One Night in Paradise
When most people think of paradise, they probably think of white sands and palm trees. While I couldn’t help but agree that a Caribbean beach destination sounds rather enticing, it also feels pretty unachievable.
The truth is, when the mundaneness of everyday life takes hold, paradise can perhaps become something a little closer to home.
Read on for my South Lodge Hotel review.
South Lodge Hotel and Spa
I first visited South Lodge Hotel nearly 20 years ago whilst attending a training event for work. Despite most training courses being forgettable this one stuck in my mind. It could have been the content that made the day unforgettable, the development of the child’s brain. But what was most striking to me was the venue.
I remember standing at the doors overlooking the stunning grounds. As I munched on the most delicious “lunch provided” sandwich, I thought to myself, ‘I need to come back here one day’ and not for work but plwasure.
A Wish My Heart Made
Each time we drove past the entrance to South Lodge Hotel and Spa, I would exclaim how beautiful the hotel had been and how much I wanted to stay there.
Indeed, turning 40 has brought about many things I’m not particularly fond of. However, what it did bring, is the chance for me to make that little wish that I had been harbouring for 20 years come true.
I’m not a fan of surprises; wanting to be prepared and in control. But this surprise, I will take and treasure. When my husband and I turned off the road at the sign I had driven past so many times before, my heart fluttered.
Why Wait 20 years?
There’s a little part of me that’s always wanted to be grander than I am. An urge to dip my toe in the life of luxury. To me, this is what South Lodge Hotel signifies. The decadence that had always been just out of my reach. Why? Because I guess I had never seen myself as worthy of such luxury. Additionally, the price for staying in a 5-star hotel hasn’t always been in our budget.
Making it to what we hope is midlife seems to be something to be celebrated. An excuse worthy of the opulence I was craving.
I had high expectations, but South Lodge Hotel and Spa did not disappoint.
South Lodge History
South Lodge was built as a family home in 1883 by Frederick Du Cane Godman. Frederick’s fortune was inherited through the family connection to the Whitbread and Co. brewing company. In 1985 the house was sold and turned into a hotel by Exclusive Hotel Group who have renovated and added to South Lodge over the years.
You can find out more about the history of South Lodge and its owners here.
South Lodge Hotel and Grounds
South Lodge Hotel and Spa is surrounded by a whopping 92 acres of Sussex countryside. Its grounds include a hidden rockery, wildflower meadow, natural swimming pond, and their very own vineyard. All of this is yours to explore at your leisure, with a map of the many paths you can take throughout the gardens. A sumptuously large swinging chair hangs from a tree in the gardens. We could sit here all day watching the world go by. There is an incredible peacefulness at South Lodge Hotel.
You can find out more about South Lodge Hotel and Spa here.
Our Room
My husband and I stayed in the Sir Edmund room. South Lodge is an old building, so of course there is the odd uneven squeaky floorboard. Although, with its age, South Lodge brings quintessential charm and cosiness.
The View
The most spectacular part of our room was the view of the far-reaching grounds. We experienced the full range of British weather during our stay. From every perspective the view was unforgettable. There is a sense of calm and inner peace that can only be felt when in awe of something of true beauty. Waking up to such a stunning sight, and enjoying room service breakfast while gazing out of the window was one of the many highlights of our stay. A moment in which all life’s problems seemed to ebb away.
The Bathroom
A close second was our bathroom. Holy smokes. It felt special and unique. The magnificent, tiled shower is the focal point of the bathroom. However, there is something rather indulgent about laying in a bath of bubbles watching an episode of Frasier while you await your breakfast.
The Bed
The bed is immense and on the scale of comfort that only a 5-star hotel can provide. I slept beautifully, once we had scooped up all the petals carefully laid out in a heart shape upon the fluffy duvet. It is a lovely surprise to come back to such a romantic gesture. My husband gets the credit for organising this. There’s me thinking he wasn’t romantic. South Lodge offers several services that go above and beyond to create special memories.
The Staff
I think we all have a certain expectation of staff in a 5-star hotel, and I’m happy to say the staff at South Lodge exceeded my expectations. They are friendly and courteous, demonstrating this throughout our stay, making me feel incredibly special. When we arrived in our room to find a box of chocolates and a card wishing me a Happy Birthday. Within 5 minutes of us arriving in our room, there is a tap at the door. I open it to see a member of staff cradling an ice bucket containing a bobbing bottle of prosecco. My initial thought was that my husband had arranged this. Surprisingly, it was a complimentary bottle provided by the hotel in celebration of my 40th birthday. Which, of course, made it taste even better.
We were particularly impressed by the waiters in The Pass who are knowledgeable and welcoming. When we asked a question about an element of a dish, they were eager to find out more for us and their enthusiasm for the food shines through.
The Food
I would consider myself a bit of a self-confessed foodie (much to my waistline’s dismay). The food we devoured during our stay at South Lodge was, by far, the best we have experienced. It’s no surprise that our evening meal was outstanding, as their Head Chef has been awarded a Michelin star.
