AIBU to say this is not a spa and I want a partial refund?

It’s not the hogs back hotel is it ?

There was an aqua aerobics class last time I was at Champneys! I was not amused.

A complete rip off.
Did you take any pictures of the noisy chaos of the place?
Leave a stinking review.

"buyer beware".
They were very vague but didn't specifically state amenities they didn't have or that were out of service when you arrived.
You had expectations based on previous experiences at better places, and based on price.

Agree, just looked at Rudding Park in Harrogate and that's £215 on a weekday for one treatment and lunch. That is a proper spa though. £185 at Crowwood in Burnley, lunch but no treatments. Both those are oop North so imagine would be more down south.

I think I would complain again - quoting their advertising and explaining your experience. If no luck I would write to one of those customer support columns in Guardian etc. They might help you.
In general I find spas in the Uk 1. over priced, 2 dirty or very tired and needing refurbishment and noisy. It’s always disappointing

£250 is very good deal for 3 treatments and lunch and afternoon tea so I’m not really surprised the spa was just a pool, sauna and beds - that’s a fairly common hotel setup!

I’d expect to pay around at least £400 for a full day including lunch, tea and 3 x 30 min treatments in the kind of tranquil spa with more facilities you describe.

“a place to relax and unwind” (it’s not)
YOU didn’t find it relaxing because it didn’t meet your expectations, but that is due to you not checking which facilities they have, because being in a pool IS relaxing, even when all loungers are occupied. It sounds like you were expecting extra rooms /different types of pools, but you should have checked which types of rooms /pools they had.

“To ensure that our guests are able to relax and enjoy the tranquil and peaceful surroundings, please refrain from using your mobile phone.” (Not tranquil or peaceful, and most people were using phones)
there is a difference between people reading /scrolling on their phone and people playing music /watching videos without headphones / having telephone conversations. Which was it? If the latter, did you go to reception to ask them to remind people to refrain from that type of phone use?

”If you are using the gym or pool as part of your time in the spa” (implies there is something to use other than just the pool!!)
No it doesn’t. And there were other things- treatments. If you wanted more or a very specific thing you should have checked whether they had this.

Agreeing with others - a hotel “spa” is basically just a small, cold, grubby, busy leisure centre with treatments. Often with children in the pool as well. I’d steer well clear and only go to specialist spas. So unfortunately I think YABU in your expectations here.

£250 for three treatments, lunch AND afternoon tea sounds like an absolute bargain!

In my experience, a hotel with a spa is always going to be like a nicer version of a leisure centre with people using it as incidental to their hotel stay. If you want a proper day of peace and relaxation you need to go to a well reseached dedicated spa. It doesn't sound like you were missold but I understand why you are disappointed. You were expecting a spa attached to a hotel and what you got was access to the spa facilities at the hotel.
My rule of thumb is if they have any children's swimming times I avoid that place for a spa day. I'm not against children being allowed in hotel pools at all but is seems to be a good indicator of what type of experience you'll have in the range of hotel with spa facilities to proper spa.

Sorry you didn’t find it relaxing. I don’t think the last part implies there is more on offer though. Sometimes people book spa days and don’t use the pool. DH never uses the pool and there have been occasions where I haven’t either. We’ve just got the treatments and the meal then left as the price makes it a really good deal compared to paying separately.

Without seeing the actual advert, its hard to say, but its not what I would hope for, from a "spa". My now ex H made that mistake once. I specified which spa I wanted to go to, but he decided that he knew better, and booked a day at a packed (freezing cold) lido, which had a tiny jacuzzi and sauna, neither of which accommodated more than 4 people at a time 😂

Agree, and that sentence sounds like it will go on to give some information eg “please ask reception for a sports towel and locker key”

To me, the word “spa” means the area of the hotel building where treatments happen. So there will be a reception, a place to change and rooms for massage and what not. But not necessarily anything else, though quite often there will be a lounging area, with or without pool, jacuzzi etc.

As someone who would run a mile from any spa day, I’d certainly have assumed that there’d be a quiet, restful space! Isn’t quiet relaxation supposed to be at least half of the exercise, besides the ‘pampering’ element?

But it was a spa, if there were three treatments! Spa isn’t just about the water parts and there’s no particular reason why they should be excluding hotel residents. It may not have been what you expected but that isn’t their fault.

Sounds like the Elfordleigh in Plymouth. I’d never go there again, Boringdon Hall all the way. They actually started a kids swimming lesson during the time we were swimming. I’m not familiar with the area, Scottish born and bred here so hadn’t realised. Once I found out that Boringdon Hall was so close by, we booked in there, that’s an actual spa.

The thing is "place to relax and unwind" and "tranquil and peaceful" is subjective.

I think the only thing you could complain about is use of mobile phones but you should have given staff the chance to rectify that on the day rather than just cancelling and leaving

I have recently paid £200 for a spa day - 5 hours, including a single 60 minute treatment and lunch. The spa is lovely with a large pool, hotubs both inside and outside, sauna, steamroom and I was happy with the experience. I think that £250 for 3 treatments plus lunch and tea is too inexpensive for you to expect luxury facilities.

”If you are using the gym or pool as part of your time in the spa” (implies there is something to use other than just the pool!!)

I think you’ve misread that, and it acknowledges that some people booking a massage or a facial just want exactly that, arrive on time for their treatment, leave straight after and won’t go anywhere near the pool or gym or sauna. The information that follows that sentence is aimed at those (like you) who do intend to stick around and use the pool etc.

YANBU, OP. It doesn't sound like they are living up to what they are offering.

ugh this happened to me at a ‘spa’ hotel which was nothing more than a public swimming pool with a grubby steam room. The sauna was shut for cleaning. Shame as the rooms were actually nice.
I didn’t get a refund but I did leave a review on trip advisor to make others aware

Unfortunately I think this comes down to what was advertised. A lot of spas are like this and I'd say it's up to you to check before you book. Probably best to finish the day in January and chalk it up to experience.

£250 really isn't a lot of money for three spa treatments, full use of the pool, sauna and gym for the day, plus lunch and afternoon tea!

£250 was a lot of money for that kind of experience!
Equally, if you turn the tables, we were hotel guests and could barely be accommodated round the pool earlier this year. After 4pm, members of the public just piled in 😣