Lifehouse Spa & Hotel in Tendring

Facilities and staff excellent. A beautiful natural location encompasses this splendid hotel.

Wonderful! I love this place! I recommend it to everyone!!

Plenty of people have sorted about how good the spa is but to me it's the substantial gardens that are astounding. A walk through them will clear your mind after a Spa treatment. The restaurant serves a very fine menu throughout the day and even better in the evening. Breakfast buffet is pretty average for a place of this standard (nitpicking maybe :)). Special mention to Isabel on the front desk. She is a perfect example of customer service at is finest. Other staff could learn a lot from her.

Lovely spa day, very much enjoyed it. They were super accommodating with a last min request and very helpful when booking. Sadly one of the steam rooms was closed and whilst I enjoyed the treatment (facial) it was a little lacking compared to other spa venues of a similar standard, eg no face mask, no exfoliation. I also asked for a men’s facial, but I don’t think the products used were male specific. Would return, perhaps with a different treatment. Lunch was nice.

We spent a lovely weekend here for our friend’s hen trip. The grounds and hotel were so pretty and the hotel was very clean with a relaxed feel. The rooms were clean, service was very good and the restaurant was great too! Would definitely visit again, thank you x

Food was absolutely fantastic and the grounds are stunning.

Staffs were welcoming on arrival, check-in is quite quick. Afternoon tea was fresh with great variety. Lots of green space for outdoor walk or relaxation. Spa facilities were fantastic and big. Room is spacious and easy to navigate the premises. Breakfast was good and served hot. Relaxation room on the top floor, with a balcony to the lake which is a nice touch. Overall lovely and nice for a romantic experience. Would definately visit again.

Amazing location set in the middle of 31 acres of woodland. Very tranquil and peaceful with very helpful staff who greet you as they go past; they were very hospitable. My wife enjoyed her 50 minute message. It has a variety of saunas with a large jacuzzi and bigger indoor pool. We were able to use all the facilities till 6pm although we checked out at 11am. My only gripe is the bed had a mattress that literally sunk in with soft pillows which didn't help my posture and bad back so I had a sleepless night. This is the only let down, which needs to be resolved. However, overall I will attend again as me and my partner thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

What a wonderful couple days me and my friend had. Rooms,food,staff facilities were all fantastic thanks every member of staff 😀

Lovely place to relax and spar can't wait for a return visit

Beautiful grounds and fantastic food.

Honestly, would give Lifehouse a 0 star if i could. They accused me and my partner of being rude to the receptionist which is an absolute lie, when asking about CCTV to prove it - nothing of course. Overpriced memberships over £100 a month to use the facilities, the spa/pool area is dirty and there is always something not working. They claim to have a 'state of the art gym' which honestly, is laughable. Absolutely SHOCKING customer service just to top it all off and when you let them know how awful their service is, they seem to think this is poor behavior from you and can't handle the critiscism. I told them I wouldn't want to spend my evenings that are meant to be relaxing in an establishment with such an awful customer service choices, upon them being told exactly how they have made me feel - there was no sorry, just that I'm not welcome back after taking my money for 2 months. It's a shame because it could be a really nice place.

I’ve been a member for over a year at this place and can honestly say I’m shocked at the level of disrespect and disregard it has for its so called members , sarah attril was very rude and made some serious accusations to myself and my partner but when asked for cctv to back up her allegations of rudeness which is an absolute fabrication it was not available! I’ve since told them to cancel my membership which in reality has done me a massive favour as I the place is very tired and showing some serious state of repairs needed , always something broken , the men’s showers are covered with mould ,the pool has broken tiles , steam room smells of human faeces , the plunge pool stinks and is hardly ever working and always has a Hose pipe in it so clearly has a leak , and the chlorine levels burn your eyes even if your just sitting in the spa relaxing , the machine to dry your clothes is broke 80 percent of the time , the gym equipment is very minimal and tired and needs updating ,we was having a drink at the bar and see a giant rat run across the patio and was told that’s normal ! all reception and bar staff except one are decent people but Sarah needs to really get in check with reality and stop treating others as beneath her !also the fact that these people who run this place as soon as they receive criticism not rudeness they choose to throw out allegations rather than actually listen and rectify an issue I’d avoid .