The standout course for me was the dessert. It was made up of many elements, including white chocolate panna cotta and beetroot sorbet. They say you eat with your eyes, and we were blown away by the presentation of the dishes, alongside stunning flavours.
The restaurant is subtly lit in a way that suggests romanticism and intimacy. The room upholds the same sense of cosiness we experienced around the hotel throughout our stay.
Room Service Breakfast
Now I couldn’t leave this South Lodge review without the low down on breakfast. We decided to have breakfast in our room in the morning to make the most of the countryside view. Room service was simple to order using a tablet, which is available in each of the rooms. All you must do is click a button and wait.
I rarely give myself time to prepare and eat a hearty breakfast, so this is always a treat. However, we didn’t end up with just a breakfast, but a feast. Warm pastries, pots of tea, tangy fruit juices. A full English breakfast for my husband and smoked haddock and hollandaise crumpets for me. Honestly, I would return to South Lodge just to eat those crumpets again. All there is to say is “yum”.
The Spa
Now I’ve never really been a spa person. Having never really felt comfortable in my own skin, I guess I have always found them a little intimidating. Maybe as you turn forty your perspective changes. Or perhaps my little soul was craving some attention, some calm and tranquillity. That’s exactly what I got at South Lodge Spa, and I loved, loved, loved it!
My (sometimes) charming husband had booked a package stay that included a treatment for us both. As we went our separate ways to our adjacent treatment rooms I felt a nudge of anticipation. That anticipation was quickly replaced by calm.
The Treatments
I’m someone who holds on to tension in their body. Let’s face it, motherhood and life in general is damn stressful. This stress is held tightly by the muscles of my back, neck and shoulders. . Because of this, I have some experience of massages. However, never before have I experienced a treatment like the one I was lucky enough to encounter at South Lodge.
Firstly, the treatment rooms are gently lit and have the most beautiful scent. Of course, the environment is created to instil a sense of calm, and it does just that.
Secondly, the beds. Oh, my goodness the beds. Laying on that bed took me back to being a child and what it felt like to be safe and secure. The beds are heated and the towels that lay over you have a gentle heaviness that is hard to describe. They remind me of the security of being snuggled up in bed, tucked in tight.
Facial and Bamboo Massage
I was the lucky recipient of a facial and bamboo back massage. The spa therapist was gentle, soothing, and thorough. I found the facial to be exhilarating. I have sensitive skin, but there was no reaction. The products smelt intoxicating. They left my skin looking and feeling refreshed and revitalised. Exactly what my recently turned 40 face needed.
While the facial was amazing, the bamboo massage was on a whole new level. The Spa Bamboo massage at South Lodge incorporates smooth bamboo sticks to provide more effective deep tissue work. Well, those bamboo sticks worked on tissues so deep they’ve never been worked on before. If you like a deep-tissue massage, this is the one for you. It was sensational! It feels like being massaged by 2 or 3 highly experienced therapists at the same time. By far, the best massage I have ever had! I’ll certainly be heading back for more in the future.
The Facilities
Now onto the spa itself. South Lodge has all the facilities you would expect from a modern spa and more. Every element of the spa has a sense of luxury and indulgence. My favourites are the beautifully crafted sauna, outdoor hydrotherapy pool, and wild swimming pool. All of which allow you to enjoy the stunning surroundings. But, be aware there’s a slight time delay on the buttons that turn on the jets in the hydro pool. We made the mistake of pressing them all and turning the jets on all over the pool, shocking a few of our fellow swimmers. Whoops.
Downsides
Honestly, there weren’t any. I can wholeheartedly say that the 24 hours we spent at South Lodge was one of the best times my husband and I have had together in a long time.
Did our stay cost a lot of money? Well, it was a gift from my husband so it would be rude to ask how much it cost, but I have an idea. You can check out South Lodge Hotel and Spa offers here.
In truth, staying at South Lodge was out of our budget for a while. As it may be for many. Additionally, spending a substantial amount of money on ourselves when we are running a home is not a decision we make lightly. Ultimately, this was a special occasion. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The big question is would we pay to stay at South Lodge Hotel and Spa again? And the answer is most definitely YES!
Finding a Little of Myself
Let’s face it, being a parent and a homemaker is a tough gig. There are rarely moments of peace and tranquillity. It’s a juggling act of continuously managing everyone’s needs.
I didn’t realise how lost I was becoming in the routine of serving everyone else. Or how much I was letting go of caring for myself and my needs.
Our visit to South Lodge Hotel and Spa wasn’t just a nice night away. It was a chance to find a little of myself again. To stop and enjoy the moment. But also connect with myself and with my husband.
Those 24 hours helped me to feel special again, for the first time in forever. I’ll always hold on to the memory of our one night in paradise. And that, to me, is priceless.
I hope you enjoyed my South Lodge Hotel Review.
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