The Secret Is Out

Quality cooking, good service and contemporary surroundings mean Ribby Hall’s Orangery is blossoming

- Roger Borrell

Putting in a hard day’s graft at the spa can be a pretty enervating experience, what with all that pampering and holistic preening.

The first thing sure to kickstart the recovery process is a refreshing cocktail in the bar at Ribby Hall’s Spa Hotel. Once that begins to work its magic, the hunger pangs start to take over. Fortunately, help is also very close at hand in the form of The Orangery.

This is a relatively new part of the award-winning hotel at Wrea Green and is a light, bright space with an atrium and a spectacular coloured glass chandelier. It’s not a barn of a place but neither is it so snug you feel the need to join in conversation with your neighbours.

The furnishings are eye-catching – think of the limes and oranges from a packet of Spangles – and there are comfortable looking curved banquets at each end of the room.