W
hen in Bath, do as the Romans did bathe. People have been coming to take the waters for centuries long before the Romans made Aquae Sulis, as they called Bath, fashionable. Some came to relax, others to be cured of their ailments. These days you cant actually go in the water at the world-heritage Roman Baths (which, by the way, are definitely worth a visit if youve never been). The water is pond-green and none too inviting. Happily, The Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel draws the water for its Spa Village Bath from the same springs. It is the only one to do this and trust me, this water you do want to get into.
Become a smarter, better informed investor with MoneyWeek.
Sitting under one of the pressure spouts in the main pool, the warm water pummelling your shoulders, its all too easy to slip into a trance. While youre at it, you might as well contemplate where all this water comes from. Surprisingly, the source is still a mystery. Its thought the water fell as rain 10,000 years ago. It seeped into the earth to a depth of two kilometres to be warmed and returned to the surface in the form of three springs. One of these is Hetling Spring and it provides the three thermal pools with mineral-rich water. There are also two saunas, one of which is infrared, and a steam room. Theres also the ice alcove for hardcore spa-goers. Whether out of survival instinct or just raw cowardice, I found myself slinging the ice over my shoulder. I think one piece might have touched me.
My 90-minute Magnesium Remineraliser treatment was much easier to get onboard with. I hadnt realised that I needed to be remineralised my focus being more on animal and vegetable (read on that came later). But magnesium is apparently responsible for promoting energy levels, sleep, circulation, metabolism and muscle movement. I can vouch for the sleep part. The scrub, massage and warm wrap is terribly relaxing. Muscle movement? I think I did turn over once. As for metabolism, I defy anybody to come up with a better way of preparing for dinner than with a good massage followed by a cocktail in the bar, naturally, with The Gainsboroughs convivial general manager, Marc MacCloskey. He explained to me the history of the building.
Advertisement - Article continues below
The Gainsborough opened five years ago. As you may have guessed, its named after Thomas Gainsborough, who lived in Bath from 1759. But the artist was never actually resident at the site, which was just as well as the two buildings that make up the present-day hotel were former hospitals. The current buildings, with their Georgian and Victorian faades, date from 1826 and 1860, but the Hospital of Thomas Bellott, which served the sick and needy, had occupied the site since 1609. Do not leave dormant in your store that would relieve the poor. If the poor sleep soundly, so will you, reads the Latin inscription etched in stone. That The Gainsborough today occupies former hospitals is somewhat fitting for a hotel that is built around a spa, albeit a luxury one. And you wont have any trouble sleeping soundly in the cosy bedrooms. Ours was a corner room with views of the Abbey and the rooftop pool at the modern Thermae Bath Spa next door.
But to dinner! If The Gainsborough is named after an artist, then so is its restaurant Dan Moon. The only difference is West Country native Dan Moon is alive and to be found in the kitchen, using local ingredients to whip up works worthy of his three AA rosettes for our seven-course tasting menu. The smoked rabbit with ethical foie gras, Parma ham and tomato was served beneath a teeny, tiny glass cloche that, when lifted, unleashed a puff of smoke. All of the dishes from the cream of mushroom velout to the chocolate marquise were excellent, while the roast duck in a plum sauce, served with a homemade spring roll, was my particular favourite. Each dish was paired with a differentwine.
These waters will be empty for some weeks to come but everyones going to need a long stint in the pool when this crisis ends, and this is the place to look forward to visiting. Salus per aquam, as those Romans might have said health through water. Or simply, Spa.
Chris was a guest of The Gainsborough. From 290 on a room-only basis, see thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
See the original post:
Revive your weary spirits in a spa - MoneyWeek
- Trance Wikipedia - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Trance (Final Fantasy IX) | Final Fantasy Wiki | Fandom ... - December 22nd, 2016 [December 22nd, 2016]
- Trance Movie Review & Film Summary (2013) | Roger Ebert - January 15th, 2017 [January 15th, 2017]
- Trance Sample Packs, Loops & Construction Kits | Producer Loops - January 15th, 2017 [January 15th, 2017]
- Urban Dictionary: trance - January 15th, 2017 [January 15th, 2017]
- Psychedelic trance - Wikipedia - January 22nd, 2017 [January 22nd, 2017]
- Goa trance - Wikipedia - January 27th, 2017 [January 27th, 2017]
- Armin van Buuren offers first glimpse of new A State Of Trance studio - DJ Mag - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Scream at a Wall: UNEARTHLY TRANCE Bring a Heavy Sense of Doom - Nerdist - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- What We Like || Tech Trance - EDM Identity (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Pastor called as pupils fall in trance - Chronicle - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- 6 Artists to watch out for at Vh1 Supersonic - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Armin van Buuren records 800th A State Of Trance radio show from new studio: Listen - DJ Mag - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Pastor called as pupils fall in trance - Nehanda Radio - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Urban Dictionary: Trance Music - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Does Trance need to be saved? - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- 6 Indian Acts to watch out for at Vh1 Supersonic - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Insomniac reveals teaser for trance-only Dreamstate stage at EDC Las Vegas 2017: Watch - DJ Mag - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Arty Revives Trance Project Alpha 9 with the Inspiring The Night Is Ours - EDM Sauce - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- [Speculation] Are W&W Returning To Trance At Ultra Miami? | EDM ... - EDM Identity (blog) - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- W&W Looks to be Returning to Trance for Ultra Miami - Some Shade ... - EDM Sauce - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Andrew Bayer & Ilan Bluestone Drop Massive Heater: Trance Fans Rejoice - EDM Sauce - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Maidstone: DJ Nathan Martin starts trance event at Social Chill Bar in Week Street - Kent Online - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Evian Christ's Trance Party tours UK with