Rockliffe Hall launches UK’s first FACE SPAce in partnership with [comfort zone]

Rockliffe Hall, in County Durham, has announced an exclusive collaboration with [comfort zone] to debut the FACE SPAce in the UK.

Featuring a unique menu of active lifting facial treatments, FACE SPAce moves away from the need for traditional treatment rooms and places socialising at the heart of wellness experiences.

Rockliffe Hall is the first location in the UK to offer five core FACE SPAce treatments, inspired by physiotherapy practices.

The treatment concept is designed for visitors seeking a modern take on the spa break.

The FACE SPAce concept

FACE SPAce offers facials to guests sitting in specially designed treatment chairs in front of full-length mirrors.

From the chairs, guests benefit from interactions with FACE SPAce therapists and the company of other FACE SPAce users. This makes it ideal for groups looking for a sociable wellness experience.

Therapists use bespoke active lifting massage as well as facial tools such as cryo spoons, gua sha, jade stones, microsonic and microcurrent devices.

The five core offerings treat a range of skin concerns. Pump-up improves the appearance of wrinkles, increases firmness and instantly lifts, while Ice Splash offers a dose of hydration for plumpness and a dewy complexion.

Wellness reinvented for 2024

Ashley Freeman was promoted to the role of spa director at Rockliffe Hall this spring, having worked at the hotel since was 16.

“My first role was a weekend spa butler at Rockliffe Hall!” she said. “I have worked my way up, taking the spa manager role in 2022 and now my new role as spa director.”

Freeman is keeping the spa up to date with the introduction of new retreats. “We have seen a sharp increase in demand for wellness retreats so have begun to explore how we can offer these,” she said.

“We emailed our database to find out what kinds of retreats guests wanted and had more than 200 people say they wanted more info on menopause, so it was the obvious place to start.

“We’re planning a menopause retreat with Catherine Harland, the Menopause Mentor, in early 2024.”

Wellbeing retreats and packages

Freeman is also looking at the spa’s full day package offer. “Guests are increasingly looking for a full day with activities and structure,” she explained. “We’re starting to really think about what we can do to incorporate gifting, elongated treatments and longer, fuller packages to enhance a residents’ experience.”

Rockliffe Hall’s spa provides a hydro pool, 20m swimming pool, roman sauna, tropicarium, salt-inhalation room, igloo, juice bar, tepidarium, experience showers and infrared sauna. 

The 130sqm spa garden experience has an infinity-edge outdoor pool with hydrotherapy massage jets, heated tile loungers, a glass fronted sauna, experience showers and fire and water features.

New Neom wellbeing treatments

Also new to the treatment menu is a range of Neom Wellbeing Treatments.

Drawing together six therapies – meditation, shiatsu, cranio, Thai massage, trigger point and reflexology – the Neom treatment menu provides another new therapeutic wellbeing offering for Rockliffe guests.

Offering a 360-degree wellbeing solution

Gym membership has grown significantly in 2023 – membership pre-Covid was 750, now it’s at 1,000.

“We invested £75,000 in our gym facility at the beginning of the year, with new Technogym equipment and a studio refurbishment. We also increased staffing by 20% and the classes we offer by 38%,” said Freeman.

The changes have paid off in terms of active users, as well as members. Whereas previously 20% of the total membership actively used the fitness and wellness facilities, now it’s 48%.

Freeman believes there has been a change in what people think wellness is. “Our members are not just coming for a treatment. Other elements of our offer, especially fitness, are becoming more important to guests and members,” she said.

Seeking sustainability

Rockliffe Hall became the first barefoot spa in the north-east through removing disposable slippers earlier this year.

Sustainability remains key to Freeman’s plans. “There’s always something new happening. We’re investigating ways to make the estate’s walled garden bigger to produce more sustainable produce,” she said.

“Our gardening team is also looking at how much C02 we can break down using the trees on the 365-acre estate, as we to work towards the hotel being carbon neutral.”

A large-scale spa refurbishment plan is also on the cards, although it is too soon for Freeman to share details.

“Watch this space!” said Jason Adams, managing director at Rockliffe Hall. “Our owners’ aspirations are to be the best spa resort outside of London.”