The Spa at Manor House Hotel (Alsager)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Set in the East Cheshire countryside, close to Stoke-on-Trent, The Manor House Hotel (Alsager) is a real find. Family run since 2013, the unassuming exterior gives way to 53 comfortable bedrooms, an AA Rosette Restaurant and an English country spa garden.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

The Spa at Manor House Hotel (Alsager) is a spa in a garden, literally - all the facilities are outside with plenty of places to get warm and cosy while getting your dose of Vitamin D.

Collect your spa bag containing your robe, a blue-and-white stripey towel from reception – plus a spa map; the spa has been extended since this Spa Spy’s last visit - and head through the back door of the hotel to arrive in another world: aka spa nirvana.

The English-style garden is a real spa lovers’ playground; make a beeline for the beautiful Vitality pool with its own swim-up spa barn – the first in the UK. Four double-sized swing bed loungers surround the pool – each with their own covered pagoda, overhead heater and blanket to snuggle under. Seek out the enormous Salt Steam Inhalation Chamber, too, as well as the nicely hot Potting Shed Sauna. The brave can cool off in the icy cold plunge bath sandwiched between the cold-water shower and bucket shower.

Back inside, the indoor pool area has its own steam room, sauna and stylish blue-and-white striped hanging day bed. The big floating mattress invites you to climb aboard and snooze as you float round the pool – what’s not to love?

Of the delightful hidden gems here, The Summer House – with its flickering flame on a stand, four padded seats with room for two on each, and pillows and blankets to snuggle under - is a delight. Use the QR code to download the Spa’s own meditation programme; headphones hang next to seats. The Woodshed has a real log fire in the centre and plenty of comfy seats around the edges. You can pre-book time in one of the two secret garden hot tubs, too - look for the wooden doors with little heart shaped windows.

In April 2025 the spa added a 36 square metre expansion revealing a new Secret Garden area. This new space features a second swim-up bar, named The Bothy Bar, a Hydrotherapy Pool heated to 37°C, a Cold Water Plunge Pool with a cascading waterfall from a wall blade, plus a Finnish Sauna (The Hot House) with views of the Cheshire countryside.

Continuing the English country garden theme, there are two magnificent Greenhouse relaxation spaces, both bathed in natural light through the glass ceilings and lined with potted plants. Get horizontal on one of the ten beds, big enough for two, and listen to the calming sound of birdsong.

If the sun is shining, you’ll find a further garden area with a water feature at the centre, plus more loungers and hammocks out on the beautiful grass lawn.

TELL US ABOUT THE TREATMENTS

We tried the Tribe 517 Back, Face & Scalp Treatment (60 minutes, £90).

Chloe, my therapist, met me in the spa reception-cum-treatment-waiting-area where I was perusing the displays of Tribe 517 and Temple Spa products lining the walls. She led me down the corridor to a calm, softly lit treatment room and explained the treatment - a holistic trio of therapies including a soothing back massage, targeted facial and relaxing scalp massage – before leaving the rooms so I could disrobe and lie face down on the bed.

The treatment commenced with three deep breaths of an invigorating orange and lime scented oil; the scent so zesty I questioned if Chloe had actually peeled a big, juicy ripe orange under the table.

She began by cleansing my feet with hot mitts before drizzling warm oil across my back and limbs in a flowing sequence. With legs now covered by a towel, Chloe skilfully used her forearms and elbows to ease the tension in my knotty shoulders, back and neck – a deeply satisfying release.

Turning over, Chloe placed a pillow under my head for comfort and began to massage my arms and décolleté before moving onto my face. For the facial element, a heavenly-scented Tribe 517 cleanser was applied to my skin; this was followed by a facial massage that left me feeling soothed and radiant. The treatment finished with a scalp massage featuring a playful scratching motion that was so satisfying.

Chloe led me to the relaxation room where I sipped peppermint tea in a comfy armchair feeling serene-like; the three-pronged treatment was truly relaxing. I found my spa partner here dozing contentedly after her Temple Spa Drift Away massage - proof that this treatment also worked as intended.

The Spa at Manor House Hotel offers a range of all-natural therapies including facials, massages and body treatments using Tribe517 and Temple Spa, as well as treatments designed for during pregnancy.

FOOD FACTS

Spa day guests can dine en robe in the pool bar, choosing between a ploughman’s, seafood, mezze platter or afternoon tea – plus a soft drink or a glass of obligatory fizz.

We plumped for a ploughman’s platter, piled high with ham hock terrine, a selection of cheeses, pork pie, pickled onion, devilled egg, Waldorf salad, chutney, sourdough and flatbread. Our spa partner went for a mezze platter of epic proportions with a rosemary and garlic Camembert at the centre, toasted croutes, feta, hummus, pitta bread, melon and Parma ham, olives, mozzarella, stuffed vine leaves and a whole host of delicious veggies – phew. Both platters were as tasty as they were well-presented.

If you’re staying overnight, head to Stables Bar & Grill, an AA Rosette restaurant housed in a 17th Century farmhouse with exposed beams and a cosy gastro pub feel. The menu on our visit was so tempting we found it hard to choose – we wanted it all.

We kicked off the evening with an amuse bouche; goat’s cheese with sage pesto, roasted squash and bruschetta set the tone. For starters, we decided on garlic and chilli butter tiger prawns; our spa partner enjoyed creamy burrata on heritage beetroot with pickled walnuts and aged balsamic.

For mains, the duck breast with duck samosa, pickled chanterelles, swede and parsnip purée and a rich merlot reduction hit the spot; our spa partner got stuck into the lamb rump with chorizo and butter bean, pomme purée and a fresh watercress Salsa Verde. Sides of summer greens and confit potato with truffle mayonnaise completed the feast.

Desserts didn’t disappoint: a caramelised apple Tarte Tatin with oat crumble and vanilla ice cream and a British artisan cheeseboard with a glass of port for our spa partner.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are all available.

WE LOVED / WE DIDN’T LOVE~

We loved

The new secret garden gets a huge thumbs up for this Spa Spy: (another) swim-up bar and hydrotherapy pool, a Finnish sauna and cold-water plunge combo, plus two magnificent greenhouses to unravel in.

The food in Stables was a real hit; we’re still dreaming about those epic platters.

The vibe here is so laid back; the service, relaxed and friendly. Everything you want from a spa day.

We didn’t love

The small post-treatment room: whilst there are plenty of places to relax in the spa garden a more spacious dark post treatment snooze room would be a welcome addition.

WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD LIKE IT?

Besties: order two glasses of fizz from one of two swim-up bars and put the world to rights as you bubble away in the hydrotherapy pool – bliss.

Couples: after sharing a mezze platter, snuggle up under a blanket on a swinging bed lounger. For optimal romance, pre-book one of the secret garden hot tubs – you’ll find them hidden behind wooden doors with heart shaped windows.

Outdoor lovers: this whole spa has been designed to make the most of the great outdoors whilst getting your wellness fix. Soak in countryside views from the Laconium, a pagoda or a hammock. Fresh air and vitamin D, guaranteed.

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded The Spa at the Manor House Hotel (Alsager) the highest Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury for its beautifully designed spa garden, superb facilities, good range of treatments and delicious food.

Serene Spy visited in September 2025 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury