MPH 2008

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From Times Online

March 19, 2008

Bamford Hay Barn Spa, Gloucestershire

Is this Cotswolds retreat Britain's best new day spa? Armed with a video, Alice Fishburn finds out

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Alice Fishburn

USP Class with a conscience. This newly renovated holistic spa uses Ayurvedic techniques to treat body, spirit and mind. And just in case that's not ambitious enough, it does so in an eco-friendly environment.

Perched on the Gloucestershire-Oxfordshire border in the heart of Cotswold country, the Hay Barn was recently voted best day spa in Britain by Conde Nast. After a morning of pampering, it wasn't hard to see why.

AMBIENCE The spa expanded this year, adding two new treatment rooms and a second yoga studio. Situated in an old barn, it manages to combine rural charm – cows outside your treatment room - with a sense of utter luxury.

Beige as a colour scheme could have been a risky move but this spa pulls it off. Massage couches and silver prayer lamps from India provide an authentic touch and not a single candle is out of place. You even gaze down at flowers as you enjoy your back rub.

The spa uses all natural products, local trees fuel the underfloor heating and wool from the Bamford flock insulates the sustainable wood walls.

EXPERIENCE The estate's obsession with natural products extends to its treatments. The 30-minute massage my friend had left her wafting geranium scent and feeling as though she'd just dozed off on the lawn. Therapists design each treatment around the herb's properties. They use the oils to ground your energy levels, calm you down or re-energise you. Feeling stressed? Go for the camomile. Need some balance in your life? Opt for the geranium oil.

Yoga-nuts can also stretch to their hearts' content. A cavernous new yoga studio offers an expanse of sprung-wood floors and an instructor who will tailor programs to your individual needs. Fans can also pick between group classes or a weekend workshop.

Does it deserve its "best day spa" title? Well, if you're looking for beauty treatments and a bikini wax, you're bound for disappointment. But for a day of pure escapism in a retreat where you want to steal the furnishings, it would be hard to beat Bamford.

FOOD Provided you're into organic food, you're in for a treat. Local, seasonable and sustainable is the name of the game around here. Fancy an organic fruit juice? No problem. The renowned Daylesford farm shop is situated right next to the spa. We dare you not to go in.

IN-CROWD There are no boisterous hen parties at this spa. Instead, the Hay Barn attracts a well-heeled clientele. Yummy mummies flock from all over the Cotswolds while frazzled Londoners can reach this oasis in an hour and a half. Be warned, though. For those travelling from further afield, local pubs in the area provide the only accommodation.

WALLET WATCH For an establishment that oozes style, the Hay Barn offers some surprisingly low prices: £40 for 30 minutes. for both an Indian Head massage or a Thai Super Stretch. Yes, you can splurge £155 for two and a half hours of massage but you can also spend a reasonable £55 on an hour's bliss.

NEED TO KNOW The Hay Barn Spa, Daylesford, Gloucestershire GL56 0YG (01608 731 703; www.daylesfordorganic.com/scat/haybarn)

Miss Fishburn, I have to say that I am impressed by your thoughtful, concise and rounded reporting on such an important issue as day spas. However, an expertly filmed and scripted video was unfortunately rendered less-than-perfect by the poor quality of broadband in the provinces.

K McCombe, Tiverton, UK