Pembrokeshire spa and hotel named one of best in UK

St Brides Spa has been named as one of the best in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Spa Guide published today, Monday, September 30.

The guide, available from today via an interactive online platform and as a special supplement on Sunday, October 6, highlights the growing trend towards wellness and self-care in the UK.

St Brides Spa scored a total of eight out of ten with the guide’s writers saying the spa has: “One of Britain’s loveliest hotel views from the top of Saundersfoot’s sea cliffs towards the distant Gower Peninsula.

“After just five minutes on the terrace with a cup of tea, the knots in your back will be loosening.

“Add a couple of (relatively inexpensive) treatments in its spa and a spoil-me feast in the restaurant and, chances are, you’ll be feeling as calm as the sheltered waters below you.”

The hotel scored seven out of ten for its spa facilities and treatments with the guide praising its view, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas and ‘small but insanely photogenic infinity pool’ The spa also has a sauna, steam room and salt infusion room alongside four treatment rooms ‘where 55-minute therapies are half the price charged in some big-name country-house hotel spas’.

Massages are generally done with medium pressure, while facials use Voya’s seaweed-extract creams, oils and wraps or Caudalie’s vine and grape-based products.

The guide praises the signature Gentle Waves treatment, a mix of Indian head massage and seaweed foot mask and massage ‘which focuses on two key areas of tension for a blissful 85 minutes’.

St Brides’ rooms and suites also scored seven out of ten being ‘well-equipped and sharing their fresh, coastal colour schemes of bright whites and sand-and-blue stripes’.

“But really, if you are going to do St Brides properly, plump for a superior room or junior Suite with a sea view and a balcony (making sure it has a walk-in shower),” says the guide.

“ You will swear you can hear a Welsh choir singing when you fling open the curtains each morning.”

For its food and drink in the Cliff Restaurant, with its wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning vista, St Brides scores a fabulous nine out of ten.

“Start with a glass of fizz,” says the guide. “Then, follow with something feisty to enhance your sense of wellbeing. For example, the fillet of Welsh beef comes with just a touch of caramelised crispiness around the edges and a deep and meaty reduction of almost bottomless flavour. The pudding menu requires your attention too. Don’t worry — for lunch, the Lobster Club’s outdoor terrace is big on lighter bites, including a crayfish cocktail.”

Claire Irvin, Head of Travel of The Times and Sunday Times, says; “This inaugural edition of our 50 Best UK Spas guide builds on the ongoing success of our popular ‘Best Places to Stay’ and ‘Best Beaches’ lists.

“At The Times and Sunday Times, our award-winning travel team is dedicated to producing the most authoritative, meticulously researched, expert guides, and our new spa list reflects the growing importance of wellness in the UK.

“Our guide celebrates the impressive depth and individuality of the UK’s spa offerings—places where readers can invest in their health and relaxation, from cutting-edge wellness retreats to tranquil countryside escapes.

“With this guide, we aim to offer a trusted resource for planning the ultimate rejuvenation getaway.”

Susan d’Arcy, Hotel and Spa Expert at The Times and Sunday Times, adds; “With the UK spa scene in such robust health, it’s the perfect time for us to launch a guide to the best places to experience it. Obviously, excellent treatments, knowledgeable therapists and results-driven skincare ranges are the non-negotiables for inclusion but we’ve also prioritised thoughtful design, comprehensive facilities and inventive health-focused cuisine.”