A new chapter for a country classic…
The Client: Boutique luxury hotel brand
The Brief
Having acquired an elegant but faded Grade II-listed 18th-century country house hotel near Newbury in the heart of the West Berkshire countryside, the client approached Topline Pools and Wellness to build a (12 x 7m) heated outdoor infinity pool and refurbish the existing spa facilities and create a luxury spa retreat, as part of the Georgian property’s transformation into a stylish spa hotel – with the brief being ‘a new chapter for a country classic’.
The Challenge
Both the spa and heated outdoor infinity pool had to be designed and built in keeping with both the history and location of the hotel.
And before ground could even be broken on the pool build, a detailed planning application taking into consideration trees, site specific issues, environment and heights of ground had to be submitted to the authorities.
What We Did
Once the planning application had been approved, our team got to work building the stunning new heated outdoor infinity pool.
The unique design worked perfectly within the constraints of the surrounding garden and proximity to the house, and the pool with its sandstone coping surround provides a decadent charm that makes it look like it’s always been part of the fabric of the hotel.
Heading inside, we made a transformative upgrade to the existing indoor pool remodelling it as a rejuvenating hydrotherapy pool.
We also completed the spa with a Himalayan salt sauna and aroma steam room perfect for the hotel’s guest to relax and unwind in during their stay.
The Results
The heated outdoor pool, which can be enjoyed by the hotel’s guests all year round has had rave reviews appearing in style magazine Harper’s BAZAAR’s pick of the ‘best hotels with outdoor pools for an alfresco dip in the UK’ and in iNews’ ‘list of the best UK hotels with outdoor pools’.
The hotel was also crowned ‘hotel of the year’ and named ‘best place to stay in the UK in 2023’ by The Times and Sunday Times.
We also received the ‘Best Swimming Pool in a Hospitality Setting’ award at the 2022 UK Pool & Spa Awards for the outdoor infinity pool.
While the rest of the facilities are second to none, it is the wellness facilities that are the real treat” – Elite Traveller.