Laurel Halo, MssingNo - FACT - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- What Happens When A Bass Head Interviews Armin Van Buuren About Trance [Exclusive] - Your EDM - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- 15 Trance Melodies for Your Valentine - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Dance, trance and get your yoga on at Blue Lotus - Ruidoso News - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- ARMADA Music Announces debut ARMADA Night China Tour - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Arctic Moon Premieres New Powerful Trance Anthem on Future Sound of Egypt - EDM Sauce - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- GAIA to play closing act at this massive Trance festival - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- A State of Trance on Youtube LIVE Every Thursday at 2P.M. EST ... - exstreamal - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Voices on wellness: Hypnosis and the trance of everyday life - Richmond News - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Andrew Rayel Announces 'Moments' Album & World Tour - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Music Review: Psychedelic Trance - The Point News - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Investors in a Trance as Stocks Shuffle Higher - MarketPulse - MarketPulse (blog) - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Black Country driver tasered by police during diabetic trance after ... - Halesowen News - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- 'Trump Trance'? Media Sure It 'Heard' Sweden Comment Trump Never Said - PJ Media - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- In a slot machine trance - Castanet.net - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Unearthly Trance Premieres Pre-Release Full-Album Stream Of Upcoming New Album "Stalking The Ghost" - Metal Underground - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Cy and David's Picks: Musical Notes from Native California, Trance Blues, and Bell X1's High-Flying Pop - KQED - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Trance-fusion festival Camp Bisco to return to Pavilion at Montage Mountain - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Under 2500: Will Vance Puts Listeners In A Trance With New Tune Days Go By - EDM Sauce - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Try 'Orb' to experience Psychedelic Trance genre - The Ionian - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Brixton Trance Underworld The Return - BrixtonBuzz - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Is Mat Zo making a return to trance? - EARMILK (blog) - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Trance | Electronic Dance Music | EDM | Free Downloads - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Stalking the Ghost - PopMatters - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Borscht Diez's Coral Orgy With Animal Collective Lured Audiences Into a Trippy Trance - Miami New Times - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Preview W&W's New Trance Collab with Armin Van Buuren Under New Alias - EDM Sauce - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- The Necks and Battle Trance offer two different takes on experimental music - PGH City Paper - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Album Review: UNEARTHLY TRANCE Stalking The Ghost - Metal ... - Metal Injection.net - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- The 40 Best Trance Songs Ever - EDM Sauce - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Interview with Luminosity Events founder Bo van Eck | Trance Hub - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- March: 10 trance releases you need to hear this month - Mixmag - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- 'Poker was like being in a trance': readers' experiences of problem gambling - The Guardian - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Smith entered 'trance' in captain's ton - The West Australian - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Trance Arena: A New Beginning For Trance in Chicago (Event Review) - EDM Chicago (blog) - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- DMNW Selects: Uplifting Trance For The Broken Heart - Dance Music Northwest - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Unearthly Trance : Stalking the Ghost - Treble - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- 10 Vocalists Above & Beyond Should Collaborate With | Trance Hub - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- INcoming Artist Corner: Darin Epsilon - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- The 5th Holi Reloaded festival will feature trance legends Above ... - Gizmodo India - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- First Look: 2017 Giant Trance 1 - Singletrack - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Trance and beyond - The Hindu - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- You be trippin' out with trance - The Nation - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- Tattooed devotees transform in Thai temple trance - Channel NewsAsia - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- UNEARTHLY TRANCE Premieres New Music Video For Into The Spiral - The Gauntlet - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- The week's best mixes: Lorenzo Senni's trance classics and jackin' moves from Clone boss Serge - FACT - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- English Trance at a desi festival - Mid-Day - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Tattooed devotees transform in Thai temple trance - Reuters - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Solarstone shows off his 'State Of Mind' with ethereal trance - Dancing Astronaut - March 12th, 2017 [March 12th, 2017]
- Central Europe's biggest trance event Transmission announces date - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Chartwell Dutiro, Niyaz & Riyaaz Qawwali Set for A WORLD IN ... - Broadway World - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- The trance of the Tungna - The Kathmandu Post - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Five Trance Artists You Must Catch at EDC Las Vegas 2017 - EDM Identity (blog) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Trance Duo Announces New Album After 10 Year Hiatus - EDM Sauce - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- This New Trance Event in UK Announces an Incredible Lineup - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Take A Journey Into Space with Trance Pioneer Ferry Corsten - EDM Sauce - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Trance Is Springing Down in Orange County This Saturday - Mix 247 EDM - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- 'Techno trance for tiny ears': taking your newborn to a rave - The Guardian (blog) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]