The tRIBe Spa at Lanelay Hall in Talbot Green, South Wales

As I travelled down the M4 on a grey, wet, blustery January day heading towards Talbot Green in South Wales, the only thing that kept me going was the thought of a perfect rejuvenation. And of course, catching up with the most generous friend who booked the spa treat.

I was pretty certain that I had taken a wrong turn somewhere when I found myself turning left into a housing estate, but my trust in Google Maps was not unfounded when around a corner I came right up to the gates of Lanelay Hall. 

Welcoming the New Year with a Spa Experience 

Its festive ribbon decoration still enveloping the building provided a lovely highlight and a promising contrast against the dull day. Parking was fairly limited, but luckily I found a spot. It’s as not long before the lovely Geri (of Aurayoga with Geri) arrived and we headed in together.  

The Hotel

From initial external appearances, Lanelay Hall is rather deceivingly small, more like a large family home than the Victorian Manor House that it is. It’s large space filling out from the sides and generous extensions to the back which formed much of the spa and dining spaces we were to experience later.

 

The Welcome

We were warmly greeted on arrival but were asked to wait in BLOK bar area as the spa staff and its sign-in process was not yet ready. To be fair, we had arrived 15 minutes early hoping to have a catch up before our respective treatments. While the space was beautifully and boldly decorated, it felt a missed opportunity that we were neither offered nor asked if we wanted a drink.

We settled ourselves into a generous circular booths and were chatting away when the Spa manager came over with sign-in forms and more details on how the day would progress. The sign-in forms are available online, although for some reason, they did not work properly for us at the time of our visit. Still the paper-based form was not too onerous and we quickly got through it. We were then taken to the spa area.

The Spa Experience

As we walked across to the other wing there was a lot to admire of the interior design. Bold colours and decorations, gorgeous details all made up for a very plush and luxurious experience. 

Changing Facilities

The Spa area itself is separated from the rest of the hotel by automatic glass doors. We were led to the Ladies changing facilities and here there were lockers prepped with bathrobes and towels ready for use. The lockers are based on a numeric pin system so no coins were needed. 

The changing area was warm and tastefully decorated complete with underfloor heating and vanity counters with hair dryers. At times it did feel a bit tight for space as more guests arrived. We eventually managed to get changed into our swim suits and with our bathrobes on, we were ready for our relaxation massage.

Massage

We made our way across to the spa area and were checked in. Although I had visited spas before, I had not had a massage treatment before so was a bit apprehensive about what to expect. Thankfully, there was nothing to be worried about. The masseuse who worked with me, was young, but brought a soothing calm vibe to the space.

The treatment room itself was dark with dimmed lights and soft music, a simple set up with a long shelf opposing the entrance with an array of oils and other treatment necessities. The treatment bed was set up in the centre. There was no option for choice of oils or if any particular scents were preferred or to be avoided. Perhaps a choice was made a booking, but this was not confirmed at any point during the check-in or prior to the massage experience. Other than that I was well-accommodated and the massage itself was relaxing and rejuvenating. 

Fruit infused water was available in large jars at reception and was free for guests to help themselves. I had brought my towel with me but it did appear that some people were provided with  different coloured towels. In some ways, perhaps this could have been made clearer. I would certainly have preferred to have saved my towel for the after shower

Spa Facilities

At the end of the massage, I rested for a bit before going on to the different pools, and sauna. 

The main pool was in a beautiful cabin like space with large decorated beams across. Deck chairs and large bean bags were well-placed around the pool area. With sufficient distance to ensure privacy among guests.

I made my way to the outdoor jacuzzi which was a real treat. The water was heated to a very comfortable temperature and it was a gorgeous experience to sit out in the drizzle and yet feel completely warmed up by the jets. 

The main pool felt far too cold after that first jacuzzi session so the sauna was my next port of call. This was a rather small space but as it was empty, I enjoyed it all by myself for quite a while. 

After the requisite rounds of the different facilities, I made my way to a deck chair and rested for a while before heading off for my shower. 

Lunch 

Our lunch appointment time was supposed to be a couple of hours after our treatments and while we were happy to wait, we were pleasantly surprised that we did not have to wait long at all. 

We were shown to another end of the house and here was where I felt the spa experience really shone. We were handed over to the restaurant manager who took us to our table and talked us through to spread. There was an array of juices and drinks, a coffee and tea station and a gorgeously set up health-foods buffet along with an egg station.

We ordered our mains and helped ourselves generously at the buffet spread. Everything was delicious here, the bread especially. 

We continued with our catch up over the meal and were throughly rested and feted by the end of it all.

Overall, the spa experience was relaxing, rejuvenating and enjoyable. It was certainly a brilliant way to kick-start the New Year.  

Would I come back

I definitely enjoyed the spa facilities, but the jury’s still out on the massage treatment. I do think that if you’re in the area, the tRIBe space does offer a fantastic experience.