While the pandemic may have led to the closure of many restaurants, bars, and even boutique gyms – members-only clubs emerged as a kind of social refuge; a place to work (besides the kitchen table), network outside of the office and even tackle loneliness.
And since hybrid working (where employees split their working week between home and the office) isn’t going anywhere soon, private members clubs seem to be on the rise. From the recently opened luxury Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire to the first Soho House in Manchester set to open later this year, these clubs aren’t just for sipping espresso martinis under flattering soft lighting, oh no. They’re a one-stop shop where you can jump on a Zoom meeting, indulge in a spa treatment, and then have a night out. All in one space.
The latest luxury membership to know about? Cloud 9 at Champneys.
What is the Cloud 9 membership?
A home away from home, the idea behind the Cloud 9 membership is that you can go to Champneys for a morning of remote working, or a corporate event, and then dunk in the dopamine-boosting cold plunge pool, or take a yoga class.
Merging home and working life, Cloud 9 is all about escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life and elevating your working day. I mean, who doesn’t want to answer emails while sitting by a roaring fire and then spend their lunch break lounging in the pool?
The Cloud 9 membership gives you access to every Champneys location (Tring, Forest Mere, Henlow Grange, Springs, Eastwell Manor and Mottram Hall), with no pre-booking required.
I spent the day at Champneys Tring to discover what life on Cloud 9 is really like. Here’s how I got on…
The spa
The spa at Champneys Tring is the spa that started it all. There’s a 25m swimming pool for those looking for laps, a hydro pool, a whirlpool and an outside jacuzzi. There’s a small sauna and a small steam room (but perhaps my idea of what a ‘large’ sauna looks like is slightly thwarted after recently visiting the largest spa in Northern Europe, The Well, where, in comparison, there were 10 different pools and 15 different saunas and steam baths). But the spa at Tring, while a little on the tired side, does have everything you could possibly want. Although you have to get in early for a lounger, since the day beds get taken up fast.
The treatments
This is where Champneys differs from other ‘members-only’ type clubs – because nowhere else offers quite such an extensive spa menu. With quite literally hundreds of treatments to choose from, you can take your pick of everything from tailored massages and exfoliating body treatments to algae body wraps and microneedling facials (some of which use Champneys branded skincare products).
You really can’t fault the treatments at Champneys. My massage (body radiance, 50 minutes) was up there with one of the best I’ve had – the masseuse crunched her way through my stressed shoulders, using a combination of exfoliation and oils to relax my muscles and remove any dead skin cells.
There are also specialist pregnancy massages, as well as a nail lounge, a hair salon and more holistic therapies, like acupuncture.
Worth noting: Cloud 9 club members receive four complimentary treatments each year. Plus a further 20% off any additional treatments – which are automatically scheduled with a senior therapist.
The food
Healthy, delicious, balanced eating is Champney’s food philosophy. With two or three cuisine options to choose from, lunch is a nutritious and relaxed affair (expect most guests to don bath robes and flip-flops). I go for the seared sesame-crusted tuna to start, which comes with a pickled mooli, carrot, chilli, lime and soy dressing, the baked Atlantic salmon with a butter bean cassoulet and saffron velouté for my main and a chocolate and cherry torte to finish. There’s a mix of healthy lighter options alongside some heartier (think: chicken and chickpea stew).
For Cloud 9 members, all meals are included on spa days and breaks – but if you’re just popping in to work or have a coffee, then you get 20 per cent off food and drinks.
The gym
Craving a boost of endorphins? The gym at Champneys Tring is broken up into lots of different sections – there’s the newly refurbed ‘Uban Gym’, which has been kitted out with Assault bikes, free weights and spaces to stretch, and has a dedicated spin studio. There’s also a separate studio space downstairs which is used for a rotating mix of fitness, yoga and Pilates classes. Then, on top of these three spaces, there’s a fully equipped gym with treadmills and rowing machines and a small ‘workout pod’ with a couple of Peloton bikes.
What else is included?
- Cloud 9 members will be able to visit every Champneys, without having to pre-book.
- Members can invite up to 24 guests throughout the year.
- There’s also access to exclusive member-only wellness events – from nutrition talks to flower arranging, and barbecues to crafting workshops.
- Plus, Cloud 9 members will receive exclusive member-only discounts, including 20% off selected Champneys treatments, dining experiences, and Champneys products. As well as 15% off meeting room hire.
Go on then, how can I join?
The Cloud 9 membership can be requested online via the Champneys website and is available on an annual basis, with prices starting from £1,777, depending on location.
For more information or to experience life on Cloud 9, visit champneys.com
