Lifehouse Hotel Spa & Gardens

Stayed for two nights previously in 2017 and it was a wonderful experience - attentive staff, polished surroundings and I had a garden tour with the Head Gardener. Sadly, when I stayed last month (two-night stay with "welcome prosecco on arrival", which I wasn't offered but forgot about) other than the restaurant staff who were attentive and couldn't do enough for me, I had a very poor experience. The (very limited) spa facilities were tired-looking (grimy tiles in pool area) and multiple loungers arranged directly around the jacuzzi so guests going in and out were rather in the spotlight. Seemed more Premier Inn standard, rather than it's previously more polished offering. Since my first stay, the hotel seems to have changed management and they have an non-resident membership meaning the facilities are super busy and not serene and relaxing. The free-to-attend daily "workshops" were nothing of the sort - it's a rushed 5 mins with one of the Elemis/Clarins staff trying to get you to buy products rather than being actual wellbeing related. The menus are also riddled with spelling errors so the hotel might want to correct those ('Maria Rose' sauce vs. Marie Rose; "Zabaoine" vs Zabaione; "Fregola Sada" vs Sarda and my favourite on the breakfast menu online "Plumb" tomatoes ;-) No table service at breakfast even for coffee/tea. For a 4* hotel, you'd expect different. I ended up leaving a day early after an upsetting encounter with one of the female spa staff and the head cleaner. I'm asthmatic and felt a little tight-chested so I asked on the off chance whether there was a way of establishing if anyone on site had an inhaler they would be willing for me to borrow. Instead of any kindness or discretion, I stood between the spa staff member and the head cleaner who basically took it in turns to look puzzled and say various things like "I can't ask that of my staff, it's health and safety!" and back and forth a few times between the two women. I was incredibly upset and tried to say I was just asking if it were possible, and not actually specifically asking if a staff member had an inhaler. Fine if not something they could help with but they offered a) no sensitivity (were just talking loudly through me in the middle of them) and b) demonstrated zero guest welfare efforts; they could simply have said if there were a pharmacy nearby/walk in clinic/make another sensible suggestion or just show some empathy. I didn't want to stay for the rest of my booking and was told brusquely that I would get no part-refund due to policy and that "they'd done absolutely nothing wrong". My response was that in the specific situation, they hadn't actually done anything right and had treated me like an idiot, showed zero compassion and made zero helpful suggestions. I see from various management responses to reviews like mine that they clap back/comment "we're sorry this isn't the place for you". It certainly isn't, and this review is for other people to make their own informed decision about making a booking.

Jody assistant manager beautiful person so helpful with everything understanding to everybody needs attentive to every detail so supportive beautifull stay lovely staff beautiful beautiful setting lovely clean room would recommend to everyone

We had a fabulous two-day spa break with an overnight stay at Lifehouse in Thorpe-le-Soken. The facilities were excellent, and we made full use of them throughout our stay. The atmosphere was so relaxing that we left feeling completely refreshed and rejuvenated. The food was lovely and really tasty, and the staff were polite, friendly, and attentive throughout our stay, making us feel very welcome. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a perfect relaxing getaway. We would definitely recommend it and look forward to returning. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