The Spa at South Lodge

First Impressions

South Lodge is a grand, Victorian, honey-hued manor house set in 93 acres of gardens and parkland. The grounds were created by 18th century botanist Frederick Ducane Godman, hence the botany-themed spa.

The spa is ultra-modern with huge glass walls and a wave-form grass and sedum roof. Follow the path from the car park through the gardens to the spa reception. Once inside, glance to your left for amazing view of the South Downs. The spa has been built to take advantage of its surrounds, with the pools and outdoor terrace all facing south to catch the sun.

What's on offer?

The Spa at South Lodge is set over two floors with the reception, large lounge, Botanica restaurant, Ridgeview beauty room, boutique shop area and treatment rooms on the ground floor; head down the stairs for the changing rooms, gym, holistic studio, spinning room, heat experiences and pools. We were warmly greeted, given a wristband to operate our locker and access all areas, before being shown around the spa.

Changing rooms are stylish in dark blue with gold pendant lights, bright orange sofas and lots of good size lockers with names like Yew, Fig and Elderberry. Eight large showers are stocked with Pelegrims x South Lodge Vineyard shampoo, conditioner and body wash; vanity areas are equipped with Dyson hairdryers, straighteners and well-lit mirrors - all well-spaced out so you can style your hair without bumping elbows.

Heat experiences include a large sauna with curved wave pattern ceiling and a glass wall, so you can roast – you will need a towel to sit on (it’s super-hot) - while enjoying views across the Downs. The floral scent of the jasmine herbal steam room - which has a semicircle of blue-tiled seats - transports you straight to a Thai island. The marble-lined, menthol-scented salt steam room is hot and invigorating; cool off beneath the icy-cold bucket shower. All thermal rooms are large and comfortably seat 10-12. Sit on the long, mermaid-tail tiled bench in the centre of the thermal area and hydrate between heat sessions while watching people bubbling away in the hydrotherapy pool outside.

Swim leisurely lengths in the spectacular 22-metre infinity-edge, ozone-treated indoor swimming pool before relaxing on a grey rattan lounger, of which there are plenty. Early birds can swim with the sunrise from 6am.

Don’t miss a wallow in the large hydrotherapy pool with its massage jets and incredible views of the Sussex countryside; head down a few steps from here to brave the 18-metre natural swimming pond surrounded by loungers. Don’t be put off by the cooler winter temperature as it usually guarantees you’ll have the whole pool – and the views - to yourself.

You’ll find two areas in which to relax: a buzzy spa lounge with soft chairs and sofas on which to order, and sip, drinks and a post-treatment relaxation area which is calm and quiet, and equipped with beds and hydro pool views.

The Ridgeview Beauty Bar is light and airy with rows of pendant lights; a huge picture of the local Ridgeview vineyard graces the wall behind the double pedicure station. Jessica manis/pedis are on the menu, along with make-up and brows by Mii.

Active spa-goers will love the 200sq metre gym on the lower floor for its new equipment, spin studio and an alfresco gym. Or check out the new all-weather tennis courts. Residents can also sign up for Wild Swimming lessons in the nearby lake which has eight the self-contained lodges to stay in. The theme of the spa is ‘bringing the outside in’ which it does with aplomb via glass walls and outdoor terraces.

Tell us about the treatments

We tried the Couples’ Escape (180 minutes, £360).

This is a treatment of three parts (mud, massage, facial): the first section taking place in the dedicated mud room where we coated each other in detoxifying clay (I defy anyone to resist the temptation to throw the soft mud at their partner). Once coated, we sat in the warm steam while the product soaked into our skin, removing it with a spray of warm water and towelling mitts afterwards. This intimate process leaves the skin silky soft and the muscles warm.

For our massage, our therapists, both named Charlotte, led us to the couples’ room and settled us on heated treatment beds, lying face down. My Charlotte prepared my body by walking her hands firmly down my body on top of a towel. A gentle massage with oils came next, followed by heated bamboo canes which Charlotte used to massage the larger muscle groups in my back. We both felt relaxed and rested when our Charlottes asked us to turn over for the Skin Booster facial. This consisted of a thorough cleanse and exfoliation, followed by a calming facial massage and a layer of serum and moisturiser to lock in hydration.

We opted to add in a 30-minute Omorovicza Eye Brightening treatment (£95) which includes a lymphatic drainage eye massage and a cooling eye treatment using ice globes designed to reduce puffiness, fine lines and dark circles. It certainly worked for me, dampening the lines around my eyes and lessening the dark circles that I’d been hiding under concealer.

The Spa at South Lodge offers a range of massages, wraps and facials from Pelegrims x South Lodge, Omorovizca and Comfort Zone, plus a rasul mud room, bamboo massage and reflexology. Manis, pedis and make-up are delivered in the Ridgeview beauty room accompanied by a glass of Ridgeview fizz.

Food Facts

Botanica is the bright and comfortable spa restaurant where you can eat in your robe. On the menu: inventive plant-based dishes using sourced-locally ingredients prepared with a Mediterranean touch. There are also plenty of free-from options available.

From the wide selection of interesting small plates, we enjoyed a Walled Garden Melon and Serrano ham salad to start, with a zingy peach dressing and some fresh rosemary Focaccia. Our spa partner opted for grilled Black tiger prawns with rosemary-doused Chips. A glass of local sparkling wine completed the meal perfectly and left us ready for some serious spa-ing.

If you are staying overnight, book into the 3 AA Rosette Camellia Restaurant where food is local, fresh and original. Our starter of eel took us back to childhood days (when our dad would persuade us to try it) - this was so much better than the jellied version with thin slices of smoked eel served with a finely cut potato salad and melon balls.

Our main course of locally caught Hake served with some roasted sweetcorn and a split sauce was full of flavour; the fish perfectly cooked. Our spa partner began with a colourful and flavourful pea dish topped with a crispy egg yolk. His main was a rump of local Sussex lamb along with a miniature Shepherd’s Pie. For dessert, we ordered the roasted peach tart served with a pink strawberry sorbet - and asked for two spoons. All in all, an exciting, interesting meal.

We loved / we didn't love

We loved:

The range of the facilities on offer: from bubbly hydropools to the natural swimming pond, and the 22-metre infinity-edge, ozone-treated indoor swimming pool to the various saunas and steam rooms, there’s plenty to do and plenty of space to do it in.

The sustainability: South Lodge applies its B Corp status throughout and does it well, adding and developing new ideas, from ‘who gives a crap’ loo rolls to treatments using by-products from the vineyard.

The calm and restful atmosphere: the spa is sunken into the landscape with a curved green roof that makes it sit lightly on the landscape. Indoor spaces are generous and seriously stylish, and it never feels crowded.

We didn’t love:

Not having enough time to try everything: there’s just so much to do here: arrive early, stay late.

Who do you think would like it?

Wine lovers: South Lodge recently harvested grapes from its own vineyard with a view to producing its own wine. Watch this space.

Serious treatment junkies: coping with Menopause? Want to feel revitalised? Need help sorting your sleep patterns? There is a treatment here for you.

Foodies will enjoy the interesting and unusual food; Botantica shows us all how to eat a mostly plant-based diet - and enjoy it.

What bubble rating did you give this spa?

Time and time again, we award The Spa at South Lodge our top rating of Five Bubble Luxury for its excellent customer service, industry leading sustainability, and luxurious, effective treatments. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls let you look out over the wild swimming pool and across the South Downs, adding to the sense of peace and harmony.

Sybaritic Spy visited in October 2025 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.