A relaxing mini break at the Bank House Hotel

AD – Press trip

Travelling with children sometimes leaves me feeling like I need a holiday to recover. So after a fabulous week camping with the girls, I headed to the Bank House Hotel in Worcestershire with my sister for some much needed relaxation.

About the Bank House

The Bank House hotel is located in the picturesque Worcestershire countryside between Malvern and Worcester. They cater for individuals, business functions, weddings and other parties. There is a fabulous restaurant, a relaxing spa and comfortable, spacious bedrooms.

We stayed in an executive double room that was set up as a twin for us. When we went into the room, we were both pleasantly surprised at how large it was. As well as the two comfortable beds, there was a sofa, desk with a chair and two chairs at a small table. The en-suite had a bath with a shower over it and was stocked with lovely Temple Spa products. We had a brilliant night’s sleep, it was one of the quietest hotels I’ve ever stayed in.

The Pear Tree restaurant

We had dinner in the Pear Tree restaurant. The restaurant is at the back of the hotel rather than near to the reception or the bar. This gave it a slightly odd atmosphere, as it was incredibly quiet. When we arrived, everybody was talking in whispers. We chatted throughout our meal but I felt a bit self-conscious because it was so quiet.

The meal itself was incredibly impressive. I looked initially at the menu and didn’t see many vegetarian options. However, there was a note saying to let staff know of any dietary requirements, and when I asked the waitress, she kindly brought over a full vegetarian menu.

We shared some canapés, then I went for a starter of salt baked heritage carrots, followed by a main of Indian spiced tofu. For dessert I had the blood orange and passionfruit parfait. All the food was absolutely delicious and really well presented. The portion sizes were quite small, so we didn’t feel like we’d over-eaten despite having three courses.

My sister went for the crab terrine, followed by the confit duck as a main and the blackberry and apple crumble tart for dessert. She was just as impressed with the food as me.

The Bank House is really local for us and we’ve agreed that we’d book the restaurant for dinner even if we weren’t staying there. Breakfast was also served in the Pear Tree restaurant. It consisted of hot and cold buffets that you could help yourself to. There was also the option of ordering from the breakfast menu. We went for the hot buffet and there were plenty of vegetarian choices.

The Bank House spa

The spa in the Bank House is relatively small, but has everything you could possibly want. We didn’t have time to make it to the gym, but we made full use of the other facilities. There is a small swimming pool with a relaxing seating area beside it. All seats are adjacent to tables, on which there is a selection of magazines. There is also a seating area outside on a lovely sun terrace.

The thermal suite boasts a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a rainforest shower. There is also a little café within the spa itself, so guests can eat and drink in their robes.

My sister and I both enjoyed a fabulous massage treatment. The therapists took the time to make sure we felt relaxed and checked the level of pressure we wanted during the massage. At the beginning of the treatment, they used essential oils and a leg and foot scrub to relax me. More essential oils were used at the end for rejuvenation. I was then given a lovely mango sorbet and a glass of water before being shown to the relaxation room.

The verdict

Staff at the Bank House were incredibly friendly and accommodating throughout our stay. They all made sure we had everything we needed and we felt at home from the moment we walked in. It was the perfect relaxing short break. I would use both the restaurant and the spa as a day visitor and will recommend the hotel to friends who are looking for somewhere to stay in the local area.

AD – Press trip