17th century,
Bedford Lodge was transformed into a hotel in
the 1940s. This striking Georgian property is
a popular choice for racegoers thanks to its
location – just a 10-minute walk from the
famous Newmarket Training Ground, where
you can watch horses put through their paces
on the gallops. Being a horse lover isn’t a
prerequisite of a stay here, though. There are
plenty of other draws – such as the seriously
delicious food in the two AA-rosette restaurant,
Squires. It’s a cosy, low-lit space offering
comfort food as well as fancier à la carte
fare such as turbot and lobster, all produced
from locally sourced ingredients. The buzzy
bar is great for a nightcap, too.The hotel is also a spa destination,
offering a state-of-the-art wellness suite
and 10 treatment rooms. This isn’t the only
contemporary addition to Bedford Lodge;
the hotel has been thoughtfully extended
and refurbished over the years to offer 77
comfortable and stylish rooms, as well as a
new three-bedroom annexe called The Mews.
We checked into its exclusive suite, which
had a beautiful brass bedstead, dark wood
furniture and a bathroom with rainfall shower.
USP: The spa really is the hotel’s crowning
glory. Housed in a separate building in
the three-acre gardens, it has a 15-metre
swimming pool, sauna and steam room, a
large gym, a light-drenched hydrotherapy pool
and rooftop hot tub. The extensive treatment
list offers everything from ESPA facials and
massages to reflexology and maternitytreatments, and special race-day packages.
Start your experience in the spa restaurant,
where you can cosy up in an enormous suede
armchair in your robe and slippers while
enjoying a champagne afternoon tea.
Who you’ll see in the steam room: Racegoers,
groups of friends on spa weekends and
couples on romantic breaks.
Time for one treatment: The new ESPA Natural
Facelift Facial (£110 for 80 minutes) is deeply
relaxing and a wonder for tired, stressed skin.
Performed on a heated massage table with
your choice of oil, the treatment begins with a
double cleanse and gentle exfoliation, and key
lymph points on the face, neck and décolleté
are massaged. It finishes with a deep-tissue
neck and shoulder massage and a soothing,
cooling facial mask. Bliss.
Kirsty NutkinsBedford Lodge, Suffolk
Rooms at Brimstone
(brimstonehotel.co.uk) start
at £350 per night including
breakfast, Reading Room
treats, Arc’teryx kit hire
and spa access. Bookings
made 30 days or more
in advance enjoy a 15%
discount. Standard single
fares from London Euston
to Oxenholme Lake
District with Virgin Trains
(virgintrains.co.uk) start
at £25.Bedford Lodge Hotel &
Spa, a member of Pride
of Britain Hotels, offers
rooms from £130
(based on two sharing),
including full English
breakfast. Call 0800
089 3929 or visit
prideofbritainhotels.
com.Brimstone Spa is also one of the most well
equipped I have ever visited. Don’t expect the
typical swimming pool, sauna and steam room
combination – this one takes you on a journey,
starting with a bubbly footbath, going through
eight types of thermal experience, finishing by
resting in the relaxation area. There’s also an
indoor/outdoor pool with various jets, while a
log fire provides a wonderful smoky aroma.
Who you’ll see in the steam room: The
numerous steam rooms and the draw of the
surrounding countryside means you’ll never bequeuing up to use the Jacuzzi. Expect
to see couples easing aching muscles
after a day exploring the Lakes.
Time for one treatment: For those after a
sample of what Brimstone Spa offers, try
the Taster Treatment, a 30-minute facial and
30-minute massage. Always wanting the
maximum amount of muscle manipulation as
possible, I went for the Signature Massage,
which struck just the right balance between
relaxing and rejuvenating.
Laura Mulley