I’m not one to go to the spa every month and I’m always a bit nervous when booking a “rather expensive” experience. I obviously expect it to be worth the price and I don’t want to feel like I’ve wasted money. It’s not because a hotel has good reputation that their spa will be great.

I often base my decision on reviews before going ahead and this is why I wanted to share my honest, independent review of the Crowne Spa at the Crowne Plaza Chester.

Unsponsored review of the Crowne Spa Chester

Just for some context, I have been to the Crowne Spa in Chester 3 times so far. I went twice in 2017: the first time I only used the facilities without booking any treatment. A few weeks later, as I was quite impressed with the place, I booked a Time Out Spa Package. My third time was yesterday (October 2020), same spa package but in Covid times.

I’ve never had any brand deals with Crowne Plaza and I paid for my treatments. As I said, I’m sharing my review so that if you’re on the fence, hopefully you might decided whether you think it’s worth the investment.

The Spa

It’s not a huge spa but I can’t see it ever being crowded. Is is part of the leisure area of the Crowne Plaza, which includes a gym, pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Beauty treatments are carried out in rooms which have everything you can expect: cosy atmosphere, relaxing music and candles.

Covid measures

Staff is wearing protective gear, you are asked to wear a mask in the communal areas but not in the treatment rooms (at least at the time I went). Before beginning your treatment they take you to a room where you fill out a form and gets your temperature taken.

The pool was still in use, however the sauna and steam room were closed. Other than that, not much has changed and they take all the precautions without ruining your experience.

The treatment

I chose the Time Out Package which is a 60min full body massage and a 60min facial. Before we started the beautician (Hannah, lovely and very professional), asked me if I had any pain or soreness she would need to know for the massage. I mentioned tensions in my upper back. We then talked about the facial and any particular skin concerns I had, so that she could tailor it to my needs.

I found the massage very smooth and relaxing. Hannah spent quite a lot of time on my back then moved onto the back of my legs before asking me to turn over to do the front legs and arms.

She then started the facial which, to be honest, exceeded my expectations. I felt like she applied more products than what I experienced in the past and she really took her time. I’ve had experiences before where the treatment is meant to last 60min but you’re actually out of the door in less than an hour and feel like you’ve been rushed out.

I also really enjoyed the fact that instead of leaving the room after applying products that needed to set on my skin (such as the mask), she actually stayed and massaged my scalp, my hands, my arms. It made the whole experience even more worth it.

Hannah barely spoke during the whole two hours which was, again, really nice. I’m here to relax and I dislike when beauticians just assume that I’m up for a chat. It’s only at the end that she explained to me the protocol she had followed for my facial and showed me the different products she had used and why.

My very first Time Out Package at the Crowne Plaza Chester back in 2017 was amazing, but the one I had this year, even in Covid times, was even better.

The products used at Crowne Spa Chester

I had done my research beforehand to ensure the products were vegan. Crowne Spa uses an Italian brand called Comfort Zone which is vegan friendly.

The products don’t contain any animal derivatives, silicones, mineral oils, parabens or artificial colours.

Hannah even gave me some samples of the products she used so that I could try them at home.

The price

I paid £85 for the Time Out Package, which includes the full body massage and the facial. It also gives you access to the spa facilities, gym and pool for the day but as mentioned, some of them are closed due to Covid.

If you can, I’d recommend going between Monday and Thursday, as the price goes up to £95 from Friday to Sunday.

There are of course other packages and you can also book a single treatment. The full price list is here.

Final thoughts

Is it worth it? Yes. I will definitely treat myself to a Time Out Package at Crowne Spa Chester in the future and I’ll try to book with Hannah, as she was amazing and your experience depends quite a lot on the practitioner.

Sure, you may find the same package cheaper elsewhere via Treatwell, but in my experience, ultra discounted treatments are not the best ones.

I’d rather go to Crowne Spa twice a year and fully enjoy it rather than paying for a cheap massage every two months and be disappointed.

It is definitely a great place for those who want a quality treatment, whilst they unwind, relax and have a great experience from start to finish. If you’re in Cheshire or maybe staying at the Crowne Plaza, you really should check out the Crowne Spa :)

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