Nàdarra Spa at The Coniston Hotel

Back to nature

Belinda Belli, general manager at The Coniston Hotel’s Nàdarra Spa, discusses how the redevelopment of its multi-million-pound spa captures the beauty and spirit of its Yorkshire Dales location

INTERVIEW BY MARK SMITH

Set in a stunning woodland location near Skipton in the Yorkshire Dales, The Coniston Hotel is perfectly placed to reconnect guests with nature. Owned by the Bannister family since 1969, the 1,400-acre estate boasts 71 hotel bedrooms, two self-catering cottages, The View Restaurant, Macleod’s Bar & Lounge, outdoor activities including a Land Rover Experience and the new Nàdarra Spa, which opened in April this year.

Originally built in 2015, the multi-million-pound spa was completely refurbished during the pandemic and the team used the lockdown period to re-evaluate and re-imagine the business, relaunching it with a new name and an enhanced focus on wellness designed to meet increased demand from its clients and membership.

The spa's couple’s suite includes a double spa bath and a mud rasul

The name Nàdarra, meaning ‘natural’ in Scottish Gaelic, pays homage to the Bannister family’s Scottish history on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, and the project has introduced new immersive water experiences and outdoor spaces to help guests truly connect with nature.

The spa boasts two infinity pools with commanding lake views across the estate and the imposing Yorkshire Dales beyond. Other facilities include an indoor swimming pool; a thermal experience including an infrared sauna, Finnish and Himalayan saunas, an aromatherapy steam room, an indoor bubble pool, an experience shower and an ice fountain; and a couple’s suite that provides a double spa bath and a mud rasul. A new private spa garden has also been created with a relaxation pod, loungers, two outdoor baths and warming fire pit all with impressive views.

We asked the spa’s general manager, Belinda Belli, how the Nàdarra Spa concept has been received by guests.

What was the thinking behind the development of Nàdarra Spa?

Connection with nature and its importance to health and wellbeing has really shaped the concept for our new spa. After looking at current wellness trends and customer feedback we considered how the development would fit with the rest of our offering as a leading destination hotel.

We wanted to incorporate our unique location in the Yorkshire Dales into our new spa offering, from the experiences we offer to our new name. The themes of ‘luxury’, ‘experience-led’ and ‘natural’ are at its core.

An infrared sauna has been added to the spa’s thermal facilities

We worked with Mark Green from Curveline Design on the concept and plans, as well as Unique Pool and Interefurb from the very start of our project.

Initial planning began in September 2020 with signoff in April 2021. The lockdowns, although incredibly challenging, were seen as an opportunity to make a start on the project and give our guests something really exciting to come back to when we reopened our doors.

What elements of the spa have been refurbished and upgraded?

We installed a new outdoor infinity pool boasting the same commanding views over the lake as our existing pool. The spa dining area was expanded to include an outdoor space for year-round use. We enhanced the outdoor terrace area with a range of seating and new fire pits, and added a permanent, covered outdoor bar with seating and views over the estate.

Our private spa garden is located in a secluded spot at the rear of the spa, overlooking a woodland copse, and it is the perfect place for partners, friends and loved ones to retreat to.

Belinda Belli – General manager, Nádarra Spa

The spa reception and indoor dining area were fully refurbished and we created a new treatment and meet-and-greet reception. In the wet area of the spa, we upgraded our walk-through experience shower and added an indoor infrared sauna as well as a luxury couple’s suite, including a mud rasul room and a double bath. Outside we created a new private spa garden with two outdoor baths, a fire pit, loungers and beautiful landscaping.

How have you designed the guest journey throughout the spa?

At the point of booking and prior to arrival we aim to speak to guests and ask pertinent questions about what they are booking and why. With this knowledge, we can tailor the treatment to suit their needs. The reception

desk team has increased to two people to ensure thorough attention and care when greeting guests by name. In the waiting area, everyone receives a warm towel to wash their hands and we offer a welcoming anti-inflammatory shot with pineapple, mango, coconut water, ginger and turmeric to boost health and digestion. Guests also receive a small recipe card so they can recreate this at home.

