Find another spa!
So we went to the owl house spa for a friends 40th, like last year when we celebrated another friends 40th. However, this year we thought we’d explore a new place. Upon arrival I would say the signage isn’t brilliant, once you drive off the main road you think it’s not far but you have to drive for a while before you get there.
The group we went as was a group of 8 busy mothers - who really do want to have a good relaxing break once out for the day as it’s not that often it happens. So upon arrival our dietary requirements were confirmed yet we were welcomed with drinks and jelly babies (containing gelatine - One of our restricted items) minor error as not everyone knows what gelatine is. However, we were told we would get flip flops provided with our package in our lockers. Some of us already thankfully bought ours - half the lockers didn’t have a pair and the half that did, were worn ones, which still had muddy dust all over them. Like fine you don’t have to be a Luxury spa that provides a fresh pair but at least wash them clean if you reuse them! Again minor error - I bought my own pair!
Changing rooms were slightly small and we were expected to as a group of 8 to share a locker, which was to small to store everything easily. Again seems minor but it’s all adding up now.... Then came to the treatments - fab no issue. But then came to post treatment shower! Firstly, the shower was scorchingly hot, and not very forceful. Not only that but with a group of 8, although we had treatments 4 and 4 and there were plenty of others using the facilities the changing rooms only have two showers!
Following that we had hired the cabin for our much looked forward to afternoon tea. We got in and the food was already placed on the table in the middle, so half of us got in and sat down. Managed to chuck our bags behind the sofas and make space for the rest. Unfortunately the tea table was for too small for 8 peoples food and drinks so we had to get our drinks and plates on our laps, which made eating and having a laugh rather difficult in such a small space.
The cabin was overly heated and small, would have been better if the cosy relaxing room had the heating on instead. The waitress who bought our drinks didn’t know how to smile, we asked for more plates as we bought a cake for our friends birthday and we were told as you are a group of 8 and we have another group of 6 in another cabin so we have no more plates! I mean why book more
People into the venue if you practically can’t cater for them? It makes no sense to me?! Maybe we were asking for too much, but we also cut the birthday cake and asked for spoons to eat it, the lady “looking after us” said I’ll just go get them, and never returned. When she came back at the end to collect and clear us away, we asked her were are our spoons - at which point she smiled at us and said ops! Sorry! But didn’t even offer is the option of getting them now? So she obviously expected us to make do without?!
So in conclusion, the spa itself had great potential, it’s a shame the people, and their attitude to customers who are paying a premium price! If I had paid 30/40 quid I wouldn’t really mind, but we paid 80/90 quid and got a dreadful service and a pathetic smile of apology at the end.
To be fair it maybe that people like this place and have nothing bad to say, but whether it was sheer bad luck or just an eye opener to remind us that small places that want to become great just cant cope with lager numbers.
Apologies it’s so negative but to be fair the only
Highlight was that there was a hot tub and it’s capacity was 8!