The Feversham Arms and Spa

Helmsley is a properly pretty country town in a beautiful corner of North Yorkshire, and without a doubt the Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa is the destination for a luxurious unwind.

When I set eyes upon the Howardian stone hotel framed by flowers and tucked away opposite the church, and when I walked through to reception, I knew I was in good hands for the weekend. The Feversham is traditional yet modern, old-fashioned courteous but also contemporary minded. The key words which defined it for me were comfort and service. There staff here are of the best and work hard as a team to ensure your time here is first class.

Our bedroom was a suite with direct access to the pool garden. I had the feeling of being in my own private cottage but with a good view from my windows of the pool and terrace. So comfortable was the accommodation – a large bed, spacious sitting room supplied with Taylor’s tea and new magazines, a bathroom stuffed with bathing products – that it was a wrench at times to tear ourselves away from it and explore the hotel.

Dinner in the restaurant was a delight. We chose from a tempting seasonal à la carte menu. Presentation was outstanding and the cooking of an extremely high standard. The sommelier brought us a super bottle of Gewurtztraminer when I asked if they had one. The breakfasts were deliciously all-encompassing, with the inclusion of many healthy superfoods on the buffet table (in keeping with the spa clientele). This being Yorkshire, the traditional breakfasts were brilliant too. A good deal of the produce is locally grown and reared.

The heated outdoor pool is the thing. We enjoyed several swims, afterwards lounging on the wicker chairs and sofas, which along with tables and sun umbrellas, are discreetly spaced around the pool. There is even a pod-shaped wicker seat to snuggle into, which has great appeal for romantic couples and also children! A super-warm Jacuzzi is in a corner of the courtyard. Guests are encouraged to order drinks for sipping by the pool and tub, and the waiters are always on hand to bring out orders from the bar to guests in their white bath robes.   The Verbena Spa is very restful too. I had the heat rooms to myself and loved the tranquillity. The Aromatherapy Room and the Steam Room, with its salt-water mist, were my out and out favourites.

Sarah Taylor-Fergusson was a guest of The Feversham Arms after having won a Best Loved Hotels competition featured on one of our regular newsletters. To enter a Best Loved competition, sign up for our newsletter.