Welcome to the Ibiza Zone at FFOLKESPA.
Opened in the autumn, around £3m has been invested in creating a wellbeing experience with a difference at the Ffolkes pub in Hillington in the west of the county ‒ and it’s already won a five-bubble rating from the Good Spa Guide.
The pub dates back to the 17th century and it’s the sister spa to PIGSPA at Edgefield, near Holt.
From the moment my friend and I walked through the doors to check in, we knew this was going to be a retreat with a difference. The bold colour scheme, neon lights and dance music were the opposite of the calm palette of muted tones and gentle ambient sounds you would usually expect.
Here, fun and socialising is on the agenda as well as relaxati
The decor is colourful and playful. (Image: Hanneke Lambert)
on.
Arriving at lunchtime and hungry from our drive across the county, we started our overnight stay with some food in the pub.
We’d booked in for afternoon tea ‒ which came with a Ffolkes twist on the traditional, in the shape of a street-food-influenced menu. Think spring rolls filled with chicken, shredded cabbage and Colombo-spiced cauliflower and steamed bao buns with Korean barbecue pork and pickled chillies instead of finger sandwiches.
Scones, but make them cheese and jalapeño flavour, served with bacon butter moulded into the shape of a Lego figure and a cheeseburger sausage roll, which has deservedly got quite the fan club.
Sweets wise, there were dainty lemon and lime macarons, a dark chocolate and banana dome with miso caramel, which was almost too pretty to eat, and a Bakewell tart choux bun and more.
After lunch, it was time to head to the spa.
We were staying in one of the Courtyard Suites, which have direct access to the spa, so we could unpack and settle in, then get changed into our swimming togs and robes.
There is a variety of accommodation, including the Spa Cabins, which come complete with their own hot tubs, saunas, outdoor showers and wood burners.
All the rooms have lovely, playful details and thoughtful touches, and like the rest of FFOLKESPA, the colour scheme is bold.
Relaxing in the foot spa. (Image: Daniella Self)
Our room had its own private courtyard, with an outdoor bath, a dartboard and a larder with a Nespresso machine. And, with relaxation a priority, there were earplugs and eye masks to ensure a great night’s sleep.
The FFOLKESPA mantra is heat,
cool, chill, repeat. Contrast therapy (alternating between hot and cold),
which is thought to have huge benefits for body and mind, has really grown in popularity in the last few years.
It is said to relax muscles, relieving aches and pains, improve circulation, cleanse the skin, reduce stress and aid sleep.
In Norfolk, seaside saunas have popped up in Sheringham and Sea Palling and in Norwich there is now a city centre rooftop sauna and ice bath.
At FFOLKESPA there are 12 thermal experiences, spread over four areas.
My friend and I eased ourselves into the afternoon by starting in the Ibiza Zone, where we sipped no-jitos in the hot tub, which can accommodate up to 14 people. You don’t even have to leave the pool to order your drinks.
The hot tub. (Image: Daniella Self)
It’s a really fun, sociable space (there are also cabanas with heated loungers and foot spas) and would be a great place to celebrate a special occasion or have a catch up with friends.
Then it was time to turn up the heat. There are three different saunas surrounding a central wood-burning stove, each with their own individual heat and vibe. I loved the Salt Sauna and found the blend of sea fennel, lavender and lemon really relaxing, while the Herbal Sauna was more uplifting.
The biggest sauna, the Global Sauna, is where you can experience the Augfuss
Sauna Ritual. Performed by a Sauna Master, the multi-sensory experience originated in Germany and each ritual is themed around a different part of the world. During the 15-minute session, the heat is increased, which makes adrenaline peak and releases endorphins. Essential oils are melded into an ice ball and smashed onto the hot coals to release the scents and the Sauna Master moves the air around the sauna with a towel.
A giant hot tub with a cocktail bar. Think you know spas, think again. (Image: Daniella Self)
There are also two steam rooms ‒ Aroma, infused with essential oils to calm the mind, and Eucalyptus, which clears the head and gives skin a natural boost. To maximise the benefits, it’s recommended to apply a body scrub beforehand.
Then comes the cool phase of the thermal cycle, which provides a full-body reset. There’s a mist shower to bring your temperature down gently or you can refresh in the cold plunge pool. The temperature is around 10-12˚C, which I found very invigorating.
You can also finish the cycle at the ice fountain by taking handfuls and pressing it to your head, the back of your neck and your body.
And then it’s time to repeat at your leisure. Alternatively, you could head upstairs to Soft Play, with its double loungers, bean bags, a swing and infrared heaters or book yourself in for a treatment.
There’s a wide range of massages, body treatments and facials available ‒ including some specially tailored for pregnancy ‒ and they use Templespa products.
I opted for a back, neck and shoulder massage, designed to target areas that are particularly susceptible to stress, which my poor, tense shoulders were very grateful for.
Every little detail is designed to help you unwind. You wait in the pre-treatment lounge, which has its own larder, and afterwards, you can continue to chill in the indulgent post-treatment relaxation lounge, wrapped up in a cosy water bed with a replenishing pineapple sorbet. I didn’t want to leave.
All that relaxation is hungry work, but luckily when it comes to evening dining options, you’re spoilt for choice.
Throughout the week, there are a number of guest pop-ups in residence at the pub, ranging from Tex Mex from Guac and Mole to Indian street food from Ruchi and, on the night we stayed, Asian-inspired KO Kitchen. Plus, Pie Kitchen serves up homemade pie and mash every Sunday to Thursday evening.
We chose from KO Kitchen’s menu, which, as the name suggests, was full of delicious, punchy flavours. There are dumplings, sticky skewers, loaded fries and bao buns designed to share and mains offering creative and moreish flavour combinations.
My friend went for the Flash Kick Chicken ‒ Korean fried buttermilk chicken thighs glazed in hot honey sauce served with a sweet potato waffle, daikon and carrot slaw and crispy rice noodle, while I chose the Korean Hunter Chicken Burger, which was loaded with Korean barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, miso mayo and crispy bacon and was addictive. We also shared some plain fries.
Somehow we found room for dessert and my friend went for the retro-inspired Black Forest Sundae ‒ vanilla and cherry gelato, cherry compote, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, glazed cherries and chocolate sauce. All the good stuff in a fancy dish.
Chocolate and honeycomb heaven. (Image: Hanneke Lambert)
I went for the Double Chocolate Brownie, which was served warm with vanilla gelato (another mood-boosting combination of hot and cold) and honeycomb.
And, after a great night’s sleep, there was a leisurely brunch to look forward to, which, in a very civilised manner, is served right up until noon.
There’s a huge range of hot and cold options (that magic combination again), including a live cooking station with fluffy omelettes, pancakes and eggs made to order, plus bacon, sausage, hash browns and even pulled pork.
There is also fruit salad, granola and pastries, including croissants and cinnamon rolls, plus unlimited tea, coffee or juice.
It was the perfect start to the day and the perfect end to a lovely stay, which was made really special by how cheerful and friendly the staff were from check-in to check-out.
Despite only being away for 24 hours and a mere hour from home, we felt as if we had truly got away from it all. I need to head to this west Norfolk corner of Ibiza more often..
The hot tub cocktail bar and glitterball. (Image: Daniella Self)
Need to know
Spa Stays start from £270 per night and
Spa Stay guests can enjoy access to all
12 thermal experiences from noon on
check-in until noon on check-out unless otherwise stated. Half-Day Spas cost from £95 per person and Half-Day Spas with treatment from £150 per person and
Twilight Spas from £65 per person.
ffolkes.org.uk