Amidst the chaos of the world, nothing beats a relaxing spa staycation, especially with your four-legged best pal in tow. The Mallory Court Spa & Hotel is a beautiful Relais & Chateaux property in the heart of Leamington Spa. It is the epitome of a quintessential English country house and hotel, and mighty dog friendly too.
From the outside looking in, Mallory Court’s picturesque Grand Lutyens-style facade looks like it could be lifted from a John Constable painting. This award-winning hotel has four Red Stars from the AA, and a 3 AA Rosette award for its restaurant, and it certainly shows.
Inside, the hotel offers 43 elegantly decorated bedrooms that are as cosy as they are luxurious. The same tasteful restraint is expressed throughout the hotel’s spaces which are warm, inviting and evoke a sense of calm. There is a fabulous sitting room at the end of the main house and a garden Room, which is ideal for private lunches or dinners. The terrace is gorgeous and a perfect spot for afternoon tea or a glass of rosé.
We stayed in the dog-friendly Upton Suite, which overlooks the walled gardens. The spacious suite has a separate ensuite WC and bath, and was complete with a dog bed, bowl and treats for TeamCocopup Charlie.
The hotel is surrounded by 10 acres of perfectly manicured grounds. These is a beautiful rose garden, a croquet lawn, a flower garden and an orchard, which are great for idyllic walks with your pooch or for some mindful meditation.
There is plenty of space for energetic dogs like Charlie to run around, and plenty of beautiful scenery to feast your eyes on. Mallory Court grows much of its own herbs on-site, which adds authenticity and a true farm-to-table appeal to its award-winning restaurant.
Dining at the main restaurant is a splendid affair that brings elegance back to fine dining. Start with some aperitifs at the lobby, before indulging in the five-course tasting menu carefully crafted by Head Chef Simon Haigh and his brigade.
Using only the very best of locally sourced food on offer, and seasonal greens from the garden, Simon and team succeed in creating a menu that celebrates the richness and panache of British cooking.
We especially liked the heritage tomato salad, which was refreshing and grown just a few metres away from the restaurant, and the roast beef, which was rich, tender and delicious. Paired with an excellent bottle of pinot noir, you’d be hard done to find a better meal this side of Warwickshire.
No visit to the Mallory Court would be complete without a visit to the Elan Spa, which is everything you expect it to be and more. Hotel guests can also pre-book 1-hour pool access complimentary with any 55-minute treatment.
The spa, which is a sight to behold, has an indoor heated pool and outdoor jacuzzi. Outside there is a full tennis court, while inside there is a fully equipped gym and salon too. Inside, the spa is kept at a pleasantly warm temperature and is complete with sauna and steam room.
We tried the Rasul treatment, which combines the myriad health benefits of a steam or sauna, with the skin-enriching glow of a mud mask. The 20 minute self-treatment starts with a sugar scrub, followed by rounds of steam, mud, and some chromatherapy too. After 20 minutes of mud, steam, and pure relaxation – we left feeling lighter than air.
We also indulged in a quick 25 minute massage at the Elan Spa. The Spa uses luxury Elemis products, and is staffed by expertly trained therapists that will soothe your stresses and leave you feeling blissfully relaxed.
Amidst all the wonders of Mallory Court, what truly impressed us was the excellence and dedication of the staff. The service was first-class from check-in to check-out and everything in between. Led by General Manager Nick Hanson, who made sure our stay was five-star, the staff at Mallory Court were clearly a family and made us feel like family too. It is no wonder it is so highly regarded by all who visit. We, for sure, shall be returning.
