I settled into a cab, jet-lagged and fuzzy after an overnight flight from Boston, a connection through Manchester and a short train ride to Leeds.
Still, I kept my eye on the prize: Oulton Hall, a haven where I hoped to find relief—chocolate spread over my tired, aching body.
Set on the grounds of an 18th-century mansion, Oulton Hall embodies everything I associate with the English countryside—manicured gardens, a quietly romantic atmosphere and, naturally, gray clouds overhead.
The spa sits within the estate, near a 27-hole golf course and the clubhouse restaurant. Further down the winding driveway is the hotel with 152 rooms; I didn’t have time to tour it, but from the buildings and grounds I passed en route to the spa, I imagined a property full of English charm, the kind of place that evokes the Brontë sisters.
A stone path through the gardens led me to the spa entrance, where I was ushered into a dimly lit waiting area lined with candles. The space felt vast yet hushed, the only interruptions the occasional tinkling of wind chimes.
After about ten minutes a smiling young woman greeted me and offered a brief tour. As we moved through single and double treatment rooms, a relaxation area and the pool, I noticed how the spa combined contemporary comforts with classic touches.
I had booked the Chocoholic’s Delight—a chocolate exfoliation and wrap. A chocolate-based wrap sounded delicious and restorative after travel, and more appealing to me than the spa’s algae alternative. Having never experienced a wrap before, I was curious about what a 45-minute chocolate-centered treatment would feel like.
The treatment began with an exfoliation using Germaine de Capuccini’s Choco Scrub. Small bits of chocolate in the scrub released a sweet scent that filled the room. The therapist worked the coarse mix over my arms, legs, back and stomach. She laughed quietly and warned that the chocolate wrap wasn’t the spa’s most popular treatment but was certainly the messiest; I soon understood why.
With the saccharine aroma lingering on my skin, the therapist moved on to the wrap. She applied a warm, syrupy substance that looked like melted chocolate. The sticky sensation was novel and a little unsettling; I silently hoped none would get into my hair. As more of the product was smoothed over my body, the gooey texture ran and clung to my skin.
Once fully coated, I was wrapped tightly in what felt like plastic film and covered with a heated blanket. Bound snugly, I was finally able to let go of the odd sticky sensation and relax. While the wrap worked, the therapist treated me to a soothing scalp and neck massage.
Roughly twenty minutes later, after drifting in and out of sleep, it was time to be unwrapped and rinse in the treatment room shower. Scrubbing the hardened chocolate from my skin released an indulgent aroma that confirmed my choice; the experience felt decadent and restorative.
After a thorough rinse, the therapist applied Germaine de Capuccini’s Rich Cocoa Body, a thick cocoa butter intended to seal in moisture and nourish the skin. After being swathed in chocolate, this rich moisturizer felt like the finishing touch.
In the relaxation room I began to appreciate the wrap’s effects: my skin felt soft and replenished. The therapist advised drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated after a wrap. Lying on one of nine beds, with gentle music and the lingering scent of cocoa, I dozed in and out of a restful, candy-scented sleep.
The treatment was an ideal way to recover from a long journey. I left feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of a busy day, despite having had only a few hours of sleep.
My therapist explained that cocoa is used in spa treatments for its nourishing and hydrating properties. Beyond skin benefits, the scent and taste of chocolate have long been thought to comfort the spirit. Ancient cultures like the Mayans and Aztecs revered chocolate, and modern research suggests chocolate can stimulate endorphins and other feel-good chemicals that promote relaxation and ease discomfort. As I rested in the relaxation room with the aroma of cocoa still clinging to my skin, I found myself believing in both the traditional and contemporary healing qualities of chocolate.
The Spa at the Oulton Club
De Vere Oulton Hall
Rothwell Lane
Oulton, Leeds
Yorkshire LS26 8HN, United Kingdom
tel 44 113 282 1000
www.devere-hotels.co.uk