Review: A Spa Stay at The Feversham Arms in Helmsley
Living North escape to the country with a mini break at The Feversham Arms, Helmsley
Honey-hued, low-slung cottages and a jostling market square lined with makers and bakers signalled our arrival into the heart of Helmsley, and, most importantly, our home for the next two days: the Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa. Despite recent renovations, the vine-clad stone exterior remains loyal to the hotel’s history as a 19th-century coaching inn.
Check-in couldn’t be easier; after a warm Yorkshire welcome, we confirmed restaurant and spa reservations and were handed a weighty brass room key. Our Poolside Suite – decked out in duck-egg blue and pastel pink – was more akin to a holiday cottage, and perfect for travelling with two retrievers in tow. The space flowed between the living room (complete with a log burner, low-lit lamps and a plush sofa for reading), comfortable bedroom, and a bathroom featuring a roll-top bath and shower. Bliss.
The weather was balmy for mid-October, and the heated outdoor pool was put to good use from dawn to dusk, with guests and members padding in robes and slippers between the terrace, treatment rooms, and hot tub. If you’re seeking R&R – without the airs and graces – you’ll find it here.
Inside the main hotel, the atmosphere is equally inviting. We peruse the shelves in the library to map out tomorrow’s explorations, before beelining to the bar, where a crackling fire provides the perfect soundtrack for a pre-dinner G&T.
The menu at the hotel’s two-AA Rosette restaurant, The Weathervane, reads as a celebration of Yorkshire’s rich natural bounty and, after much deliberation, we settle on North Sea crab tian (masterfully paired with crisp apple, fermented turnip and tarragon to bring acidic balance to the crab’s natural sweetness) to start. Locally-farmed beef served in tender slices follows, alongside a golden garlic and thyme hashbrown, plus a moreish black truffle mayo for dunking. Delicious.
Daytime dining is a more informal affair, with afternoon tea, sandwiches, salads, and sharing boards served in the lounge – or al fresco by the pool when the weather plays ball.
While the lure of time spent in God’s Own Country is a given, many flock to the Feversham Arms for one thing… the Verbena Spa. Home to a range of tempting holistic treatments, it’s the place to treat weary limbs. After donning our robes, we indulged in a bespoke full-body massage, before sinking into the sofas and sipping herbal teas in the relaxation lounge. With an emphasis on wellness for both mind and body, there’s a tempting line-up of amenities on offer, including an aromatherapy room, monsoon shower, salt water steam room and saunarium to enjoy. So tempting, in fact, that we manage to squeeze in an early morning spa trip before checking out and returning to the sounds of the city. Needless to say, we’ll be back.
