Review: Senspa, Carey’s Manor, Brockenhurst

SENSPA at the charming Carey’s Manor Hotel in Brockenhurst boasts that winning combination of exceptional and extensive facilities with a vibe that balances relaxation and fun perfectly.

We were welcomed with a cup of the spa’s signature white tea blend before being taken on a short tour of the facilities. Comprehensive and impressive, they included two pools, including a hydrotherapy pool complete with underwater benches and bubbles, jacuzzi and massaging jets, an ice room, herbal sauna, crystal steam room, experience showers, laconicum with heated floor, three relaxation rooms including a tepidarium with heated mosaic loungers, 18 treatment rooms, a spa shop, and Thai restaurant Zen Garden.

I must confess two or three hours is usually ample time for me when it comes to spa experiences – having exhausted the facilities I get restless; this was not to be the case at Senspa.

Having slipped into that perfect spa day companion, the complimentary white robe, the first stop was one of the relaxation rooms. A calming sanctuary which mixes ambient lighting, soothing music and beautiful scents, it was the perfect prelude to a day of pampering.

Next on the itinerary were our treatments – I had opted for the Thai herbal poultice back massage, which uses a specially blended combination of herbs within a steamed hot muslin ball compress.

A deep and stimulating massage, it was both mentally invigorating and physically energising. My therapist’s healing hands were a powerful antidote to stress and the treatment was certainly one of the best I’d had.

With my oxytocin levels successfully boosted and feeling considerably lighter than when I arrived, we chilled in the quiet room on reclining beds with more tea in hand and the as we slowly came back down to Earth in time for lunch.

Having worked up an appetite doing absolutely nothing, we ambled down to Zen Garden where we were greeted by Mink, who was to be our waitress.

Seated by the window and comfy in our robes, we scanned the spa day lunch menu which featured some of the most loved Thai dishes.

We opted for vegetable spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce, and chicken satay to start; and for the main course we ordered steamed seabass with pak choi, lemon chilli dressing and jasmine rice, and chicken pad Thai.

Each dish was delicious, but the spring rolls were the highlight. Super crispy with a springy filling of fresh, crunchy veg, and not a bit of sogginess, they were the best I’ve eaten.

The restaurant was cozy and laid-back, and Mink, who was not only professional and cheerily efficient but also very good fun, made our dining experience thoroughly enjoyable.

Sporting our poolside attire, we headed to the hydrotherapy suite and its blissful warmth. The pool was the temperature of a bath, and I could feel the tension melt away as the water enveloped me in a warming embrace.

I let the jets pummel away my aches and pains, reclined on the underwater benches, tipped a bucket of very cold water over my own head and rubbed ice over my skin before warming up again in the sauna, stood under the experience showers with ambient noises of rain and thunder claps; and unsurprisingly I loved every minute of it.

A favourite for me was the tepidarium with mosaic loungers heated to body temperature – what a heavenly experience. My spa companion, my sister, who has trouble sleeping in her own bed let alone dozing off in public, had the best, albeit shortlived, slumber of her life.

Even the changing rooms succeeded in stretching out a luxurious day of tranquility and luxurious surroundings, with big bottles of divine smelling Senspa products, fluffy towels, and a separate area filled with expansive mirrors, hairdryers and straighteners.

By the end of it all, my head felt clear, my body felt relaxed and rejuvenated, and I left Careys with my batteries fully charged.

Unlike some of the fancier, oh-so-serious spas, Careys achieves a blissful informality that keeps it fun, yet serene. It is completely without pretentiousness, and another draw for me was the number of guests – never too busy or overcrowded.

In all, Senspa provides all the facilities you could possible want for a serious relaxation session, complete with mouth-watering food and the friendliest, warmest service.

The Wellbeing Spa Day at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa costs £209 per person between Sunday and Thursday and £229 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The experience starts at 9am and ends at 4pm, and includes a two-course lunch at Thai restaurant Zen Garden, with a glass of wine or soft drink; a 30-minute treatment and use of the spa facilities.

To book, visit https://www.careysmanor.com