Lovely place to visit, friendly/helpful staff! I've not used there facilities, I maintain there gym equipment

Had a fantastic Spa Day and one night stay! Had an amazing dinner and highly recommend the Chateaubriand. Lovely atmosphere, great service! Only one observation, which I mentioned at the checkout, was a very annoying intermittent beeping that went on all through the night and kept us both up and in the end we had to play some white noise on my phone so we could actually fall asleep. The response of the receptionist to our observation was quite passive and I personally wasn't very impressed. Very clean and really lovely surroundings. Unfortunately we couldn't walk the grounds as the weather wasn't very pleasant, otherwise I would have shared the photos with you. Will definitely go back and recommend the stay!

Needs refurbishment tired and dated

Lovely spa, beautiful grounds, great food.....100% relaxation. Thank you for a great experience. 🙏🏻

Food was exceptional and we were served with great kindness and professionalism by Susan and Mandy. The gardens were beautifully maintained. The spa itself was exquisite and we will definitely come back again.

I have visited Lifehouse many times over the years, most recently Thursday 28th March 24 and have never felt compelled to leave a review before... however today is the day !!! The full body massage I received from Lindsay was second to none. Within the first 15 minutes she had already made it into my all time top 3  massages, by the end she was No.1.. the pressure, sweeping motions the working on my shoulders and neck which are a challenge at best were consistently on point. Coupled with her sunny disposition just made the whole experience more wonderful. The Mary Poppins of therapists 'practically perfect in every way' and I would most highly recommend a visit to the Lifehouse if only to experience the magical hands of Lindsay. How she managed to melt away all my stresses over the last several months in just 55 minutes is nothing short of a miracle, so much so I asked if I could hug her at the end to show my gratitude. Lindsay you are without a doubt one of life's and Lifehouse's little treasures and I hope to see you again on my next visit.🙏

Just had a fantastic couple of days here with my partner, it was a lovely gift from our children as a joint birthday treat. I also treated us to a nice couples massage which was very relaxing. All the staff were very friendly especially Sophie who was our waitress at dinner. We both can't wait to visit again next time we will stay for longer

Lovely day. Lovely gardens and lovely spa

An honest feedback about my second stay at this hotel. The team in reception was kind and welcoming. The gardens around the hotel really make it peaceful and unique, every corridor has lots of light. The spa facilities are gorgeous, but if you are planning to go over the weekend be prepared for a very crowded experience: not a single bed free by the pool and 5 people at a time in the sauna, every hour of the day. The food is ok, but extremely overpriced: £40 for a beef steak, £25 for some grilled chicken. We stated several times in the reservation process our dietary requirements (no pork) and yet they served us chicken with some bacon on it (apparently a last-minute decision of the chef)... As an apology we were then offered a herbal tea, which was then charged to our room, so not really a nice gesture. The food service is also very slow, more than 50 minute to receive the meals. The room was ok, they prepared a swan made of towels since it was our anniversary. No hairdryer to be found in the room, so I went to dinner with my hair soaked wet. On our previous stay I remember there was one so maybe it was just bad luck this time... If you are planning to sleep a bit longer in the morning, forget about it: at 8:00 AM the cleaning team starts the day slamming 20 doors for 5 minutes. Breakfast is ok, but after 9 AM all the best pastries, fresh fruit and juices are already gone. I made the reservation more than 4 months ago and pre-booked a few spa treatments for me and my partner to make sure we would have treatments at the same time. I arranged everything with the spa reception and the lady confirmed. Well, on the day I found out that the starting time had been changed, so one of us was going to start 20 min earlier; 20 min difference is not a bit issue, but why would I book 4 months in advance then? However, the spa treatments were absolutely fantastic! We had Clarins facials, body shaper, sport massage and sole sensation treatments, and all were up to excellent standards. I would mention especially Poppy who was extremely skilled, professional and talented with the Body Shaper treatment. On departure I received a final bill, I then requested a breakdown of the charges (it was not included) and realised that the spa treatments were charged more than what they should have. They refunded the overcharge...

Treatments were good and pleasant staff, the same cannot be said for the restaurant and bar, unfathomably slow service at the bar and getting the attention of waiting staff in the restaurant was very difficult. The food was mediocre, if I cooked it at home I would be disappointed.

