If you follow me on Instagram you’ll probably have seen that we recently stayed at the Dormy House Hotel and Spa, perched just on top of Fish Hill in Broadway. We were lucky enough to have been given the one night spa break as a (very generous) Christmas gift and with the offer of two nights baby-sitting we booked our mini-break via Reception and immediately felt excited!
We’ve visited Dormy House a couple of times before for dinner and drinks and have always said that one day we’ll come back and stay. The hotel has undergone a massive refurbishment and was recently named ‘Hotel of Year’ by Small Luxury Hotels of the World and the interiors are just my cup of tea; rural with a modern twist.
We arrived at Dormy House around 12:30pm and were greeted on Reception by a very friendly lady and a glass of Prosecco. Little touches like this made our break feel just that extra bit special.
Our spa break package included a ‘light champagne lunch’ upon arrival which, although was absolutely delicious, wasn’t that light! I ordered a spicy bean quesadilla (which I didn’t photograph because I was too hungry), and for dessert I had the most delicious chocolate brownie I’ve ever eaten. It was served with salted caramel ice cream and the combination and taste of both together was just heavenly! I washed this down with a couple of glasses of champagne before heading down to the spa for a few hours of relaxation.
Not a bad start, eh?
We both had a one hour treatment included in our stay but we had booked these for the following morning so we spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around in the Spa. The changing rooms at Dormy House are well equipped with fluffy white towels, robes and slippers and of course showers, lockers and a vanity area. Upon entering the pool area we did have trouble finding somewhere to sit as there weren’t many beds/seats to begin with and it seemed rather busy. This was a little disappointing and so we placed our towels on hooks located near the sauna and steam rooms and used these facilities first. My husband loves a steam room so he was in his element. I spent some time in the Juniper Sauna however I’d have much preferred to have been lounging around by the pool doing a bit of people watching. If you step outside there is a hydro pool which was very warm and the perfect place to sit and day dream on a chilly February day.
After leaving the spa we collected the keys to our room and got ready for dinner. Our room was an ‘intimate room’ which is described on their website as a ‘delightfully snug and cosy retreat‘ with a king size bed and ensuite and located in the main farmhouse. With a name like ‘intimate’ I was expecting a small room but we were pleasantly surprised. It was super snug and cosy and felt like a little den just for us to enjoy. The bathroom was beautifully spacious with a lovely heated floor and mist free mirror – perfect for doing your makeup whilst your husband showers.
Dormy House has a few options for dinner; including two new fancy pants restaurants. Our package included dinner in ‘The Potting Shed’ which we were pleased with as it’s more relaxed yet has a really good atmosphere. We opted to share the baked camembert to start, which was divine, (although we could have done with a little more bread for dipping) and then for main course Matt had the crispy battered haddock and I had the corn-fed chicken kiev. Both meals were delicious and we left the restaurant very full. We retired to one of the cosy reception rooms for post dinner drinks in front of the crackling fire.
Breakfast was a treat and served in The Back Garden restaurant. We helped ourselves to freshly squeezed juices, homemade cakes and breads and were then served our cooked breakfast. The produce i.e. the bacon and sausage were obviously high quality and I believe very local to the hotel. The surroundings were stunning also with views into the garden and another glorious fire to relax by.
It was finally time for our treatments in the spa. We both chose full body massages and, after completing our consultation forms, we were given a shot of smoothie and a warm lavender towel to place on our faces – that bit alone was glorious! The massage took around an hour and was so relaxing. The massage bed was heated and everything just smelt heavenly.
Following the massage I was given some cold water and some sorbet – such a lovely touch after an already pleasant experience. After a warm shower in the changing rooms (as advised by the masseuse) we loaded up the car and hit the road back to Cheltenham (luckily we only live 20 minutes down the road)!. So sad to leave such a beautiful hotel but one thing is for sure – we will be back!
