Following the easing of lockdown restrictions, I was delighted to visit the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham to celebrate my partner Josh's birthday.
Situated in the heart of Durham city overlooking the iconic River Wear, the Radisson boasts 207 bedrooms and 11 meeting rooms, which, in ‘normal’ times, cater for overnight stays and various business & leisure occasions. As a Durham University student, I was already aware of the hospitality the venue usually provides for university events. However, on this occasion, we were excited to sample the hotel’s recently reopened spa & leisure facilities and outdoor dining services with a spot of afternoon tea. Eager for a taste of post-lockdown normality, we arrived bright and early at the Radisson, and were instantly impressed by the friendly and attentive service. Providing a plethora of spa & leisure packages, we opted for the Tranquil Escape, which promises to ‘Relax, Unwind, Renew’. At only £69 per couple, the package offers a 50-minute customised treatment, complimentary robe and towel hire, free parking, four hours use of facilities and much to my delight, a bottle of prosecco to enjoy poolside. What a treat! Anticipating an afternoon of indulgence, we kicked off proceedings with a visit to the venue’s health club.
The hotel offers a premium fitness and leisure experience, equipped with state-ofthe-art gym facilities, a modern 15m pool, steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. As an avid ‘Couch-to 5k’ enthusiast, I enjoyed a burst on the treadmill, although customers can delight in the range of cardio and weight-training equipment available. After an (admittedly) short gym session, we retired to the pool to enjoy some bubbly before our spa treatments. Named Nuspa, the hotel’s spa offers an array of relaxing and indulging treatments, as customers can choose between a full 50-minute treatment or two 25-minute treatments targeting specific needs. Ready to unwind from the final year university stress, Josh opted for the full body massage, whilst I decided to try both the back, neck & shoulder massage and the mini spa facial. The products, provided by dermalogica, were both aromatic and moisturising however, at Nuspa, the focus is less on the products, but on the holistic client experience. The spa’s highly skilled therapists provide a range of massage techniques, including Swedish therapies, which specifically relieve muscle strain, as well as hot stone massages, which stimulate relaxation and ease tension. Our treatments proved both luxurious and therapeutic and with heated beds and calming music, the rooms really promoted an atmosphere of tranquillity. Individual, unique touches were also noted including the addition of soothing face rollers, which demonstrated the great attention to care and detail provided at Nuspa.
After some more time at the pool and yet more prosecco, we headed to the outdoor dining area to enjoy our afternoon tea, and luckily, we had the weather for it! A selection of classic fingercut sandwiches, generously sized scones and an abundance of cakes and sweet treats formed the line-up. Personal favourites included the rich chocolate orange delice and the fruity raspberry torte, which definitely hit the spot and rounded off a thoroughly pleasant day spent at the Radisson. With exceptional spa & leisure facilities and delicious food, the Radisson Blu provides the ideal place for both a couples retreat or post-lockdown girls trip.
The hotel also has the added benefit of being part of the recently launched Fygo app, a free mobile service which works with local businesses to provide cashback to Durham University staff and students. This surely adds to the versatile and comprehensive range of services which the Radisson has to offer the region.