The Garden Spa opens at the Old Swan & Minster Mill


December saw the grand unveiling of The Garden Spa - a tranquil haven in the heart of our beautiful grounds featuring an indoor heated plunge pool, a poolside rock sauna, aroma steam room, ice fountain, tropical rain forest showers and three peaceful treatment rooms for the ultimate indulgence. 
 

The Garden Spa offers simply blissful spa treatments by ESPA to relax and unwind. Using only the very purest extracts, ESPA biochemists distil active ingredients into products that keep their promises, for instant, lasting results, every day. Each one is an expression of their belief in the remarkable power of nature to calm, refresh and renew. 

And for those who want to try an alternative treatment experience we have a beautiful Rasul mud therapy area which can be a unique treatment in its own right or complemented with one of our traditional spa therapies.

Visit www.oldswanminstermill.co.uk/spa/the-garden-spa to find out more. 

,

Will Guthrie's Sage & Chestnut Stuffing

,


Buckland Manor's Head Chef, Will Guthrie's top tip for Christmas Day cooking:

“I like to make sure that all my vegetables and sauces are done the day before to take the stress out of cooking on the day.  Make sure that for roasting the turkey it's covered in foil for the first half then based with a lot of butter and chicken stock for the second half to insure a moist piece of meat.  Plus, make sure there is a lot of chocolate Baileys on hand on the day... makes for a more relaxed day!”

Method

  • Peel and finely dice the onion and garlic, sweat in a pan and cover with vegetable oil. Cook until soft and cool to one side.
  • Dice the apricot, prunes and chestnuts.
  • Finely slice the sage and place to one side.
  • Into a kitchen aid mixer place the sausage meat and beat with the two whole eggs.
  • When this has being done add the chopped items, sage, grain mustard and double cream and incorporate together.
  • Drain off the chilled onions and garlic confit and mix into the sausage meat.
  • With two layers of cling film laid out on a flat service place the stuffing down the middle a third into the cling film and form a large sausage shape. Then roll tight with foil.
  • There will be enough mix to do this twice, then in a suitable sized sauce pan cover the stuffing with cold water and bring to a gentle simmer on a stove. When achieved this take off stove and let it cool down in the water until it's cold.
  • Place in the fridge over night.
  • Next day unwrap the stuffing and slice into suitable sized portions place on a tray and heat for 20 min at 160°c then serve. Stuffing done!

Ingredients

1 onion
10 sage leaves
1 garlic glove
100g peeled chestnuts
500g sausage meat
2 eggs
100g double cream
50g grain mustard
50g dried apricots
50g dried prunes
salt & pepper
200ml vegetable oil

Details

Serves: 8
Difficulty: Medium
Prep time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 20 + 20 minutes

Introducing the first and only Spa by L’OCCITANE in the UK

 


Our new spa is the only Spa by L’OCCITANE in the UK and features exclusive treatments, including bespoke therapies created in partnership with the luxury, Provençal brand.
 

 

The spa will offer a full range of spa treatments and spa days using L'OCCITANE products. Each contains ingredients with proven effectiveness fused with traditional therapies, to offer a true voyage of the senses designed to rejuvenate body and soul. The signature treatment at The Garden Spa by L'OCCITANE will be the calming, nurturing Verbena Relaxing Massage.

The new spa features four refurbished treatment rooms, including one dual room, each themed to reflect key L'OCCITANE ingredients such as verbena and lavender, designed to offer a taste of Provence in the heart of the City of Bath. 

There is also a brand new relaxation room with double doors opening onto the award-winning gardens, ideal for relaxing before or after treatments, a luxurious nail bar offering manicures and pedicures in peaceful surroundings and a retail space dedicated to L'OCCITANE's aromatic products made from only the finest natural ingredients.

Visit www.thebathpriory.co.uk/spa to find out more.