I recently visited Ragdale Hall Spa for a much-needed relaxation break. As it isn’t cheap, my expectations were naturally quite high. I booked a package that included bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and one treatment per day. The building is impressive, set in the Leicestershire countryside and as you drive up, you are greeted with a warm welcome that makes you feel like you are booking into a five star experience.

The positives first. The staff and overall organisation are very good. From the valet-style car drop-off, to the restaurant service, everything runs smoothly. Most of the staff are very young and perhaps a little inexperienced, but they are genuinely warm, polite, and clearly trying their best, which I appreciated.

Unfortunately, there were a few things that took away from the experience for me. The spa area was extremely busy. Despite signs everywhere asking guests to keep noise to a minimum, the chatter was constant, which made it difficult to relax. I sat in the thought room for some meditation and sadly ended up having to listen to the thoughts of two ladies who couldn't stop chatting about their holiday in Spain. The sauna was also very noisy and more like a social club than a relaxing experience. I had to queue for the outdoor thermal pools which were hogged by the same women for over 40 minutes so I gave up on that.

My treatment—a back massage—was pleasant enough, but not memorable enough to inspire me to book another. The food was plentiful and well prepared, though not particularly healthy as you might expect from a spa setting.

The décor also felt quite dated and, at times, reminded me more of a retirement home than a luxury spa. The bedroom had three single beds, was very sparse and not what I was expecting in terms of charm and luxury. The carpets throughout could do with being replaced, along with the plastic plants and flowers throughout.

The heating throughout the building was very high, and the pool itself was so warm it was difficult to swim comfortably, so this added to the feeling of a retirement home.

When we went to the Twilight Bar for a pre-dinner drink, it was extremely busy, and the young bartender wasn’t sure whether they stocked non-alcoholic gin. The champagne we ordered was unfortunately not great—flat and fairly ordinary for the price. They include a service charge at the end of my stay which I was happy to pay because the staff deserved it.

Would I return? Sadly, probably not. I can absolutely see why many people enjoy Ragdale Hall, and the staff work very hard, but for me the experience felt overcrowded and somewhat overpriced for what was offered. I don’t mind paying for quality, but the overall atmosphere felt more commercial than relaxing.