Lap of luxury

BSpa’s recent renovations tap into the demand for thermal experiences and holistic wellness. Ellen Cummings speaks to operations manager Esther Saccà to find out more

While visiting a spa located next to a racetrack might not normally sound like a recipe for a relaxing retreat, BSpa in Weybridge uses its unique location to its advantage to create an unforgettable journey for its guests. The spa opened in 2010 in Brooklands Hotel, situated near the location of the historic Brooklands motor racing circuit and overlooking the Mercedes-Benz World track, and has seen a number of updates in its relatively short life.

“We’re always striving to make it exceptional for our guests and looking for ways to improve the guest experience,” says spa operations manager Esther Saccà. “BSpa has grown in popularity since we opened, so we’ve looked at ways to creatively use the space to increase capacity while adding to the guest spa experience. For example, in 2019 we relocated the gym to the ground floor of the hotel and created a sunlight therapy room – the largest of its kind in the UK.”

Trackside tranquility

BSpa’s most recent multi-millionpound refurbishment saw the addition of several wellness facilities, and an extra 164m2 in spa space. The area – previously the site of a staff canteen, small office and satellite kitchen – now boasts a Himalayan salt room, Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, steam room, experience shower and ice fountain.

True to its mantra of “make it exceptional”, the additions were made to improve the guest experience. Saccà explains, “The vision is to create an indulgent space for guests to unwind and relax in, whether visiting for the day or overnight as part of a spa break. People wanted to use the facilities together – previously, the sauna and steam room were inside the changing rooms, so some couples couldn’t use them together.”

The new features also add an element of continuity – Saccà points to the Himalayan salt room tying in with the salt blocks used in some treatments. The salt room promotes healthier skin, respiratory health and better sleep through its microclimate, and the two saunas offer detox benefits and help to boost metabolism, while the steam room can help reduce systemic inflammation.

Race to the finish

Meanwhile, the nearby ice fountain and experience shower help to improve circulation, with the shower featuring water effects such as tropical rain, mist, monsoon and cold waterfall.

The refurbishment started in early January 2024 and was completed by the end of April, with the new facilities opening to guests on May 1. This quick turnaround involved a lot of collaboration before the team could reach the finish line.

Saccà says, “The work schedule was managed in conjunction with the contractors to ensure minimal disruption to guests. There were occasional days when the spa was closed to accommodate any particularly noisy works.”

Pamper pitstop

The new wellness facilities supplement an already strong spa offering. BSpa has 11 treatment rooms and offers a range of Comfort Zone face and body treatments as well as manicures and pedicures using OPI products, performed by a team of over 20 therapists.

BSpa is perhaps best known for its outdoor hydrotherapy hot tub. Positioned on a balcony overlooking the Mercedes-Benz World track, it seats up to 12 guests and features deep tissue massage Venturi jets. The juxtaposition between the lively racetrack and soothing hydrotherapy is actually deeply relaxing, and the view certainly lends itself to guests posting a photo or two on social media.

The spa also features a sunlight therapy room, which uses “sunlight simulators” to replicate natural sunlight. The room generates full-spectrum sunlight with reduced UVA and UVB, full-spectrum visible light and infrared heat, which provide the proven health benefits of the sun without the risk of skin damage, including vitamin D production, reduced seasonal affective disorder and increased energy. This room even has a beach bar that serves snacks and cocktails, adding to the illusion of being on an exotic getaway.

As to whether the spa has any other developments in the pipeline, Saccà says, “We always try to adapt to the guests’ requests so we’ll be listening to their feedback. We also have new therapists coming from abroad who will bring their own set of knowledge and experience, which will help to develop our treatment offering.”