The indoor swimming pool affords views of the surrounding countryside

We want to offer a bespoke treatment experience for our guests and we have trained the team in how to adapt to this. We want to stay right away from a ‘conveyor belt’ mentality – people are coming to us for a healing treatment and they want something that is tailored to them. Each treatment begins with an ishga salt foot scrub as we conduct the consultation. This is a great use of time and helps to establish a connection with the client.

Tell us about the In Room Wellbeing Experiences that have been added to the treatment menu.

These have been developed by the spa team using products from Aromatherapy Associates and OTO CBD to offer a wellness experience in the comfort and privacy of the guest’s hotel room. Focusing on sleep and relaxation, the team prescribe the relevant products to each person, describe how to use them and then leave the guest to enjoy the experience.

OTO is developing a sleep sequence that features its sleep mist, eye pillows and sleep drops. In the future we will also be launching a choice of spa retreats focused on sleep and also creative writing.

A guest relaxes next to a salt wall in the Himalyan sauna

Which treatments or packages are proving popular with guests so far?

Our couple’s experience in the double treatment room is a popular choice, starting with a private rasul and a double jacuzzi bath with a glass of fizz by candlelight. Guests then enjoy a couple’s massage before taking lunch and moving on to the garden bath experience, concluding with time spent in the thermal suite.

Aromatherapy Associates treatments are a natural choice for visitors and the power of seaweed in the ishga products and facial is excellent. Natura Bissé remains popular with our members and OTO is rapidly gaining momentum, especially given the increased interest in CBD and wellness. There are many possibilities with the CBD products and treatments, including the use of seltzers pre-treatment to relax the body and mind.

What inspired your new spa dining concept and can you tell us a little about the menu?

We have developed Blossom Kitchen, a Yorkshire-Asian concept, with a nod to the cherry blossom season in Japan as well as the beautiful blossom trees found on our estate.

Blossom Kitchen serves up Asian-inspired dishes by chef Thomas Robertson

Thomas Robertson, our incredible new chef, will be introducing quarterly seasonal menus using local produce with an Asian flair. Open to spa guests, hotel residents and locals for brunch, lunch and afternoon tea, dishes include Pork Belly Tacos, Super Food Plates, as well as a signature Lemongrass, Lychee & Poppyseed Drizzle Cake. Our Bento Box Afternoon Tea is proving to be a firm favourite, too.

The new private spa garden is something of a unique concept. What was the thinking behind it?

Private spa experiences have been growing in popularity and we had the perfect opportunity to create something incredibly different. Our private spa garden is located in a secluded spot at the rear of the spa, overlooking a

Nádarra Spa’s new outdoor bathing options provide a naturally connective experience for guests

woodland copse, and it is the perfect place for partners, friends and loved ones to retreat to. It features a relaxation pod, a fire pit, loungers and two beautiful copper roll-top baths from where guests can take in breathtaking views of our estate and the Yorkshire Dales. Bathing outdoors while listening to the sound of birdsong, watching butterflies and looking over the lake is a truly magical experience.

Guests booking a 45-minute bespoke outdoor bathing treatment can choose from ishga’s pure Scottish seaweed bath or enjoy a therapeutic Suki Tea bath – both are great for balancing the body and mind. We include a glass of prosecco and strawberries dipped in yuzu chocolate, developed by our chef. This is a very popular experience among our guests. We have capacity for eight sessions a day and it is always fully booked well in advance.

Taking in the view from the spa’s outdoor infinity pool

SPA STATISTICS

Nàdarra Spa at The Coniston Hotel www.theconistonhotel.com

Owner: Michael Bannister. Directors: Nick Bannister, Louise Bolton, Colin Blackett. Nàdarra Spa general manager: Belinda Belli. Blossom Kitchen chef: Thomas Robertson. Capacity: 32 guests. Spa team: 37-42. Spa Size: 1,200sqm. Treatment rooms: 10. Designer: Mark Green, Curveline. Design Contractors: Interefurb Pools. Unique Pool Treatment beds: Avalon. Fitness equipment: Life Fitness, Boditrax and Les Mills. Brand partners: Aromatherapy Associates, ishga, Natura Bissé, OTO, Jessica, Suki Tea. Towels and robes: BC Softwear. Software: Premier Software, RevSpa and Guestline