Welcome to the Ibiza Zone at FFOLKESPA.

Opened in the autumn, around £3m has been invested in creating a wellbeing experience with a difference at the Ffolkes pub in Hillington in the west of the county ‒ and it’s already won a five-bubble rating from the Good Spa Guide.

The pub dates back to the 17th century and it’s the sister spa to PIGSPA at Edgefield, near Holt.

From the moment my friend and I walked through the doors to check in, we knew this was going to be a retreat with a difference. The bold colour scheme, neon lights and dance music were the opposite of the calm palette of muted tones and gentle ambient sounds you would usually expect.

Here, fun and socialising is on the agenda as well as relaxati

The decor is colourful and playful. (Image: Hanneke Lambert)

Arriving at lunchtime and hungry from our drive across the county, we started our overnight stay with some food in the pub.

We’d booked in for afternoon tea ‒ which came with a Ffolkes twist on the traditional, in the shape of a street-food-influenced menu. Think spring rolls filled with chicken, shredded cabbage and Colombo-spiced cauliflower and steamed bao buns with Korean barbecue pork and pickled chillies instead of finger sandwiches.

Scones, but make them cheese and jalapeño flavour, served with bacon butter moulded into the shape of a Lego figure and a cheeseburger sausage roll, which has deservedly got quite the fan club.

Sweets wise, there were dainty lemon and lime macarons, a dark chocolate and banana dome with miso caramel, which was almost too pretty to eat, and a Bakewell tart choux bun and more.

After lunch, it was time to head to the spa.

We were staying in one of the Courtyard Suites, which have direct access to the spa, so we could unpack and settle in, then get changed into our swimming togs and robes.

There is a variety of accommodation, including the Spa Cabins, which come complete with their own hot tubs, saunas, outdoor showers and wood burners.

All the rooms have lovely, playful details and thoughtful touches, and like the rest of FFOLKESPA, the colour scheme is........

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