FFOLKESPA offers a new take on the traditional spa experience with vibrant spaces that are built for socialising. Ffolkes is a unique hybrid; part pub stay, part spa break with plenty of quirky touches that make for a memorable stay. Lauren Kate Hughes checks in for the night to experience a technicolour wellness retreat.
Driving up to Ffolkes in the village of Hillington, Norfolk, the 300-year-old coaching inn appears to be a cosy bolthole — the kind of place you’d want to get some respite after a long drive. The area is full of things to do, from touring the grand Sandringham Estate, where the royals have spent many a frosty Christmas, to the Norfolk Lavender Fields just a short drive away. It’s no wonder the nearby town of King’s Lynn is a popular base for staycations in the south. But step inside, and you’ll quickly realise that Ffolkes is nothing like its traditional exterior suggests.
The pub offers colourful interiors and a spacious dining area where guest chefs bring international flavours to diners. But most unusually, the pub leads out not only to a series of boldly decorated rooms that offer an antidote to the usual cottagecore or English garden style, but also a purpose-built spa area on the grounds of the pub that’s unlike any you’ve likely visited before.
If you’re the kind of spa-goer who’d happily swap a ginger shot for a piña colada, FFOLKESPA is rewriting the rules around spa breaks. This technicoloured playground for grown-ups includes a labyrinth of saunas and steam rooms, an icy plunge pool for some contrast therapy, plus a giant hot tub that can cater groups without being in close quarters, complete with a swim-up bar and an impressive lineup of cocktails and spritzes.
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Ffolkes is the passion project of Iain and Clair Wilson, who took on the renovation of the centuries-old Ffolkes Arms back in 2017, restoring it from a run-down pub into a vibrant multi-purpose venue. The pub renovation came first, with the Ffolkes Arms transformed into a more relaxed, open-plan dining area with a spacious beer garden for the summer and pop-up street food options. While FFOLKESPA launched much later in September 2025.
The mission was always to expand beyond the traditional confines of a pub, and the couple soon turned their master plan to accommodation options and building a wellness experience like no other. If you’re looking for a quaint county inn that prioritises tradition, you’ll want to keep driving. But if you’re a fan of inventive afternoon tea, playful games rooms, lively brunches, stand-out dinners, container golf, indulgent spa days, and jazzy swim-up bars — particularly if you love all of the above — this Norfolk gem will keep you well fed, rested, and endlessly entertained.
FFOLKESPA
FFOLKESPA puts a fun spin on a classic spa — there’s no need to tiptoe around here (unless you’re in the upstairs ‘Zen’ area, that is). The outside space is a cluster of saunas, some with salt and herbal elements, steam rooms, experience showers, a ‘Chill’ area, and a scrub station, allowing guests to buff their troubles away before entering the spa. This section is tastefully decorated with Nordic nods, with plenty of natural wood and the familiar smell of a wood-burning fire, tinged with eucalyptus and pine.
For a quieter moment, head upstairs to Zen at FFOLKESPA, where you’ll find the pre-treatment lounge, where you can wait for your therapist in calm surroundings. Afterwards, the post-treatment lounge is a dimly-lit space with waterbeds to sink into and prolong the feelings of relaxation after a treatment; it’s the perfect antidote to the lively atmosphere downstairs if you want to switch off completely.
Treatments at FFOLKESPA are on offer for £65 each and last 45 minutes. While the spa itself may lean into frivolity, the treatments feel more serious, with an immersive element that allows for deeper relaxation. Book the brightening facial, using TEMPLESPA’s Vitamin C range to reduce hyperpigmentation for an instant glow.
The food at Ffolkes
Ffolkes offers its own unique take on pub food, starting with its eclectic afternoon tea. Rather than the usual finger sandwiches and scones combination, there’s a unique line-up of sweet and savoury snacks, including cheeseburger sausage rolls, pork bao buns, and cheese and jalapeño scones. Sweet treats are plentiful, including dark chocolate and banana domes, white chocolate and raspberry mousse, and chocolate chip scones. Doggie bags are available if you can’t finish everything in one sitting. The Afternoon Tea at Ffolkes is included only with half-day spa sessions, depending on your session time, or available as an add-on for overnight guests.
Dinner at Ffolkes is equally surprising, with guest chefs taking over the kitchen to showcase their own dishes, which the pub calls ‘Street Food FEASTS’. We sampled the menu from Ruchi, a local street food vendor who uses bold South Indian and Sri Lankan flavours, with a selection of small and large plates designed for sharing.
Expect vibrant dishes such as marinated prawns and chicken skewers with spiced cucumber, pineapple, and a minty drizzle, or homemade paneer, fried and tossed in a mildly spiced tomato sauce. The restaurant section of the pub felt lively, with an assortment of couples, families, and friends stealing a night away together, enjoying a few rounds of cocktails.
Need to know
FFOLKESPA is open daily from 9am to 9pm. Spa Stay guests can enjoy access to all 12 thermal experiences from noon on check-in until noon on check-out, unless otherwise stated. While day guests can book packages such as the Half-Day Spa or Twilight Spa.
- Spa stays from £270 per night
- Half-day spa day from £95 per person
- Twilight spa from £65 per person
- Global Sauna Rituals are £10pp
To find out more, visit, ffolkes.org.uk/spa-faqs
