There’s something about a spa retreat that feels like the ultimate treat. Usually I long to escape the UK for a break, but after weeks of feeling frazzled and looking longingly at pictures of bubbling hot tubs on Instagram, I thought I’d head somewhere a bit closer to home for a weekend reset. Enter Champneys Forest Mere – a health and wellness retreat tucked away in the Hampshire countryside.
And while I would have been happy enough to head there on my own for a solo trip, I thought I’d combine my spa weekend with a long overdue catch-up with my mum. So how did the Champneys live up to its reviews for being an indulgent (yet still surprisingly affordable with rooms from around £230) visit for those looking to indulge in massages and delicious food?
Here are my honest thoughts for anyone looking to book the location for the upcoming Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day weekends.
First impressions
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Forest Mere is surrounded by lush woodland and a glassy lake, and the whole place oozes calm. Even the drive up to the entrance feels like a detox for your brain – no noisy roads, no chaos, just nature doing its thing. Sadly I visited when storm Eowyn was causing havoc, so I couldn’t head out for a crisp morning walk around the lake. Had it been nice though, that would have been the perfect activity to start the day.
The hotel has been awarded four stars and, like all of Champneys spas, it welcomes anyone aged 16 and above (i.e. no children, excellent).
Inside, I was immediately hit with a quiet hum of relaxation that only a spa can pull off. The staff were so welcoming, and once we’d made it to the front of quite a lengthy queue, checking in only took a few moments. The hotel asks you to put a card on the room so any extras additional to your package – you can book in on a room and breakfast rate or choose from spa package stay options from £500 – can be charged there and paid at the end.
The rooms
There are room types to suit all budgets – from standard doubles and singles to deluxe suites. I stayed in one of the suites, which was incredibly roomy. It was beautifully simple – neutral tones, a nicely sized relaxation area with sofas and a double balcony with expansive views out over the grounds. There was something incredibly cosy about waking up to the sight of rain rolling over the lake. Like the weather was telling me to stay inside and relax.
My suite came with two twin beds, but since I was sharing a room with my mum, this was a perfect arrangement. There are also suites with double beds for those booking in as a couple. A major bonus for the suite was that it had both a bathtub and a very large walk-in shower. The bathroom was also stocked with lovely little Elemis treats.
There was one negative to the room I was in, which I did call up reception in an attempt to fix: the intense heating. When I arrived, my room thermostat was showing at 26°C, which would have been way too hot to sleep in. There wasn’t a central AC system, and the heating dials could only be turned down to a setting of ‘1’ (the lowest, which was still hot). I was informed the temperature is mostly controlled by a central system, so it was tricky to lower it for us.
If you’re someone like me who sleeps comfortably in a cool room, you may want to ask for a fan.
The spa
Let’s be real, I was mostly here for the spa, and it did not disappoint. The facilities are massive – think a hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms, saunas, a big swimming pool and plenty of therapy rooms. But the real star is the treatment menu. From facials to massages to slightly more niche things like reiki and reflexology, it’s got everything you could possibly want for a full-body reset.
I opted for the spa heaven cocoon treatment, and it was worth the £98 for 50 minutes. I did hear a group of women speaking about the pricing of treatments over dinner and a few said they found the costs steep in comparison to other spas, but I couldn’t argue with the quality of the treatment you get in return.
Post-treatments, my mum and I headed to test out the snow room, thermal suites and mud chamber. Later on in the day I felt like I wanted to work up an appetite so I visited the on-site gym. Large in size and stocked with plenty of weights, machines and equipment, I didn’t have to compromise on the workout I wanted to do. I was very happy to find a Peloton bike in the mix as well – very Soho house, I thought.
Dining (and drinking)
When it comes to food, I’ll admit I was slightly nervous. A lot of health-focused places can leave you feeling a bit… unsatisfied. But Forest Mere managed to strike the perfect balance between being good for you and actually tasting good.
Breakfast was a buffet with the option of ordering from an à la carte menu. The food was light and fresh – think smoothies, fruit, and eggs – and very nicely cooked. My only let-down at breakfast was I felt the ratio of canned fruit to fresh fruit was slightly skewed.
Lunch offered more variety with hearty salads, soups and hot dishes. I made up a caesar salad and enjoyed every bite. Dinner was definitely my favourite, though. The chefs clearly know how to make healthy food feel indulgent, with options like roasted fish, perfectly cooked vegetables, and some surprisingly lush desserts (the chocolate orange mousse was incredible). I also like that there’s a wine menu for those wanting something a tad more comforting than green juice
The Orangery coffee room also served a truly excellent cappuccino and was a relaxing space to unwind with a book.
Final thoughts – is it worth booking?
My mum and I both say yes to this question. If I’m giving a balanced review, I will say I thought there were quite a lot of surcharges, even on a full-board basis. There was the on-site café that was all surcharged, some of the menu at dinner also had a surcharge dishes like steak, the à la carte cooked breakfasts came at a cost, specialist coffees at breakfast like lattes or cappuccinos needed to be paid for, and most of the workout classes were priced additionally between £5-£8.
I also thought the hotel as a whole could use a colour palette refresh and a general deep clean. There was a lot of beige and old-style curtains where I felt the leafy surroundings of the hotel and the spa theme would have lended itself to either brighter and fresher decor or a woodland-toned one. It didn’t quite deliver cosy country or spa minimalist.
Saying that, would I go back? Yes. The hotel doesn’t promise to be 5-star, so by no means was I expecting flawless. The staff were very friendly, albeit in short supply during mealtimes, the spa had everything you could want, the facilities were top notch and the surroundings were gorgeous. Plus, I left feeling nourished, full from the delicious meals and very relaxed.
My mum and I have both agreed we’ll be returning with the family as there’s such a range of activities like golf, the spa, fitness and relaxation to suit all of our tastes. If you’re looking for a good Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day spa to book this February or March, I highly recommend this one.
Book it
Champneys offers a whole host of packages, with discounts of up to 20% off stays currently running on its own website here. You can also find Champneys Forest Mere on Booking.com, if you prefer to book using your Booking.com app or online.
