The Francis Hotel has opened its spa following a £14 million (US$17.8 million, €16.4 million) renovation of the entire property, which is located in a Georgian landmark building in the spa city of Bath, UK.

The 98-key hotel, which is owned and run by Sutton Hotel Collection, has revamped interiors throughout, including a reconfiguration of the lobby and ground floor spaces, plus the addition of a new Michelin Guide-listed restaurant called Emberwood.

Just under £1 million (US$1.3 million, €1.2 million) of the funds was spent on the addition of the subterranean spa, which features three treatment rooms – one of which can be used for couples’ treatments. The spa uses beds by Living Earth Crafts, while Theragun massage technology will be used to enhance treatments.

The spa’s relaxation lounge is warm and inviting with a glass facade that allows natural daylight to flood the space. The decoration has a Regency era feel, in a nod to the city’s connection to the celebrated author, Jane Austen, who lived there during the 1800s. Guests can also exit this area via a set of French doors to the spa courtyard, which has tables and chairs for light refreshments and cabanas for further relaxation.

There is also a private thermal experience suite, a beautifully tiled area with an Espuro Foam Steam Bath by Klafs and an experience shower by Aquaform. There is also an in-built heated bench for guests to relax on.

This space will be used to offer two different self-guided spa experiences for two, each lasting 45 minutes and costing £115 (US$146, €134) off-peak and £125 (US$159, €146) at peak times.

The Cleansing Thermal Ritual begins with a self-applied salt scrub, which is then rinsed away under the experience shower, using hot and cold sprays. Guests move to the Espuro cabin which generates bubbles and cleansing steam to purify the skin. When the steam experience concludes, guests dry themselves and apply body lotion from Gaia Skincare’s Awakening range before reclining on the heated bench to unwind.

The Nourishing Thermal Ritual is a rasul experience that starts again with the self-applied salt scrub and cleansing experience shower. Rasul muds are applied to the skin and guests enter the Espuro cabin, which remains a steamroom without the bubbles. The mud is washed away again in the shower, body lotion is applied and guests relax on the heated bench.

Sarah Morris, head of spa operations, said guests will be able to press the button on the wall that generates the bubbles in the Espuro Foam Steam Bath – which can reach 130cm from the ground. This experience was chosen because it’s very different to anything else offered in the region.

Face and body therapies are delivered in partnership with sensory botanical brand Gaia Skincare and results-driven company QMS Medicosmetics. Gaia also provides amenities throughout the hotel.

Morris said the spa therapists working at the hotel have received training for both brands, as well as protocols that are safe for people experiencing cancer and also mental health issues, such as depression.

Spa software is provided by Trybe and BC Softwear is supplying towels and treatment bed linen.

Shaun Bowles, GM of The Francis Hotel, told Spa Business: “As a city renowned worldwide for its wellness heritage, natural spa waters and centuries-old bathing culture, Bath has always been synonymous with wellbeing. Our new spa has been created to honour that legacy while offering something unique for our hotel guests and the local community alike.

“The addition of this brand-new facility allows us to introduce a highly personalised wellness experience delivered by a deeply trained and compassionate spa team,” he added. “Our thermal experience suite is immersive, enjoyable and cutting-edge, offering a multi-sensory journey unlike anything else currently available in the city.

“Our partnerships with Gaia (across both the hotel and spa) alongside QMS Medicosmetics, allow us to deliver exceptional, results-driven products paired with truly personalised treatments,” continued Bowles. “We’re also proud to offer specialist treatments for those undergoing medical treatment or living with cancer, as well as gentle therapies tailored for pregnancy, ensuring our spa is a welcoming and supportive space for all.”

FIRST PERSON 

The experience

I visited the property to experience the reimagined facilities and wellness experiences that have been designed by 3DReid with project management by DFDM and spa consultancy by Paula Perkins.

On arrival at the hotel, the staff were very welcoming. A team member assisted me to a bedroom overlooking a square, bordered by trees in the early stages of spring. My room was large, but the green walls and design gave it a cosy atmosphere. 

The adjoining white marble-effect bathroom provided contrast and was stocked with Gaia Skincare products.

I was pleasantly surprised by the mini bar, which featured – among other things – two cans of kombucha, rather than fizzy drinks and wine.

The TV menu provided an easy way to navigate to the spa menu and read more about treatments on offer. It also had a selection of three yoga and meditation videos lasting 15 minutes, in partnership with a local provider called The Space Bath. 

I arrived at the spa as the team were completing the finishing touches. A tour of the facilities made it clear that clever use has been made of a relatively small space, to provide the most valuable experiences. The beautifully-tiled thermal suite doesn’t occupy a huge amount of the spa’s footprint and it’s just the right size for a regular turnover of private rituals.

My treatment was the 90-minute Calming Journey by Gaia, which started with a beautiful foot scrub ritual as the therapist asked me about the kind of pressure I wanted and skin sensitivities. This cleansing experience featured a number of grounding holds with sustained pressure, which I found very soothing. 

On the treatment table the massage began, to a peaceful soundtrack. The protocol encompassed an unhurried massage of my back, neck and shoulders with room for personalisation where the therapist encountered tension. The slow strokes and varying pressures combined to create a sense that this therapy was designed to take time and promote relaxation.

I turned onto my back to receive a traditional Indian head massage and facial, which involved massage for my face, head, décolleté and arms. The holds used during the facial with a hot towel were unusual and comforting. I didn’t want the head massage to end. I felt as though my nervous system had been given a reset and that the £170 (US$216, €198) fee for this service was entirely justified. 

After an afternoon of relaxation, I had dinner in the Michelin Guide-listed restaurant, Emberwood.

The overnight stay was extremely comfortable, ending in the morning with a breakfast buffet with a variety of options. Check-out was seamless and the staff accommodated my request to leave my bags with them while I explored the rest of the city. The staff made a huge contribution to my experience and I look forward to returning in the future.