Moddershall Oaks Country Retreat and Spa is nestled in the rural hills of Staffordshire and offers a secluded getaway for couples looking for a romantic and peaceful weekend away.
Moddershall Oaks Country Retreat and Spa
We arrived in the afternoon on Friday and on check in we were asked to take a seat in the café to unwind with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice while we waited for a member of staff to show us to our room.
Meg took us to our bedroom of which there were only 10 in total, so we were guaranteed a quiet and undisturbed night's sleep. Meg gave us our room orientation and called us back on our phone to confirm our dinner reservations. She answered any questions we had and assured us that if we had any more that all we had to do was ask.
As part of being an overnight visitor, we had access to a private hot tub located behind the line of rooms. If you are a couple who values your privacy, this is an alternative to spending time in the public Jacuzzi in the centre of the spa. If you do choose to rent a room, I would high recommend that you take advantage of this. There is nothing quite like being in a hot tub with your partner and a glass of your favourite drink (which was kindly brought to us by one of the spa's waiters) at the end of a working week. The hot tub overlooked nothing but rolling fields, so you really are at one with nature when you stay here. We were lucky to have a clear night, so I would suggest booking when the weather is expected to be good, to make this a guaranteed part of your experience.
The outdoor Jacuzzi accommodated more people, and just as the light began to fade, it was the perfect place to lie back and look at the night sky with another cool drink in hand.
Once our skin began to wrinkle, we knew it was time to get out and we got changed and went to the onsite restaurant. The hotel is built in one long line, so even getting to the restaurant was under cover and only a short walk from our room.
The restaurant, which used to be the owner's home, has been transformed into a modest place to eat for residents. With low ceilings and mainly wooden décor, it has the homeliness of a private dining room, with the quality of experienced chefs.
We were served by Ivan, who had a great sense of humour. He offered his recommendations based on the specials that were on that night; however we are pretty predictable when it comes to our food choices, so we stuck with our original decision.
My partner had the soup of the day which was Tomato and Chilli, with lots of fresh, warm bread. I had the Portobello Mushroom, goat's cheese and roasted garlic quesadilla, rocket mushroom ketchup and white truffle oil- light and creamy it was a wonderful twist on a classic menu offering.
For our main course, my partner had the Chargrilled 28 day aged Staffordshire steak served with tomato stuffed with garlic mushrooms, watercress and triple cooked chips with smoked paprika and Malden salt.
I indulged in the Caramelised cauliflower and organic smoked cheddar risotto, rocket and white truffle oil. There was plenty of choice for the fellow vegetarian and I found it very difficult to decide between the three offerings in the main menu because they all sounded so good. Both dishes were presented beautifully and the portions were generous.
Despite being very satisfied after our main course, we felt it was a waste to come to such a fine restaurant without sampling the desserts.
The Chocolate Rehab; soft chocolate forge cake, fresh vanilla custard, white chocolate panna cotta, fresh berries, Belgian chocolate ice cream and raspberry fluid gel kept my husband quiet for his final course and his decline to offer me any was all I needed to know. I had the Hot and Sticky; sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce, butterscotch mousse, cinder candy, salted camel doughnut and fidget ice cream. If you are like me and can't decide on one dessert, this was the perfect solution- a little bit of everything to satisfy the most indecisive of diners.
The staff coped well under the pressure, as they were also hosting a wedding at the same time. The layout of the hotel meant that the only sign of another event happening was the distant sound of disco music. The hotel is well designed to keep patrons and wedding guests separate, so both can enjoy their stay without disturbing one another.
Who knew that afternoon drinks and lying in a hot tub could be so tiring? But it was and we slept very well in the bed that consisted of two singles pushed together to make one giant mattress. I wanted to take it home but it would not fit in my suitcase!
Breakfast was served in the same restaurant in which we dined. People came for their food in their robes, so the atmosphere was very relaxed in terms of dress code.
There was plenty of choice for vegetarians again, so I enjoyed beans, potato cake, fried halloumi and tomatoes, while my partner had the full English. Reception gave us a card to fill in on arrival to pass back detailing our breakfast choices, so it could be ready as soon as possible when we provided our room number in the morning, speeding up the whole process. While we waited there were plentiful amounts of muesli, juice, yoghurt and fruit to get us started.
We were able to take some time out to read before our 25 minute massages in the treatment suites. The staff urge you to get into your robes as soon as you arrive so you can enjoy the full extent of the facilities so we enjoyed a little robed time in the snug with our reading material. The room was large, decorated in muted tones and filled with soft sofas, inviting you to stretch out. With voile partitions for a little privacy- it was the perfect place to kick back with a book or watch the world go by.
I was only waiting a few minutes in the treatment suite reception before Poppy came and got me for my massage. With the lights out and delicate music playing in the background, it all added to the ambience and before I knew it was all over- the fastest 25 minutes of my life. Poppy worked on my shoulders to relieve my knots ensuring that the pressure was ok and afterwards my back was nimble and warm- I felt like I needed a nap to recover.
Overall, the weekend was just what my partner needed before starting a new job- some time to reflect and recuperate.
Moddershall Oaks Country Retreat and Spa is intimate enough for couples, small hen parties or weekends away for the ladies- I would love to take my mum back at some point when she comes to visit as it is the perfect place for pampering and girly gossip. As everything is in one place- you are in your own bubble for 48 hours and forget about the world outside. With only ten rooms, it will never be overcrowded, despite also welcoming people who are not staying overnight.
As soon as you arrive the pace slows- so don't try to fight it- just go with the flow and enjoy.
T. 01782 399000 F. 01782 399662 [email protected]