Set in the a beautiful and secluded location on the edge of the Staffordshire Peak District and just a short drive from Alton Towers is the Three Horseshoes Country Inn & Spa. The Three Horseshoes is a charming country Inn and Spa offering award winning quality food, boutique style rooms and The Mill Wheel Spa, just a stones throw from The Roaches.
I do love a spa day, and there really are some lovely spa days to choose from in Staffordshire. I booked a half day spa with my great blogging buddy Jenny, who not only shares local days out, walks and family friendly things to do over at Peak District Kids, but also owns two other websites – TravelynnFamily and Explore Essaouira (she is a busy lady!)
The half day spa package that we opted for included a two course meal at the Three Horseshoes Spa, Leek. It is a hard life reviewing a spa to update my Staffordshire Spa days post but someone has to do it 🙂
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Three Horseshoes Country Inn
The Three Horseshoes has been run by the Kirk family since 1981 and they have created a charming and unique experience that is welcoming to all. The Country Inn pub welcomes families and also welcomes our four-legged friends making it a lovely dog friendly pub in Staffordshire (and I can highly recommend the afternoon tea experience too). Please note dogs are allowed in the bar area only.
The Mill Wheel Spa is open to non-residents and offers a range of spa experiences including half day spa experiences, overnight spa and twilight spa experiences – more on this later.
There are also a range luxury rooms from classic rooms to Garden rooms with their own private garden and Cedar Hot Tub.
Afternoon Spa Package at Three Horseshoes
If you are looking for a large spa with additional facilities such as a gym, optional fitness classes or a swimming pool, then this may not be the spa for you. The Mill Wheel Spa may be smaller than some of the other spas that I have visited, however it offers a unique and authentic spa experience in a wonderful relaxing atmosphere – really…. what’s not to love?
The drive over from Newcastle-U-Lyme, Staffordshire took about 40 minutes. There is plenty of free parking available and when you get out of your car and head to the Inn, the spa is well signposted.
I was emailed a schedule a couple of days before the spa day with all the information that was needed before the spa day itself. We checked in at the reception desk and as we were super early, we headed over to the bar area for a catch up over for a cuppa before our meal.
We booked an afternoon spa day and this included;
- 2 course meal in the Country Inn (12 midday)
- Spa Facility Use (3.5 hours)
- Luxury robe and fluffy towel
- 25 minute spa treatment ( choose from mini facial, neck and shoulder massage, full body exfoliation, or leg and foot massage – packages only).
- Additional treatments available at an additional cost and to be booked via the treatment booking portal well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Two Course Meal at Three Three Horseshoes Country Inn
Our spa package included a two course meal – please note some packages differ and not all spa packages include a meal. There is also an afternoon tea option too (which I can highly recommend).
The country Inn offers a lovely relaxing environment, and I can honestly see why they have been awarded 1 AA Rosettes for its Culinary excellence, plus a number of other food awards. The food is delicious.
The portions are great and they with plenty of options from sandwiches, roasts, children’s menu and vegetarian options. They also cater for additional dietary and allergen requirements so please do speak to the team if needed.
Jenny and I are both vegetarians, and there was a good choice for us both. We opted for the garlic mushrooms on toasted sourdough, and the grilled flatbread with hummus, and we shared these starters between us. For the mains Jenny went for the vegetarian lasagne and I opted for the falafel and spinach burger served with tomato relish and chips.
The drinks are not included in the package, but they were reasonably priced and we opted for soft drinks with our meal.
The staff were really friendly and attentive, and nothing was too much trouble. The food was delicious – All in all – a great start to our spa day!
Spa Facilities at The Three Horseshoes Country Inn, Staffordshire
Walking through to the spa there is a table area for you to order drinks and snacks and changing rooms. Once you have checked in to the spa reception – You will be given your towel and robe and there is a lockable locker for all your belongings in the changing room.
The spa area includes;
The Farmers Sauna – A great alternative to a “conventional” sauna! A wood-panelled room replicating an Alpine Brechel cabin, enables you to breathe in the spicy goodness of the forest.
The Cedar Plunge Pool – We know the benefits of moving from a heated environment to a cold of a Plunge Pool. Just a 30 second dip can stimulate circulation, the nerves in the Body & Brain and can help to alleviate joint pain & muscle stress, it can tighten the skin and leave you fully refreshed.
The Peak District Stone Bath – A steam bath experience at the Mill Wheel Spa. The basket containing the hot stones is dipped into a basin filled with cold water and the sizzling stones omit all the valuable minerals along with the steam to fill the room to create a feeling of wellbeing.
Moving on you will head into the relaxation suite, a quiet lounge area with seats, loungers, blankets and cushions, offering a relaxing space for a quiet moment, read or even a cheeky nap. This area also houses the beach hut. The Beach Hut is a unique experience taking you to a quiet moment on the beach. The aim of this is to replicate the positive benefits of being on a beach in the sun. It offers a 25 minute experience with relaxing music and essential oils and is a great way to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) to top up Vitamin D levels helping beat winter blues. (* additional booking).
The outdoor area is where we spent most of our time. In the summer there is a huge choice of outdoor sofas and loungers but these were covered up during our Winter visit. The outdoor vitality pool and spa garden is my favourite space. The area is perfect to relax, have a drink and natter. The temperature of the water could have been a tad warmer, but it didn’t stop us from spending most our time chatting about anything and everything in the bubbles with a drink. The spa never felt busy and there was always a quiet place to stop, unwind and enjoy the peace.
Spa Treatments at The Mill Wheel Spa
There are a list of treatments available. Our package came with a 25 minute treatment and I opted for the mini facial and this was scheduled for 2.30pm, and Jenny opted for the back massage and her treatment was scheduled for 3pm.
The facial was lovely and my skin felt lovely and soft afterwards. The beautician checked for allergies and skin type before the treatment. The arm and chest massage was so relaxing, the indian head massage could have been a little firmer, but all in all the treatment was lovely – its always nice to make time for a pamper.
To book a spa day at Three Horseshoes Country Inn
You can book the spa and accommodation directly. We purchased our spa experience through buyagift.co.uk and got a great discount for our afternoon spa day. Do check the website for the different spa packages available and any offers that they may have too.
Spa day at Three Horseshoes Country Inn – Final Thoughts
The spa day at Three Horseshoes Country Inn is a wonderful spa experience and exceptional value with the treatment and two course meal included.
The staff and service was outstanding throughout the day, and the location and atmosphere wonderful.
For me – The only thing that was missing was the opportunity to try out a relaxing yoga or pilates class – as I love the chance to switch my mind off for a short while. There are some amazing walks nearby though if you fancy some fresh air before or after your spa experience.
For me, this afternoon spa day was a chance to relax, and catch up with my lovely friend, and the three horseshoes country in and spa provided a perfect opportunity to do just that. I loved my spa afternoon – and will 100% definitely return.
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This article contains affiliate links. Should you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, but I receive a small commission.