Wellness at 100: an exclusive interview with the Champneys leadership team

Founded in 1925 by naturopath Stanley Lief, Champneys began as a revolutionary ‘nature cure resort’. The brand was the first to introduce the concepts of holism, nutrition and stress management to the UK.

Now celebrating its centenary year, Champneys has resorts and spas in Tring – its flagship location – as well as Springs in Leicestershire, Forest Mere in Hampshire, Henlow in Bedfordshire, Eastwell Manor in Kent and Mottram Hall in Cheshire. It has two city spas in London and St Albans.

The brand’s 100 Years Young campaign pays homage to a century of wellness and holistic health with initiatives including a new Centenary Signature Treatments and a series of retreats.

Longevity-focused wellness retreats

Designed to optimise health span, the new retreats will integrate private medical services, personalised GP consultations and longevity protocols. Guests will receive comprehensive health checks alongside AI-powered personalised support through a wellness app.

We spoke with Alan Whiteley, CEO of Champneys, and group spa director Laura Sheridan to find out how they plan to develop the brand and what’s the next in its evolution.

What new developments and investments do you have planned?

“We have two exciting new ventures in development, which remain under wraps at this stage,” says Whiteley. “We look forward to expanding the Champneys presence both in the UK and internationally later this year.

“Our business is built upon four pillars of wellness: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing, alongside nutritional health.

“These core principles bring in approximately 210,000 guests annually, but we’re continuously refining and evolving our approach to ensure each guest derives maximum benefit from their stay to drive repeat business.”

How do you ensure staff development in response to increasingly complex guest needs?

“We employ 412 therapists across our locations, delivering approximately 200,000 treatments annually,” says Whiteley.

“Each location has a dedicated trainer, providing essential support and facilitating a minimum of 20 hours of training per week. This includes posture training to promote physical longevity.

“Recognising the increasing demands placed on spa professionals, we prioritise therapist wellbeing and retention. To mitigate physical and mental fatigue, we limit massage appointments within therapist schedules. We exclude massage from packaged offerings and encourage guests to explore alternative treatments.”

How do your Centenary Signature Treatments bring innovation to the spa space?

“Our 100 Years Young treatments have been designed to incorporate Champneys signature product range,” says Sheridan. “These treatments utilise cryotherapy and wood therapy for a full-body and facial reset.

“Our centenary treatments honour techniques historically used at Champneys while integrating contemporary wellness advancements. The experience unfolds as a narrative of our 100-year journey, beginning with a refreshing lemon water ritual and concluding with a guided meditation.

“Additionally, we are exclusively launching the Clarins Precious Facial at Tring, alongside a Natura Bissé pop-up at Mottram Hall.”

What emerging spa trends will Champneys be embracing?

“We are launching our Japanese Head Spa this year, offering a relaxation experience inspired by traditional eastern wellness practices,” says Sheridan.

“We are also introducing the Wellsystem Wave_Touch across all our locations. This technology delivers an advanced touchless massage that includes a customisable shoulder massage.”

“With the increasing difficulty of securing GP appointments in the UK, Champneys is introducing a new membership add-on that provides remote GP consultations, supporting members’ health while alleviating pressure on the NHS. This initiative ensures fast, convenient access to medical professionals and timely support,” adds Louise Day.

“We integrate recovery and mind-body elements within a comprehensive membership experience.”

Will Champneys be investing in additional touchless technologies?

“Absolutely. Our focus for the remainder of 2025 is to conduct extensive research and implement industry-leading touchless technology solutions,” says Sheridan.

“We are in discussion with several potential partners. I can confirm the introduction of Natura Bissé at Mottram, Ashmira Botanica at Eastwell and Voya at Tring.”

Sign up here to receive our weekly news delivered direct to your inbox