USP A £10 million refurbishment makes this Champneys' flagship spa.

AMBIENCE Country house hotel meets cast of Crossroads motel, with two pools, a gym, saunas and steam baths, and 170 acres.

EXPERIENCE Luxurious if faintly naff. Service was effortfully attentive, but the therapist and treatments were good.

FOOD Healthy but delicious. The Swiss-soaked muesli is colonic irrigation in a bowl.

IN CROWD Aged sporting stars and ladies with alimony to burn.

WALLET WATCH A long weekend which includes a massage, facial and thalassotherapy treatment costs from £279.

NEED TO KNOW Champneys Tring Health Resort, Wigginton, Tring, Hertfordshire (08703 300 300; www.champneys.com)

Read the full review of Champneys Tring Health Resort

Readers' comments: Just under a fifth of readers who responded to our spa questionnaire had been to one of Champneys’ four UK spas. Although many people enjoyed the experience, 48 out of the 204 visitors didn’t feel it was value for money, and a quarter said they would not return. Most people felt relaxed by the ambience although some said it was “hectic”, “busy” and had “rather a lot of hen parties”. Treatments included in a package price were often described as “short”, and in several cases the experience was described as “being on a conveyor belt” or “production line”. Therapists ranged from “excellent” and “attentive to “inexperienced”. Just under a fifth of readers who responded to our spa questionnaire had been to one of Champneys’ four UK spas. Although many people enjoyed the experience, 48 out of the 204 visitors didn’t feel it was value for money, and a quarter said they would not return. Most people felt relaxed by the ambience although some said it was “hectic”, “busy” and had “rather a lot of hen parties”. Treatments included in a package price were often described as “short”, and in several cases the experience was described as “being on a conveyor belt” or “production line”. Therapists ranged from “excellent” and “attentive to “inexperienced”.

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