Large automatic glass doors open onto a spacious vestibule, and a sign says it all – ‘Welcome to Thorpe Park Hotel’ – and nothing could be further from the truth, as a warm welcome awaits from the moment you set foot in this modern spa hotel.

The reception staff, spa therapists, bar staff, and even the ladies who clean your room are all committed to ensuring your comfort and needs are met during your stay.

On the outskirts of Leeds, Thorpe Park is situated less than a mile from the M1 motorway and is a 6-minute drive from Cross Gates railway station.

Thorpe Park is conveniently located near everything Leeds has to offer, including fantastic shopping, vibrant nightlife, theatres, and nearby Harrogate, York, and the Dales beyond.

With its luxury beauty salon and spa facilities, the hotel is the perfect place to meet with friends for a sojourn or away day, chase away those winter blues or spend some well-deserved ‘me time’ to recharge the batteries.

The hotel also serves as an excellent venue for celebrating special occasions, particularly Valentine's and Mother's Days, which make it an ideal gift or surprise getaway.

Once inside, I was amazed by the feeling of space and how well planned everything is, with copious comfy chairs and occasional tables in the breakout areas around reception and just off the corridors.

Our check-in was seamless, and we were amazed by the large parking area accessible through a barrier, which is complimentary if mentioned when you check in.

We took a very speedy lift to the 2nd floor on our way to the Armistead Suite, our home away from home for our stay, and were amazed by its size and design features when we opened the door.

The entrance hall was wide, and off it was a marble bathroom with a deep bathtub, a shower, a deep washbasin with lots of storage space on each side, fluffy slippers and dressing gowns, and some of the best bathroom lighting I’ve experienced for some time around it.

I loved the hospitality station in the entrance hall with its Nespresso machine for coffee lovers like myself, homemade cookies, and two very large mugs with Yorkshire slogans on them, including "That'll do," which for me added the perfect touch.

In the fridge were two carafes – one for water, the other for fresh milk. Just fill them out of the self-serve machine in the corridor and pop them in your fridge.

The living area was large with a really comfy sofa – the perfect place to relax after spending time in the spa before getting ready for dinner.

There was also a large dining table, if one opted for room service, a sideboard, and a large flat-screen television.

The entrance to the bedroom from the living area, I thought, was almost theatrical, with a large, heavy velvet curtain that could be drawn if required.

There was lots of storage and hanging space, as well as a well-lit dressing table, a wonderfully comfortable king-size bed, a pillow menu, and a small flat-screen TV.

The TV was great, as I am a bit of a news hound, and it meant I could sit on the sofa watching the news whilst my partner watched his Sci-Fi favourites in bed.

After unpacking, we made our way to the spa, as I had an appointment for a treatment while my partner availed himself of the joys of the spa—its sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and large pool.

In the course of my profession, I must have visited literally hundreds of spas worldwide, and I can honestly say that the spa’s treatment facilities rank among the best with their blissful, calming, warm, and relaxing ambience.

My therapist Yvonne was absolute perfection in every way. She explained my facial was specially curated to my needs using Caudalie products, which gave my skin a wonderful glow that lasted until the next day.

After my treatment, I relaxed in the relaxation room in the salon, which was amazing; even more amazing were the homemade chocolate brownies that I savoured with my cappuccino.

As I was on a tight schedule, I just didn’t have time to experience the new adults-only Spa Lounge with its lush lounge chairs and beds and indulgent heated loungers.

Here you can unwind with the latest trends in multisensory wellness to relax the mind and body in an optional guided meditation experience or just snooze or dip into your favourite novel.

Whether you want to find a snug corner in the light and airy courtyard with its garden-like ambience by the crackling fire in the bar or in the warmer weather on the sprawling terrace, there’s a multitude of dining options.

We chose The Curious Kitchen – the hotel’s restaurant, which prides itself on serving local and seasonal flavours.

For his starter, my partner chose the charred BBQ sweetcorn ribs with whipped feta, Aleppo chilli jam, burnt lime, and coriander. This was an amazing combination. The sweetcorn was interlaced with the ribs, and the whipped feta balanced the flavours of the chilli jam, burnt lime, and coriander.

I chose the slow-cooked onion soup but was a tad disappointed; as appealing as it looked and as delicious as the soup tasted, the floating bread with melted cheese was just far too hard and languished at the bottom of the dish.

My partner chose his main from the seasonal menu. The lamb and game on this menu are sourced from Barwhillanty Estate, a hidden gem in Southwest Scotland owned by the Thwaites family since 1884.

The estate's partnership ensures the ethical sourcing of the meat on the menu.

The braised lamb shoulder he ordered was so tender and full of flavour it just fell apart, and it came with a beautifully created potato terrine, mint pea puree, and wine jus.

As a side order, he had seasonal greens with chilli butter. This food was a veritable feast of vegetables with courgettes, leeks, cabbage and broccoli and was served piping hot.

Fish was my choice for the main course from the main grill menu. The mixed seafood included a fillet of sea bass and salmon and two skewered tiger prawns, and I asked for the salsa verde on the side.

The seabass and salmon were expertly cooked. It was moist and tasty and it was very succulent. Both the salmon and seabass had flavour and texture.

To accompany my fish, I had the seasonal salad – one of the best I have had in a long time. It was a large portion and consisted of just about every salad item, from lettuce, radish, and onion to tomato and cucumber and several types of leaves.

But the pièce de résistance was the sea-salted chips we shared. If there were Oscars for chips, then they would be a winner. As a hotel and restaurant reviewer, I have never tasted such wonderful chips – besides being extra crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, they were just amazing.

For decades I’ve avoided sticky toffee pudding. When it came to choosing a dessert from the menu, I knew I couldn’t dine at a Thwaites without sampling their sticky toffee and Thwaites ale pudding served with butterscotch sauce and English toffee ice cream.

This pud must have come from the Angel’s kitchen. It was light and not overly sweet, and the butterscotch sauce had just the right texture, and serving it with English butter toffee ice cream was perfection. This dessert became my heaven on a plate!

After dinner, we relaxed in one of the spacious modern bars before retiring to our suite; I enjoyed the last of the late-night news programmes while my partner watched the end of his favourite sci-fi programme in the bedroom. You see, you can do that with the ingenious planning of this suite.

The next morning we were up early, and my partner took advantage of an early morning dip in the pool, joining me later for a hearty breakfast in the Curious Kitchen.

Soon it was time to say goodbye to Thorpe Park as we journeyed on to my next assignment – but one thing's for sure: I will be back to the spa to unwind in the salon when I need some ‘me time’ to unwind.

Thorpe Park has numerous different spa packages. There are two-night and one-night and day spa packages to suit your lifestyle and your diary. For details of both accommodation and packages, visit thorpeparkhotel.co.uk.

Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa, 1150 Century Way, Thorpe Park, Leeds LS15 8ZB. Tel: 0113 264100