Herb House Spa
Lime Wood Hotel
Beaulieu Rd
Lyndhurst
Hampshire
SO43 7FZ

Tel: 023 8028 7177
Website: www.limewood.co.uk

Vegetarian: Yes

Parking: Own car park

Wheelchairs: Easy

Loos: Excellent

LWL Gold Award - Awarded February 2011 - Cost ££££

Once again we have been lucky enough to be invited to Lime Wood; this time to view the luxurious and natural spa that is The Herb House.

The surroundings are sumptuous! There was lots of oohing & aahing at the design of the specialist treatment rooms, the indoor lap pool, the sauna and the mud room.  The exterior is also gorgeous, the steaming hot pool and the Herbary, a beautiful roof garden filled with fragrant herbs (these herbs and their fragrances are incorporated into many of The Raw and Cured dishes and juices).  I could go on but do have a look at their website for more pictures and details of the treatments on offer.

Within the Herb House is the Raw and Cured Food Bar; it offers natural, healthy and garden-grown food, cured meats and fish from Lime Wood’s own smoke house, as well as fresh juices and smoothies.  Although this facility is for members and hotel guests only, we were privileged to taste the delights of a very interesting menu.

We started with a plate of 3 dips (£6) consisting of humus, curried cauliflower and broccoli with avocado served with flat breads and crudités.  To accompany our food we chose a Hampshire wine from Danebury Vineyards at £18. A light white Schonburger, just right with our healthy lunch!
 
For our main courses, all at £7, we chose Quinoa with spring onions, parsley, candied tomato, bell pepper, coriander and lime.  Sesame glass noodles, carrot, bean sprout, green bean, lime, cumin and cashew nut. Ceviche of the day was sea bass and lastly, House smoked duck, girolles. Together with breads and a herb salad we found it delicious, very fresh and flavoursome. 
 
Having enjoyed a healthy meal, we felt it was time to be a bit naughty and so we chose at £4 each a delicious piece of Bakewell tart with fresh raspberries together with a pear and pecan base pie, both were scrummy.  We finished with delicious coffees at £3.50 each. Cost approx ££££
 
The Herb House naturally instils a sense of calm and comfort; it’s the perfect place to chill out, followed by the delights of Raw and Cured, a deli-like cafe.  If you would like to give someone the chance to experience the Herb House Spa, Gift Vouchers are available.  Choose from one of the spa day packages or select a treatment from the special treatment menu.  Again visit their web site for the details and opening times.  Membership is a monthly fee of £150 single and £250 double with a Joining Fee of £250.
 
We enjoyed the casual but well run feel of The Herb House and all it contained, the staff were fantastic, well trained and they certainly knew the products, both in the retail area of the spa and in Raw and Cured.  If you are thinking of joining a spa or treating yourself to a day spa experience then Herb House would be a wonderful choice especially as it incorporates such an interesting eatery! 

NB Please note to eat at Raw & Cured you must either be a spa member, be enoying a spa day package or be a hotel guest.

Ladies Who Lunch Scoring:

Quality of food 4/5
Variety of menu 4/5
Staff and service 5/5
Ambience, setting and decor 5/5
Value for Money 4/5

Total Yummy Factor

22/25

5/5 = Cannot be improved upon, 4/5 = Very good, 3/5 = Good,
2/5 = Satisfactory, 1/5 = Poor, 0/5 = Terrible

The higher the "Yummy" factor, the better the food & service. The higher the number of £ signs the more expensive. (Roughly one £ sign = £5 per head)