Review of The Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa, by The TI Review Team

By TI Reviewer Olivia De Santos

The rugged beauty of the moors are not the only thing to drive people to this corner of Yorkshire; a refurbished 19th-century coaching inn attracts weary travellers in droves, with the promise of sumptuous spa treatments and gourmet cuisine.

The Feversham Arms is a luxurious hideaway in the market town of Helmsley. What makes it really stand out here is the warm and attentive staff, who strike a perfect balance between attentive service and discretion: and the daring addition of an outdoor pool in Yorkshire - heated of course!

The facilities

Before its redesign, the Feversham arms was a country pub with rooms, and this comfortable home-from-home feel has thankfully not been lost, despite the massive aesthetic overhaul.

The Verbena Spa house has the natural charm of a Swedish sauna, all shimmery glass and blonde wood, while the interior is kitted out in the Feversham's classy rural style. There's an impressive range of treatments, from facials and manicures to exotic full-body wraps. Afterwards, take a dip in the pool and jacuzzi in the Verbena Spa garden, which come summertime is a riot of English country blooms and wavy grasses.

The restaurant serves a range of dishes including a melt-in-the-mouth taster menu, hearty game, shellfish, lamb, beef and farmhouse cheeses. This isn't one to rush: be sure to make time for it, and be prepared to loosen your belt a few notches (you've been warned).

The rooms

The classic design of the Feversham's 33 rooms - 22 of which are suites - combine modern design elements with a classy country theme. Comfort-driven furnishings, well-chosen prints and a calm and classy palette feature strongly here. Many rooms have a private balcony or garden overlooking the pool.

'Do Not Disturb' teddies are a feature of all, perched on the Egyptian cotton sheets. Each room has a Bang and Olufsen television and a selection of DVDs and CDs. For those that like to relax in the bathtub, rooms are stocked with L'Occitaine products, a large bottle of Aveda bubble bath, incense and candles. Some bathrooms have large two-person baths; with separate showers and heated flooring, it's easy to while away the hours in there, drinking complimentary champagne.