Your next spa experience has just been elevated to a new level of relaxation and rejuvenation. The outdoor space at Seaham Hall has undergone a serious upgrade and the Zen Garden is perfect for all occasions.
Whether it’s your pre-wedding girly get together, some bestie time away or a romantic weekend with your other half, Seaham Hall has always been guaranteed luxury, but now it comes with a boujee glow up.
The Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall has just undergone a 1 million pound transformation and the result is the Zen Garden – a relaxing well being space where you can truly switch off and enjoy the ultimate outdoor wellness experience.
With two new state-of-the-art infinity pools and a cold plunge pool, they’ve also extended the outdoor decking area for a sleek and spacious area.
We stayed the night in one of Seaham Hall’s suites in the main house. This suite had some seriously luxurious vibes, from the gigantic bed to the cosy robes and slippers, to the Molten Brown bath products.
Being a garden suite, we also had our own private outdoor space complete with bubbling hot tub, fire pit and logs and fancy seating area which is so lovely to have that extra privacy away from Seaham Hall’s public areas.
After check in, it was straight to the spa which is accessible via an underground passage bathed in ambient lighting to guide you under the hotel. You’ll know you’ve reached the Serenity Spa when you see the enormous elephant statue and start to smell those incredible aromatherapy oils as they waft along the corridors.
From steam rooms to saunas and spacious hydro jacuzzis to plunge pools, there’s a new form of relaxation to explore around every corner. With heated water beds, wellness rooms and of course the actual spa itself where you can enjoy a range of amazing treatments, Seaham Hall literally has it all.
On the afternoon we visited, the weather was perfect. Blue skies, lots of sunshine and outdoor loungers on the terrace to chill on, interspersed with a quick dip in the cold pool, and a longer meander in the heated one.
The Zen Garden is landscaped beautifully so you’re surrounded by greenery, the gentle sound of running water and a real sense of peace that you’re at one with nature. Enjoy getting stuck into that book you never have time to read or grab a glass of fizz and get your headphones on – it’s your own personal relaxation journey.
A 4pm appointment at the spa was absolutely incredible. After years of having massages, I’ve never once dropped off to sleep and felt that ultimate sense of relaxation that everyone talks about, but there’s a first time for everything and this was my day. Bizarrely, while you come out of the treatment rooms feeling a little hazy, there’s also a sense of renewed purpose and energy that isn’t present pre-treatment.
If you’ve been to Seaham Hall before, then no doubt you’re familiar with their Asian restaurant Geko. This is located in the spa itself and you’re welcome to dine in here wearing your robes.
What you might be less familiar with is Harvey’s Bar who have an excellent food offering. Celebrating Lord Byron (who married the daughter of Seaham Hall’s original owners in 1815 here) the bar interiors pay a literary homage while also acknowledging the speakeasy era (the underground tunnels were used as a secret bottling and distribution centre for Scotch whisky which was smuggled to the US during Prohibition.) The cocktails are some of the best we’ve had in the North East – with interesting ingredients and so well balanced thanks to the brilliant bar staff who really know their stuff.
Meanwhile the menu is a range of small plates and mains – perfectly executed. Even while writing, I am craving the Cortebuona Coppa di Parma again – the most divine paper thin pork meat slow aged and dry-salted, wrapped around chunks of sweet melon.
The toasted sourdough crumpet topped with John Ross of Aberdeenshire smoked salmon (a former favourite of Her Majesty) is cured traditionally in red brick kilns and the result it an even balance of smoke, salt and seafood. Incredible.
We devour main plates of plump juicy Galloway steak with crispy-on-the-outside-fluffy-on-the-inside Koffman fries, and the fish of the day – a freshly plucked pollock with a stunning buerre blanc which is rich and intense, velvety and tangy.
Seaham Hall’s main dining room is also very pleasant with stunning interiors, but we thought it a shame to leave our beautiful room for our very early breakfast, so had it ordered to the suite at 7:30am prompt the next morning. The fresh and plentiful kippers were coated in buttery deliciousness, served with a side of warm toast and a fresh pot of hot coffee.
A quick swim in the spas amazing pool had us set up for the day and we did pop back to the Zen Garden for a peaceful dip in the infinity pool just to check it was indeed as fabulous as we’d thought the previous day. We confirmed that yes it absolutely was.
You can book a mid-week twilight spa 6-10pm right now with a welcome drink and dinner at Geko for only £120pp. Book via the website for overnight stays and spa break experiences.