Manor House Alsager

We’ve gushed about the spa facilities at the Manor House in Alsager already – and rightly so, few places in the UK have anything comparable to its bucolic Secret Garden spa – but the hotel itself deserves some attention too. As does the afternoon tea side of things.

It’s all set in a revamped 17th‑century country house, containing 50 or so modern rooms, including spacious king and four‑poster suites that come with all the expected trappings: comfy beds, Nespresso machines and nicely-sized bathrooms. 

Location wise, it’s a breeze to get to from most northern hubs. Just an hour or so by car from Manchester and Liverpool, and a little longer from Leeds. Or let the train take the strain and jump off at the Alsager train station, a short ten-minute walk away. 

Aside from massage treatments and pampering sessions, visits can treat themselves to a splendid afternoon tea session at The Pool House. The mini-but-chunky sausage roll is a highlight, and the scones do everything that a scone needs to do: crumble apart and taste delicious with jam and cream. 

Oh, and there’s a comprehensive array of sandwiches, which have their crusts cut off, delightfully. All in all, it’s a classic 1950s-style afternoon tea, without any of that pesky post-rationing business. Like everything about the Manor House, it’s all about traditional features, brought up to cutting-edge modern standards. 

We’ll take a closer look at an evening meal at the in-house Stables restaurant in the near future, but the breakfast options give a good indication of the standard. The full English is clean and filling, not too greasy or bulky, but geared around high-grade meat and fresh local eggs. Similarly, the smoked salmon comes in thick, satisfying layers, dotted with cubes of avocado – a wholesome, hearty start to the day. 

As relaxation retreats go, the Manor House has both polish and personality. The spa is the main draw, undeniably, but the rooms, afternoon tea and extras are well worth the price of admission.