Lifehouse Spa And Hotel

I had mixed feelings about my stay at Lifehouse Spa in Frinton. There were some genuinely lovely moments, but quite a few things let it down. The biggest disappointment was the pool area. It’s quite small and felt overcrowded most of the time. A lot of loungers were “reserved” with towels, but no one was actually using them, which made it frustrating to find a place to sit. The atmosphere didn’t feel relaxing at all. On top of that, the chlorine smell was very strong. It actually stung the eyes, which made it hard to stay in there for long. The whole space also felt a bit dated and worn, which added to that slightly unwelcoming feel. Check-in wasn’t the best experience either. Our room was due to be ready at 2pm, and we went to the desk about 10 minutes early just to see if we could collect our luggage. The receptionist was quite rigid and made us wait until exactly 2pm, repeating that the room “was not ready until 2.” It felt unnecessarily inflexible. The room itself was clean enough, but there were a few maintenance issues. The patio door didn’t close properly and needed a bit of effort to secure. The bath didn’t drain properly either, so showering meant standing in a few inches of water, which isn’t ideal. Dinner, though, was a real highlight. Jess, who served us, was excellent. She was attentive, warm, and genuinely made an effort. It stood out because the rest of the service throughout the stay felt quite disengaged. Breakfast the next morning summed things up a bit. We arrived at 7:10am, and it still wasn’t open. Staff were chatting out the back and told us they had “lost track of time.” It didn’t feel particularly organised or guest-focused. One thing that also felt out of place was the presence of Reform UK buses in the car park. It gave the impression of a political statement being made, which didn’t sit comfortably in what’s meant to be a relaxing spa environment. On a positive note, the gardens are absolutely beautiful. Easily the best part of the whole place. If you go, spend time there. They’re peaceful, well kept, and genuinely lovely. Overall, there’s potential here, but it didn’t quite deliver the relaxing spa experience we were hoping for.

Feels very secluded

This was our first time to lifehouse Spa and we were so happy with our experience. My partner said it would have been a lovely place to stay even without the spa and treatments. The staff were super friendly and helpful and the restaurant food was good quality and delicious. Our room overlooked the beautiful gardens and we had a walk in the bluebell woods before we left yesterday. We enjoyed the pool and spa and the treatments were excellent. Thank you to all of the staff.

Was lovely, very clean

N/A

It cost over £400 for a spa day for myself and my daughter for her 21st birthday and I feel really let down. The food was basic and the lunch voucher doesn’t include drinks. The pool was tepid at best. The salt inhalation steam room had part of the ceiling hanging down. The hot tub had one of the head rests missing and a pipe showing through the other head rests were rotten. The steam room had huge chunks of mosaic tiles missing so were dangerous to sit on. The staff were not exactly welcoming or bubbly at reception. The actual treatments provided were great but for over £400 I could have got that anywhere. The cleanliness of changing rooms also left to be desired and just in whole really poor maintenance.

It’s a great stay and great value needs updating and spa not working properly - breakfast needs to be smoother at 9am

Garden upkeep

I loved the grounds and soa area

The food was over priced

Spa so busy. Not relaxing

Location was good for visiting friend in Walton. Room was well thought out with nice view of the garden. Ample parking facilities.

Breakfast was disappointing. Only one lady serving hot food. No vegetarian option obvious. I asked for a vegetarian sausage to be told they didn’t have any - it was 8.45 am and breakfast is served till 10am. Then I was told they did have one and would bring it to my table in 8 minutes. It never arrived, no apology. I don’t eat loose scrambled egg and when I asked for an omelette I was told it wasn’t possible. I found there was no accommodating anyone who didn’t want bacon and pork sausages. Spa facilities were underwhelming. Having been used to Champneys, this was definitely a poor relation.