In a nutshell
When the historic Thurlestone Hotel opened in 1896 it attracted the best of London society. Over the years it has evolved into a four-star establishment, with a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, two pools, and a spa with Decléor treatments ranging from body-shaping rituals to hot-stone massages.
The hotel retains much of its old-world charm and pays great attention to detail — complimentary umbrellas, free use of sporting equipment, and towels at the front door to dry off your dog after a muddy walk. The coastline is stunning and the hotel makes the most of the views. A five-minute walk will have you standing on Thurlestone beach, or it’s a 20-minute walk along the South West Coast Path to get Bantham beach and have Burgh Island in your sights.
What’s it like?
The spa is on the ground floor between the reception and restaurant, so it’s not somewhere you can drift into in gown and slippers without being seen. Once through the door you’ll find a well-equipped gym and a chill-out area that overlooks the hydrotherapy pool and hot tub below, which is where you’ll also find the sauna, steam room and dry-heat laconium.
It’s not the largest of spas, but real thought has gone into its decor, which pays homage to the heyday of cruising. Fish and crabs are sculpted from the stone walls and there are portholes dotted about (although there are no actual windows). Beside the pool, a scene of the Titanic leaving port covers the wall. It’s contemporary and tasteful.
There are three treatment rooms decorated in calming, neutral tones, each with a private shower. The are reached via a separate reception area, with a small quiet room off to the side. The pool is a good size (big enough to do a few laps without feeling as though you are doing somersaults in a bath). The only negative is the area housing the steam room and sauna, which felt a little less luxury liner, more public pool changing room.
Advertisement
Who goes?
The Thurlestone has built its reputation on being a quality family hotel and has an established and loyal clientele — scan the guest book and you find the signatures of generations of the same family, who return year after year. In the off season it’s definitely the domain of an older demographic, while families dominate during school holidays.
The treatments
Although the spa is relatively small, it offers a gamut of treatments. While I settled for its “little bit of everything” signature Ocean Escape treatment, which lasts two hours, I sent my slightly more hesitant husband off for the Ultimate Vitamin Glow facial. Using glorious-smelling products from Decléor, my session began with a gentle head-to-toe body scrub, with herbs and Atlantic sea salt. Washing it off, my skin felt instantly soft and smooth.
A detoxifying seaweed masque was then applied to my back. While waiting for it to dry, my legs and feet were massaged, and I began to drift off to sleep. This was followed by a back massage, firm enough to feel it was unknotting my muscles, but not hard enough to snap me out of my state of slumber.
In the final 20 minutes I was treated to a firming facial and scalp massage. It really was the “full monty” of spa treatments. I bumbled out of the room, relaxed and in a state of total bliss, my skin positively glowing, and bumped into my equally relaxed-looking husband.
What are the rooms like?
They range from basic doubles with garden views, which are in need of a decor update, to family suites. If you can afford it, plump for a seaview room with a balcony overlooking Thurlestone beach. These are spacious, with designated seating areas where you can unwind, and most have been renovated, with the bathrooms featuring deep tubs, dual hand basins and luxury toiletries.
Advertisement
What about the food?
The hotel’s restaurant has been recently refurbished and reintroduced as The Trevilder. It has a light, bright interior of lime-washed woods and sea blues, with a nod to art deco adding a touch of sophistication. Men shouldn’t forget their DJ (it’s not mandatory, but more of a century-old unspoken rule) and ladies, it’s your chance to give your little black dress an outing.
The menu is not overly adventurous, but attempts to make the most of traditional dishes, elevated with a modern twist. I ordered goats’ cheese with textures of beetroot, apple and candied pecans as a starter (£8.50), which was refreshing, as were the River Yealm oysters (£2.25 each) my husband chose. Our mains were West Country rump of lamb, with parmesan risotto, charred leeks and morel jus (£24), and Devon rib-eye steak with peppercorn sauce and chips (£25), which, unfortunately, was overcooked.
If you don’t fancy dressing up you can head to the pub, which was renovated last year and has excellent food and service. Prices for a main range from £10 to £19.
The lowdown
Rooms start at £240, or £295 with a sea view (thurlestone.co.uk). Dinner, bed and breakfast packages start at £300. The Voyage Spa Ocean Escape deluxe signature treatment is £136. The Ultimate Vitamin Glow facial costs £74.