The revamp of a crumbling coach house into a stylish hotel and restaurant reaches its second phase. Ashley Barnard reports

THE sweeping, tree-lined driveway to the sandy-coloured buildings at The Coach House Hotel, at Middleton Lodge, immediately invokes a sense of peace. And now, as well as enjoying excellent food and a relaxing break in these beautiful surroundings, guests who stay here can lie back and enjoy luxury treatments at the newly opened spa.

Middleton Lodge, an impressive Georgian mansion, had already been transformed by owner James Allison into one of the premier wedding venues in the region, and last year he and partner Rebecca Taplin opened The Coach House, a boutique hotel and restaurant they had created from a tumbledown barn and an old stable block. The Treatment Rooms is their latest venture, the fulfilment of a long-held ambition for Rebecca, who has wanted to open a spa since she moved up to Yorkshire from London.

"We started the process by thinking about what we enjoy and rate highly when we go away for a weekend retreat. I wanted to use luxury, natural product lines," she says. "Our new rooms complement what we already have on offer at The Coach House."

In Voya and Ren, Rebecca has found the best in British and Irish skincare – Voya is made from organic seaweed harvested on the Irish coast by the same family that launched the line 15 years ago, while Ren is a British brand which uses plant and mineral derived ingredients.

Rebecca, as design director of Middleton Lodge and The Coach House, was keen to inject her passion for stunning interiors to the new venture, which includes two treatment rooms, a bright and spacious lounge to unwind in before a relaxing spa package, as well as a nail bar and two shower and changing units. The beauty area is located directly opposite The Coach House restaurant - perfect for an after-treatment meal, glass of Prosecco, or one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails.

I visited The Treatment Rooms for a sample Voya back massage, and upon arrival in the hotel reception I was offered a drink in the comfortable lounge area before being introduced to my therapist, Hannah Salisbury, and Selena Blain, the spa partner overseeing the running of the rooms.

The lounge area is fitted in the trademark relaxed, modern country style of The Coach House accommodation, with impressive beams, a fresh neutral colour scheme, and carefully-placed finishing touches. The two treatment rooms and changing area have wood-panelled walls and windows looking out into the woodland and are simply finished with candle lanterns.

Hannah, a Voya representative who has been training Selena and her team in the brand, is brimming with enthusiasm for the products, which are more than 70 per cent organic. “Everything is made from seaweed, which acts like a sponge so all the goodness is soaked up into our products," she says. “Our massage oil is one of a kind and is 99.8 per cent organic – I love that the same family collects the seaweed for the products so we know that everything we use has come through their hands.”

Hannah used the Voya techniques for my back and shoulder massage, which managed to unknot my aching muscles without leaving me feeling as though I had been through the wringer, and told me the brand likes to carefully select outlets which are permitted to use or sell Voya to maintain its high standards.

After my treatment I enjoyed a green juice while chatting to Rebecca and Selena about the new partnership, which has seen Selena branch out from her existing Darlington town centre beauty therapy business, Cocoon.

“I had my ideas for this place and Selena just got it straight away," says Rebecca. "I’m really excited to see The Treatment Rooms open and I’m so pleased with how it has turned out. I’ve had guests tell me they can’t wait to come back to use it because their stay was while we were still completing it, and I’m sure Selena’s current clients will love what we have to offer.”

“My Cocoon clients in Darlington tend to want a quick treatment and is quite fast-paced," adds Selena. "I still love that but it is nice to come here and be able to offer a more relaxed, spa-like feel where people can truly unwind and take time out.”

Treatments include facials, massage, body wraps and nails – and Selena and Rebecca have also created a selection of signature two-hour Coach House treatments, as well as special wedding countdown, new mum and mum-to-be packages. Prices start from £60 for a facial, body treatments from £50, massage from £35, and from £130 for a signature treatment.

For information or bookings contact The Coach House at Middleton Lodge. T: 01325-377977; E: treatments@middletonlodge.co.uk; W: middletonlodge.co.uk.