Me and my partner have been a few times over the years, and very recently had our first weekend at the Lifehouse since the pandemic and we were very grateful for it indeed! Lovely comfy rooms / beds / bathrooms, excellent food both in the restaurant and via room service, really nice spa area with sauna, steamroom and plunge pool, a decent swimming pool and good gym & workout spaces & changing rooms, beautiful grounds to explore, a few nice pubs a 10min walk away and above all else the staff are brilliant! From the lady whio picked us up at the station, to each of the reception staff, to the servers in the restaurant and not least the masseuses - had a 25min treatment from Christina that was genuinely probably the best back massage I've ever had. She seriously deserves a raise, and my fiancee reported that her massage was equally impressive. Thanks very much and looking forward to being back soon :)

Afternoon Tee Had a afternoon T- with proseco £75 for it, surprised Tee offered was in T-bags though. The sandwiches were nice as were the cakes, not really value for money when there is a local T room with more T on offer for cheaper and tastier sandwiches

We booked for an evening spa treat. Our welcome was friendly and helpful. We were offered wellies to have a wander of the lovely peaceful garden and grounds. We sat in the relaxing bar with a book and were looked after by friendly bar staff. The spa receptionist was cheerful and clear with instructions for changing and using the spa. The pool area was large and clean with dimmed lighting. The changing coloured lights could be slowed down a bit to offer a more calming rippling effect. Dinner was delicious and enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff. Will look forward to going again.

My husband brought me here for my 30th birthday. We stayed for 2 nights. The room was spacious and very clean. The view outside was so lovely too. We had the Hidden Sanctuary on one day, which was amazing, I would highly recommend it. We then had pedicures and full body massages on the next day, also really good! The breakfast was great. The Chateaubriand on the dinner menu was really good! I'd recommend their cocktails too. All of the staff were lovely - everyone asked how our stay was going and they were really helpful. From the bar staff, to the spa staff. I can't wait to visit again! They made the occasion even more special.

Absolutelly appaling customer service. I have booked a getaway with my best friend and provided card details, which they rejected numerous times, then provided another and a third one, which they did not accept either. These are cards I use every day. I have called to check what's happening and Jess, the receptionist did not try to help, demanded another card - I advised I have no more cards to offer. She asked me to read a card number out, I advised to use the one on the system as this is the one I always use. She then hung up the phone and cancelled my reservation. Funny how it says get ready to relax when you call them, but this is how they behave. Certainly do not recommend, there is nothing relaxing about this.

I took my mum for a spa day this weekend as a treat for Mother's Day. We loved every second! It is in a beautiful location, the spa is very bright with lots of natural light & it's very relaxing. I had a detox stress massage with Abbey, which was amazing & I tried the Dry Wave bed, which was incredible. Unfortunately, I had a dizzy spell later on in the afternoon, almost fainting near the glass windows. However, the staff were brilliant and very supportive, Leanne rushed over and helped my mum get me to a sofa & took care of me until I felt stable. She was brilliant, giving me advice & getting me a sugary drink to help me. Thank you so much, I know my mum, and I really appreciated the help. We can't wait to return another day to experience the beautiful gardens (as we cut our spa day experience short after my funny spell).

Stayed her for a night. It's everything you could want for a spa. Clean, helpful staff and tranquil. Would definitely visit again.

Dirty spa area. Door broken to the sauna. Same people hogged the jacuzzi for over an hour. Food really overpriced. Woman at the desk is a nightmare to deal with. Only nice part were the gardens. 100% Avoid.

Been here before but was a little disappointed this time. Toilet wouldn’t flush properly, which we made staff aware. Also when we came down for breakfast (9:30) - serving time 7-10am - there wasn’t a lot of choice, felt like we just had the dribs and drabs left - all the juices were empty and after asking the man to fill them up, he was very miserable and then ignored my request. Which then after waiting 10/15 minutes I asked another server for. We were not late for breakfast. We should have as much choice and quality as anyone else coming down any earlier. We were finished in the restaurant by 10am. This was main frustration for us. Other than that, lovely facilities but always very busy.

Had a very pricey massage today for £99 stated in the description " foot ritual" the therapist said to me "we start with hot foot mitts on the feet in the foot ritual" looking forward to this I thought as the room was cold and my feet were freezing. She peeled back the towel (thin towel) and wiped my feet with a hot cloth ...once That's a ritual apparently. Covered them back up and moved on. I thought ah she will come back and put thsse hot mitts on my freezing feet soon. Nope ...didn't touch my feet again. I complained that it was a mediocre massage in a cold room and the "foot ritual" was non existent. The spa manager said "ah yes we have had a problem with this others have said the same. It's the products company's description I'm afraid and we can't do anything. No apology about the cold room. I was then expected to pay the extortionate £99. Wish I'd taken my phone in too as there are no clocks but I swear it was 40 mins not an hour. So top tip. Wear fluffy socks and thermals and take a watch. Pool was cold too. 🥶