With its spa legacy, chic cafés and boutique clothes shops, Tunbridge Wells seems to be the spiritual home of yummy mummies. But love 'em or loathe 'em, they certainly know good spa, and if you're looking for something to make your mum feel yummy on Mother's Day, this town is a good bet.
Body and soul
With its cool shabby-chic décor and a giant comfy bed perfect for enjoying Carluccio's picnics, we loved The Royal Day spa - it has such a strong wellbeing mindset. Organic Ren and Aromatherapy Associates products are used, plus there's a natural saltwater pool and Moor mud infused Jacuzzi.
Treatments have appropriately cute royal names, such as the Smelly Royal Body, a heavenly two-hour massage encompassing everything from head to toe. Along with my limbs being gently soothed, a mini-facial and scalp massage were also administered by the lovely Emily.
My own yummy mummy is a facialist herself, and was suitably impressed with the Fairy Godmother facial and the Ko Bi Do Japanese facial method. The Royal Day Spa also employs facialist Cynthia Kerns, who has trained with the legendary Eve Lom (she who makes celebs look amazing).
After our absolutely blissful afternoon, we say: long may the Royal Day Spa reign…
Hair and Nails
Also doling out the finest in spa, hair and beauty treatments is local legend The Chapel. Actually, it's not even local, as women as far away as Devon (yes, really) make the pilgrimage for The Chapel's services. Discreetly hidden in an old, you guessed it, chapel, the atmosphere is buzzy and friendly, with a fantastic attention to detail that filters down to their sparkly seats in the ladies.
With my hair not having seen a scissors for nigh on six months, I decided to see what Paul could do for my long, distinctly boring locks.
The result was nothing short of magnificent. Four weeks on, and Paul has given me a good hair day everyday. For once in my life, my thick Irish hair has become wash 'n' go. Compliments have flooded in, ranging from 'you look like Brigitte Bardot' to 'I want your hair'.
Just having been coiffed back home, my mother plumped instead for getting her nails done. Her discreet French manicure was definitely as far as you can get from the 'Footballers' Wives' talons - absolutely gorgeous. She was also thrilled with the soothing hand massage and bottle Jessie polish she was given.
Forget Devon, I would travel from Timbuktu to maintain this hair.
Eating, drinking and sleeping
Rather than staying at a hotel, we liken staying in the Hotel du Vin Tunbridge Wells to staying in the spare room of your posh friend's immaculately decorated home. French furniture, comfortable beds, yummy scented toiletries, DVDs, and good magazines all made our stay perfect. Plus, if you can't bear to walk the five minutes to the Royal Day Spa, you can have them come and treat you in the privacy of your room.
You don't have to stray for fine dining either, as the Hotel du Vin's Bistro is one of the best-loved restaurants in town. The dining room is classy without being stuffy and we happily devoured our starters of goats' cheese risotto and a terrine, followed by our perfectly cooked salmon and halibut mains. Apple crumble and a perfect chocolate pudding with Bailey's ice cream placated our sweet tooth. We also liked that they served local Kentish wine from the nearby Chapel Down vineyard.
Make sure you head to one of the gorgeous oak panelled lounges after dinner to sink in an overstuffed leather chair, relax with a cocktail from the bar and of course, raise a toast to your very own yummy mummy.
For more information on:
Royal Day Spa, 12 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1BP. Tel: 01892 616 191 or visit www.royal-dayspa.co.uk
The Chapel, Chapel Place, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1YQ. Tel: 01892 549 900 or visit www.thechapel.co.uk
Rooms at Hotel du Vin cost from £105 per night on a weekday, and £120 per room at a weekend. Hotel du Vin, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2LYT. Tel: 01892 526 455 or visit www.hotelduvin.com
For more information on Kent please visit www.kenttourism.co.uk
