Tag Archive for: Days out

I’ve been going to Champneys since I was a kid. No, I didn’t live one of those ‘Richie Rich’ lifestyles where my parents whooshed me around by private jet, I just had a school friend whose Mum and Dad owned Champneys. It didn’t seem at all weird to me at the time. We used to run around the lawns, play hide and seek between the trees and generally behave like loons. I’ve been back a couple of times: my parents bought me a spa day for my 21st, and now my friend Bea manages the gym… two of my other friends, The Foxys met there (and were eventually married)… it’s that just-around-the-corner place that you drive past but don’t really notice.

This time I was invited for a lovely spa day courtesy of Kellogg’s. I like Kellogg’s. I’ve worked with them before and they’re a brand who don’t take themselves too seriously. As we chatted (and watched their fab new Special K video), we talked about the ‘two bowls, two weeks’ thing that they used to do. I think most of the people in the room had tried it… ‘but we’ve moved on from there’, said Sarah, lovely Kellogg’s person with voice of an angel and husband who makes bespoke furniture (it was that kind of day), ‘it’s not about dieting, it’s more about healthy choices and feeling good about yourself’. To this end, they’ve brought out a new biscuity snack. A snack aimed at those of us who can’t just eat ONE biscuit… (I mean, rolls of biscuits open half way down, so you have to eat all of those top ones, right?) called Biscuit Moments. Despite the rubbish name, they’re actually really yummy - kind of crispy and with a fruity filling (blueberry or strawberry at the moment, but watch this space) and a soft vanilla flavoured drizzly bit on top. A pack of two is 99 calories and I have to say, they didn’t taste diety at all (unlike those awful cardboardy things that we’ve had marketed to us as ‘diet’ snackage in the past. My goody bag was pounced on as soon as I hit the front door, and the whole lot were devoured by my family - a sign that they probably taste quite nice. I managed to wrestle the Champneys goodies away though, so it’s all good.

On to the pampering then… after our gorgeous lunch (in a private room) which was healthy, but still delicious - think stuffed peppers, lovely salads with lentils, seafood pad thai… (and check out the Champneys trifles)… we got changed into our obligatory fluffy white towelling robes and headed for the sauna. A couple of my blogging buddies from YEARS ago were there - Alice and Jane from our original trip to Disney, in fact, so we spent a while in the jacuzzi having a reminisce and a cackle. Oh it was all good therapy. On to the actual treatment: I had an Elemis Face & Body Sensation treatment with Elemis’ fabulous Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial and it was truly wondrous. Hot stone massage first, then when I was all warm and limp and drowsy, a lovely facial. I came out glowing, and a little greasy looking, but feeling wonderful.

I’m not sure if I’d stay at Champneys for any period of time, but I’d thoroughly recommend maybe a day spa visit or an overnighter - oh and make sure you visit my friend Bea in the fitness centre too - lots of the fitness sessions throughout the day are free.

Special K Biscuit Moments will be available in the usual places from August 2012 priced at £1.99 for a multipack of five sachets of two biscuits.