Latest news with #Tring
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
How Champneys made us fall in love with spa hotels
A wooden paddle, ice cold facial roller, essential oils and sips of warm lemon water are all key components of Champneys' latest treatment, the '100 Years Face & Body Reset'. I instantly felt the benefits: energised legs, tighter skin and shoulder knots eased. My pampering took place at the original Champneys in Tring, Hertfordshire and was inspired by the spa's century-old treatment back catalogue which neatly combines nostalgia with cutting edge, much like the hotel itself where white robes, dance classes and detoxes are offered alongside of-the-moment cryotherapy and vitamin IV drips. I suspect it's one of the reasons the brand has survived for so long on the wellbeing scene – there's something for everyone. When Champneys first opened in 1925, there was nothing else like it in the UK. Established by Latvian wellbeing pioneer Stanley Leif, his Nature Cure Resort set in 170 acres was aimed at customers open-minded and wealthy enough to invest in holistic self-care that found the root cause of ailments rather than merely treating the symptoms. Guests, once described as 'starved, irrigated and beaten, but for a good cause,' would detox for weeks on warm lemon water and little else at the red brick mansion house, while taking part in immune-boosting treatments like hot and cold plunges (sound familiar?), combined with stretching and walks in the open air. In the 1970s global spa specialists Tanya Wheway and her late husband Allan were invited to manage Champneys, successfully transforming the brand from elitist holistic bootcamp to healthy holiday for all. In a time before mental health was front and centre, the decision to provide Lifestyle Consultants (psychologists) alongside fitness experts and dieticians was pioneering. 'What you're eating's important, but more important is what's eating you,' was Allan's mantra, says Tanya, who was also behind world-famous spa Chiva Som in Thailand. A star-studded era followed its purchase in 2002 by Stephen Purdew and his late mother Dorothy (or Mrs P as she was affectionately known by employees), who also owned three spa resorts which were rebranded under the Champneys name. Sporting heroes such as Frank Bruno and George Best would pop in for a sauna while super models and movie stars including Naomi Campbell, Barbara Streisand and Brad Pitt also donned a white robe. Its most famous guest, however, was Princess Diana – though staff remained discreet about the details of her visit, says Wheway. Fast-forward to today and the headline-making A-list visits of the early 2000s are a distant memory, with the average Champneys guest more likely to be working in accounts than Hollywood. The UK spa scene has radically altered too. Lemon water detoxes and Mr Motivator-esque fitness classes have long been relegated to spa room 101. Guests now tend to visit for a day or overnight stay rather than weeks and the vast majority are women compared to a century ago when it was men who were more likely to sign up for the Nature Cure. However, it's notable how many popular treatments today have their origins in the last century. 'It's gone full circle,' agrees Champneys' Wellbeing Director Louise Day, who says that the benefits of breathwork, for example, were recognised by Stanley Leif 100 years ago and are once again featuring heavily on spa programmes. Day has been with the company for decades and seen the fitness offer change organically from the 'feel the burn' era of Jane Fonda-style classes to the launch of bootcamps, PT sessions and strength training. She says guests are more focused on variety and personalisation, with mobility and HITT classes now part of the mix. According to Innovation Director Kate Taylor, Gen Z are the most clued-up generation health-wise thanks to social media, with most understanding that if 80 per cent of your wellbeing comes from lifestyle choices and just 20 per cent from genes, it's vital to start educating and looking after yourself way before the 35 years marker – the age your body officially starts to deteriorate. Gulp. Consequently, longevity and lifestyle are current buzz words in the spa world which Taylor believes will help shape wellness over the next 10 years. In response, Champneys is rolling out more retreats than ever before (up to 200), covering everything from detoxing and the menopause to the slightly more woo: a 'Twilight Moon Manifesting' retreat and 'Wim Hof Fundamentals' getaway. Taylor says research shows that poor sleep health is a concern that spans the generations from boomers to Millennials, so retreats to help guests get some shut eye are an important offer. And in an era when technology is threatening to impose on all areas of life, it's interesting to learn that Champneys' Group Spa Director Laura Sheridan is a big believer in digital detoxing and thinks human touch will become 'ever more important' to guests feeling increasingly isolated in a high-tech world. It's safe to say there's no danger of robots taking over the massage treatments at Tring just yet. Champneys clearly won't be hanging up its white slippers any time soon, with a new spa in Marbella scheduled to open this year, which will sit alongside the existing four spa resorts (Tring, Forest Mere, Henlow and Springs), two hotels and two city spas. Its challenge is to remain relevant at a time when there are more luxurious UK spa hotels than ever before and to meet the demands of guests expecting results in record time. Amanda Statham travelled as a guest of Champneys Tring, which offers doubles from £140.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Edwin Rist's Bizarre Feather Heist
