Winners Of The Good Spa Awards 2020

Best Response to Covid, Best Community Spa and Best Sustainable Spa were three new award categories introduced to the 2020 Good Spa Awards in association with ESPA, held on 24 November, 2020. Other awards included Best New Spa, Best Outdoor Facilities and Best Spa for Wellness.

Spas in Cheshire, Penrith, Yorkshire, Berkshire, West Sussex all received accolades at the virtual event, hosted and judged by the Good Spa Guide - the UK’s leading authority on the spa industry. During a year of dramatic change and uncertainty, these awards celebrated spa excellence across the UK and the important role that these spas play in people’s lives.

THE RESULTS:

- Best New Spa sponsored by ESPA – The Spa at Carden, Carden Park, Cheshire
- Best Community Spa sponsored by Natura Bisse - Aqua Sana Whinfell Forest, Penrith
- Best Outdoor Facilities sponsored by Dale Sauna - Rudding Park Spa, Yorkshire
- Best Spa for Wellness sponsored by Wildlife Botanicals – Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall, Yorkshire
- Best Response to Covid-19 sponsored by ishga – The Spa at Coworth Park, Berkshire
- Best Sustainable Spa sponsored by ComfortZone – The Spa at South Lodge, West Sussex

Caitlin Dalton, Editor of the Good Spa Guide said, “We recognise the challenges our industry has faced this year and were blown away by how the spas have responded and what they’ve been doing to help their guests and their community. They’ve put incredible effort into managing the lockdown and re-opening, as well as introducing new ways of operating and running their businesses effectively in this strange new world. All our spa winners and runners up deserve a huge amount of praise.”

WINNER HIGHLIGHTS:

Best New Spa sponsored by ESPA
The Spa at Carden, Carden Park, Cheshire

WHY: From its living moss reception to the extensive outdoor facilities, Carden Park is impressive from the moment you step through the door. Every point of the customer journey is well-thought out and considered and it is a smooth, welcoming, beautiful, indulgent yet relaxing journey where you want for nothing. The atmosphere is warm and inclusive rather than grand and exclusive.

Best Community Spa sponsored by Natura Bisse
Aqua Sana Whinfell Forest, Penrith

WHY: Across key areas – education, charity, community and staff - Aqua Sana Whinfell was a clear winner. They support two charities and two local colleges, donated lockdown stock to local good causes, encouraged staff to volunteer during furlough and have apprentices, a women's development initiative and a mental health first aider.

Best Outdoor Facilities sponsored by Dale Sauna
Rudding Park Spa, Yorkshire

WHY: A broad selection of elevated facilities overlook the beautifully-planted landscaped gardens to the grand Rudding Park building, and it’s this setting which makes it a winner. Highlights include a sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows, a hydrotherapy pool, a spa bath, a sun deck, and oxygen pod, a woodland glade and the cabana with cosy seating and a fire pit. Outdoor treatments are given in the woodland glade, as well as a star gazing experience with a professional astronomer, painting and tours of the kitchen garden. The outdoor is brought into the Sunlight Therapy Room where guests can relax on heated, sculpted loungers while safe ‘sunlight simulators’ replicate natural sunlight, with the harmful UV rays filtered out.

Best Spa for Wellness sponsored by Wildlife Botanicals
Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall, Yorkshire

WHY: The breadth and variety of treatments at Grantley Hall and new dedicated wellness retreats make a holistic wellness experience to guests. With cryotherapy, altitude training, EMS training and underwater treadmills, the physical wellness facilities at Grantley Hall make it stand out from the competition.

Best Response to Covid-19 sponsored by ishga
The Spa at Coworth Park, Berkshire

WHY: The spa created a comprehensive set of measures that made guests feel comfortable, safe and well-looked after. They also found ways of re-introducing luxury touches in a covid-safe manner, and provided excellent outdoor classes during the summer month. Coworth also had good initiatives for staff to make them feel involved and positive during lockdown, all staff jobs were guaranteed and furlough pay was topped up to 100%.

Best Sustainable Spa sponsored by ComfortZone
The Spa at South Lodge, West Sussex

WHY: Across all areas of its operations; their staff, waste, heating, catering, laundry and facilities, the hotel actively works to minimise its environmental impact. Key activities include a sustainability policy through an internal communication system called Hubbub, with the spa encouraging staff to challenge any sustainable decisions made within the business. They also guarantee to only use renewable energy and environmentally responsible suppliers and that all new building projects incorporate the latest environmental best practice from a buildings and plant and machinery perspective. The spa has a sustainable roof, natural swimming pool and zero-waste café.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2020