West Court Retreat and Nirvana Spa – Review
By Richard Jones
With my body in a state of weightlessness, I could hear my breathing getting deeper, while my eyes were starting to close as I stared up at the twinkling stars.
I was floating in a warm, gently moving pool, super-saturated with hundreds of pounds of Epsom salts, and for a person who can struggle to relax, it was a new experience for me.
Nirvana Spa’s Celestial Floatation Experience was just one of one of the indulgences that my wife Rachel and I were treated to on a trip to the famously rejuvenating facility and its sister hotel, West Court Retreat, in Berkshire.
Hotel
Nestled within 20 acres of landscaped countryside, West Court Retreat is a Grade II-listed 17th-century manor house set within 20 acres of serene landscape.
Although it is easily reachable from Ascot, London, Reading and Windsor, the boutique hotel still feels blissfully remote, and following a multi-million-pound makeover, it now has a reputation as a secluded haven for guests seeking a relaxing break in southern England.
History
The building itself, West Court Manor, has always been a haven of sorts. Originally constructed in the 17th century, it stands on a site occupied by the Banastre family for 14 generations and after undergoing significant changes during the 18th and 19th centuries, went onto playing a significant role in British military history.
During and after the Second World War, the property served both as a training base for the Secret Service and as the Officers Mess for the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Rachel and I had a short tour with the hotel’s deputy manager Andrew Harfield, who explained how the place had changed throughout the years, with the reclaimed the pond – an overgrown swamp a couple of years ago – the obvious example.
The current owners are in a fortunate position, creatively and financially, in that they have free rein to model the house and grounds in their vision.
However, they also want to make sure the grand property still has links to its ancestral and military history while developing it into a modern 21st-century retreat.
Rooms
West Court Retreat has 49 rooms and suites, split between the original Manor House and the newer Officers’ Wing.
For our first night, Rachel and I stayed in one of its historic rooms, The Carlyle Suite, which perfectly blends old-world charm history and modern-day luxury.
As well as a master bedroom, the suite had a living room with large windows overlooking the hotel lawns.
The bathroom was simply stunning, with Victorian-style porcelain tiles, a sparkling rainfall shower and vanity unit, surrounding the sparkling copper bath tub.
In order to sample both varieties of rooms, Rachel and I moved to the Officers’ Wing for our second night.
The 38 rooms are just as spacious and stylish as those in the Manor House, but they have a more contemporary feel, with plenty of luxurious amenities, unique artworks and finishing touches.
Facilities
Although it is tempting for guests to lounge around in the luxurious suites snuggled up in complimentary robes, West Court Retreat has plenty of other areas to explore.
The newly built outdoor pool is its centrepiece, and the welcoming loungers and sofas are perfect to unwind in with a book or iPad, sipping on a hot or cold drink of your choice.
For those more adventurous, the surrounding countryside is ideal for a long walk, with Andrew and the staff more than happy to tell you the best route to explore.
West Court Retreat hasn’t quite yet reached full occupancy, but it has already hosted a few small weddings, and during the weekend of our stay, a sizeable hen group checked in.
The biggest compliment I can pay to the hotel and the staff’s discretion is that Rachel and I hardly knew they were there while their party was going on.
Dining
West Court Retreat’s signature restaurant, The Dining Room, serves seasonal menus made up of locally sourced produce.
Rachel and I sampled their king scallops and ham-hock terrine starters, before mains of 30 day-aged ribeye steak and spring risotto, followed by classic puds like sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble tart.
It was Rachel’s birthday on the Saturday, and without prompt, restaurant manager Rebecca and her staff made a discreet fuss by bringing out a special birthday cake.
Following dinner, we’d head to the hotel’s intimate The Devil’s Highway Bar, named after the historic Roman road that runs beneath the manor, for a digestif or cocktail.
Alternatively, you can relax in the sumptuous Drawing Room with a coffee overlooking the lawns, or in the warmer months, take a seat on the terrace and garden patio.
Spa
Many of the guests at West Court Retreat book a package combining their hotel stay with a day at the UK’s leading pure water retreat, Nirvana Spa.
After being dropped off there in the hotel’s resident Bentley, we were handed a robe and towel and shown around the huge facility.
Although I’m not generally a massive fan of spas, there was no question I would get bored or restless at Nirvana.
There are so many different experiences, rooms and crystal-clear pools, that it was difficult fitting everything in.
As well as the Celestial Floatation Room, Rachel and I hung out in the Mediterranean garden pool surrounded by sunken jacuzzis, as the majestic Roman and Colosseum pools, the saunas suite, salt-infused steam room and hydro-therapy pool (essentially a giant hot tub).
Spa day guests can also enjoy a selection of complimentary hot and cold drinks and snacks. And for lunch, we could choose between the enormous salad bar buffet or dishes from the à la carte menu.
Following another ride in the Bentley, Rachel and I returned to West Court Retreat feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, with a delicious afternoon tea awaiting us in the Drawing Room.
Future
While West Court Retreat is already sublime, there are exciting times ahead with the new tennis courts ready to be marked out and fenced off, and the on-site gym and mini spa with sauna opening in the coming months.
But perhaps most exciting of all is the Victorian-style The Glasshouse which has been built on the site of the original estate greenhouse in the kitchen garden and will soon be open for lunch reservations.
Despite a bit of work going on behind the scenes, there is still a sound of silence and tranquility at West Court Retreat.
The stay, combined with a visit to Nirvana Spa, had well and truly recharged our batteries, stimulated and soothed our senses and, I am glad to say, I managed to relax.
Richard Jones was a guest at West Court Retreat in Berkshire, where stays in an Officers’ Wing room based on two sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis start at £150 per night. Rooms available in the Manor House from £250 per night.
Spa Retreat Packages, inclusive of a hotel stay and visit to Nirvana Spa, are available from £500, which includes one night at West Court Retreat, spa access, a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner.
West Court Retreat’s Dining Room offers two courses from £22.50pp or three courses from £30pp.
For more information and book, please visit nirvanacollection.co.uk/hotel/
While working as a TV, sport and news journalist, Rich first dipped his toe in the travel-writing pool in early 2008 when he accepted a learn-to-ski assignment in the Austrian Alps. Since then, he has travelled the globe, writing features on everywhere from Lake Garda to Las Vegas, Mexico to the Maldives and Barbados to Butlin’s. Rich’s passion is to inform and inspire readers and provide them with tips and advice on how they can make the most of their precious holidays. Over the years, he has been fortunate to stay in some of the world’s best hotels and dine in top restaurants, making him well-qualified to review food and drink, in addition to travel destinations, experiences and accessories.
