Those of you that follow me on Instagram may well have noticed that it was my 30th birthday in December as I stretched out the celebrations across three weeks, no less! As well as nights out with family and friends and a fabulous trip to Copenhagen organised by my wonderful boyfriend Andy, I was also invited to top it all off with an overnight spa break at Moddershall Oaks in rural Staffordshire. Just want the doctor ordered after copious amounts of birthday booze and dancing!
Located in 72 acres of picturesque woodland and grounds, Moddershall Oaks houses an award-winning, fine dining restaurant and is also a stunning wedding venue with options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and celebrations. As part of the wedding venue hire package, couples marrying at Moddershall are treated to a complimentary one-night mini-moon break with overnight accommodation in its Master Bedroom, complete with four-poster bed and spa bath, plus full use of the spa’s facilities.
The spa’s “Girly Night In” package also offers the perfect chilled-out hen do, whilst its Snug can be hired for the morning of the wedding for the bridal party to enjoy being pampered and preened from top to toe whilst sipping on champagne. Sounds perfect, right? Which is why were so keen to experience Moddershall Oaks’ spa facilities for ourselves.
As I was on annual leave, my mum accompanied me on this Blissed Out Bride visit, and given what a wonderful time we had, I would certainly also highly recommend Moddershall Oaks as the perfect place for some quality mother/daughter time.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by the spa’s super friendly staff and given a quick tour of the facilities before being shown to our room. We were staying in one of the venue’s ten luxury suites with gorgeous Moroccan-style décor and use of the outdoor hot tub.
With fabulous-looking facilities both indoor and out to explore, we were quick to change into our robes and indulge in some serious relaxation!
moddershall oaks, stone
First up, perhaps the main attraction and also Moddershall’s latest addition, the outdoor spa courtyard, including relaxation lounge, spa deli, heated vitality spa pool and kelo sauna. We braved the cold December temperatures shedding our robes and hopping straight into the warm spa pool with welcoming bubbling jets. You could easily idle away hours in this gorgeous open-air spot with views of the surrounding countryside. There isn’t even the need to get out for a drink, as attentive waiting staff are on hand to gab that glass of fizz for you – utter heaven? We thought so!
Next a dash across to the sauna, which also offers beautiful views via its glass front. From our viewing point we were pleased to see a mix of visitors at the spa; from groups of ladies, to mother and daughter duos and couples too, proving that the venue offers something for all.
Though having done very little, we’d already worked up an appetite and so retired to the contemporary relaxation lounge for a spot of tea and cake, delivered directly to us by those attentive waiters.
As we’d arrived late in the afternoon we decided to leave experiencing the indoor spa facilities until the following day and so went back to our room to try out the residents’ hot tub before our evening meal. Beneath the starry sky, we enjoyed the jets massaging our tired muscles while we chatted all things family, friend, celebrity and shopping related, and also contemplated the idea of buying a hot tub ourselves – I now fully understand why people have these in their gardens at home!
Showered and changed we made our way to Moddershall’s restaurant for our evening meal, included as part of the package we were on. Here we found yet more helpful staff keen to help you make the right food and wine selection, explaining each dish in detail.
I went for the chicken liver pate to start and fillet of pork Wellington for main, whilst my mum selected the curried tempura mussels cream to start, followed by roast rump of Staffordshire lamb. All the dishes were beautifully presented and tasted even better than they looked, rich in flavour and varying in texture. All washed down with a bottle of red, we retired to our room very full, but very satisfied!
After a restful night’s sleep in our tranquil surroundings we woke to more food – a fine breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs bought to our room.
Fuelled up we headed to Moddershall’s indoor spa facilities and started with a swim in the pool counterbalance our indulgence. We then enjoyed making our way around the steam room, hydrotherapy room and reflexology baths before resting on the heated tiled loungers. We were amazed by just how much the venue has to offer to those on a spa day or break – and we’d saved the best until last, treatments!
We had both selected the 55-minute Elemis Couture Touch treatment, including a facial tailored to our skin and the choice of a deep tissue or hot stone massage. My therapist Hayley listened carefully to my skin woes and came up with a calming and hydrating facial that followed an incredibly blissful hot stone massage, which literally melted away my aches and pains. The heavenly facial left me with truly radiant skin that continued to glow for days after with no sign of a break out. In fact, it is the most effective facial I’ve had to date, and though not at all pressured, I will certainly be buying some of the products recommended by Hayley.
After a light lunch in the spa deli, we knew that the good thing that we were on had to come to an end, though I will certainly be putting Moddersall Oaks high up on my list of places to return to.
And with so many fabulous facilities, treatments and packages on offer, I would highly recommend you putting this place high up on your list of places to visit too, whether it be for some pre-wedding pampering an indulgent hen party or for the full works of a wedding and minimoon! Just be sure to save some room in the hot tub for us!
moddershall oaks recommends:
For the bride-to-be – Elemis Couture Touch treatment
We can personally vouch that this treatment is both relaxing and effective. Perfect as a pre-wedding treatment or ahead of the all-important honeymoon, this all-embracing experience includes both a facial and message treatment for top to toe pampering!
The girls – Exclusive Hire of The Snug
Available for hen parties or on the morning of the wedding, Moddershall’s stylish private pamper suite ‘The Snug’ is available to bridal parties to pamper themselves ahead of the big day celebrations. Including a glass of fizz, an exclusive menu of mini-treatments, nibbles and DVD’s to choose from, ladies can kick back and tune into a chick flick on the plasma TV, whilst being pampered and polished to perfection.
The happy couple – Mini-Moon Spa Break
Moddershall newly-weds are invited to spend the night in the venue’s exclusive 5* bridal suite, as part of the unique Mini-Moon Spa Break, included in the venue hire charge. Complete with four-poster bed and spa bath, a late check out, use of the private outdoor hot tub, a bottle of champagne, cooked breakfast, and full access to the state of the art spa and leisure facilities, there’s no better spend your first day as a married couple!