Edwin Rist was a prodigal flautist and a legend within the fly-tying community. After moving to London to focus on his musical career, Rist took his obsession with exotic feathers and rare birds to a new level. In 2009, Rist broke into the British Natural History Museum at Tring, stealing over 200 exotic bird skins. Yet despite being only an amateur burglar, Rist was able to evade capture for over a year. Author Kirk Johnson heard about the bizarre heist from within the fly fishing community, and took it upon himself to uncover the full story, detailing its significance in his book, The Feather Thief . Follow Emily on Instagram: @realemilycompagno If you have a story or topic we should feature on the FOX True Crime Podcast, send us an email at: truecrimepodcast@ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sheridan Smith enjoys fun-filled camping trip to celebrate son Billy's birthday with male friend George Kett and her family
Sheridan Smith looked relaxed and happy as she spent time with her male friend and family during a weekend camping trip for her son's birthday. The English actress, 43, took her five-year-old son Billy on a birthday trip and invited George Kett, 38, to join her family members for some leisure time. She shared pictures of her group as they sat round a camp fire to her Instagram and told followers: 'Great camping weekend with Mum, Aunty Lynda, Ellen, @nickie85 @georgekett and the birthday boy himself! Billy. Can't believe he's..5'. In one picture Billy, who she welcomed with former fiancé Jamie Horn, enjoyed a drink as he stood beside Sheridan's mum Marilyn, while Sheridan and George stood together smiling at the back of the picture in matching tracksuit bottoms. In another photo the Cilla star hugged and kissed her son after lighting his football-themed cake, while George cheered and clapped while leading a chorus of Happy Birthday. Captioning the sweet clip, Sheridan wrote: 'Weather was a bit windy but the campsite all joined in singing for him!' She added: 'Hill Farm campsite in Tring was amazing! Thanks @ coming for our last night!' and quipped: 'Please excuse my attire'. In the last snap, she and George sat with their family and friends on fold up chairs giving a thumbs up, while the birthday boy held his arms out for the camera. Sheridan gushed: 'Amazing weekend! Now back to work! Hope everyone had a a great bank holiday.' She has been hard at work in recent weeks has filming new BBC One drama The Cage in Liverpool with Michael Socha. The drama follows Sheridan's character Leanne, and Matty - played by Michael - who discover they are both robbing from the safe at the inner-city casino they work in. The five-part series was written and created by BAFTA nominated Tony Schumacher (The Responder) and will be directed by Al Mackay (Kidnapped, Without Sin). Tony teased: 'I'm hoping people will find it funny, dark but, most of all, full of love, life and entertainment. I can't wait for the world to see it.' The new role comes after it was revealed that Sheridan had indefinitely shelved her long-awaited autobiography, Honestly. Announced in 2021, the tell-all book was intended to explore the actress's darkest moments, including her battles with alcohol, mental health struggles and high-profile relationships, such as those with actor James Corden and Jamie Horn, the father of her son. However, after multiple delays, the project has been cancelled. A source revealed to The Sun: 'Sheridan has had a busy few years and didn't have time to put the finishing touches to the book. 'Her mindset is different now, and she doesn't want this version to come out. She felt unsure whether she wants to put all of her life on pages for everyone to read.' This decision came as no surprise to fans familiar with The Huntsman performer's long-standing struggles. In 2016, the actress faced a highly publicised breakdown while starring in the West End production of Funny Girl. Stress, exhaustion and her father's cancer diagnosis compounded her mental health issues, forcing her to take a hiatus from the show. Reflecting on that period, Sheridan admitted: 'I was very ashamed of that time in my life. I went off the rails a bit, dated all the wrong people... I feel like I'm a mum now, and I'm very grateful for everything I've got. I feel like the best is yet to come.' The BAFTA-winning actress has never shied away from discussing her mental health battles, often tying them to the pressures of fame and loss. Her father's death in 2016 profoundly affected her, leading to an extended period of grief. 'The public always stood by me... People were stopping me and cuddling me on the street,' she shared in a recent interview, expressing gratitude for the understanding she received during that time.
