Ffolkes pub and hotel at Hillington set to open £2.5 million spa facilities with hot tub garden and saunas
A new spa featuring a hot tub garden, saunas and a bar pool is set to enhance guests’ experience at a business and boost local employment in West Norfolk.
Ffolkes pub and hotel in Hillington has announced its £2.5 million plans for a state-of-the-art spa facility, set to open in late summer 2025, after it received planning permission from West Norfolk Council this week.
Ffolkes Spa will be a “luxurious haven for relaxation and rejuvenation”, featuring an “extensive thermal experience” including five hot tubs, three saunas, three steam rooms, relaxation spaces, treatment rooms, and a lounge and bar, making it the “largest and best-equipped facility of its kind in Norfolk”, officials say.
According to the team at Ffolkes, the UK spa market was valued at £3.1 billion and is projected to reach £5.7 billion by 2032.
Its new spa facility is “perfectly positioned to meet this growing demand”, they say, “providing a leading wellness destination for Norfolk and East Anglia”.
A total of 12 of Ffolkes’ bedrooms will have direct access to the spa, which will complement the recently-opened spa cabins with private hot tub and sauna facilities.
It is anticipated that the development will create new jobs, including positions for reception staff, spa attendants, cleaners, and therapists.
Iain Wilson, owner of Ffolkes, said: “We are thrilled to bring this exciting new offering to Ffolkes and the Norfolk community.
“Having run a successful spa offering at The Pigs in Edgefield, since 2017, this investment demonstrates our commitment to providing top-tier spa experiences for our guests, supporting local employment, and servicing a growing demand for wellness experiences, especially in the East Anglia region.”
The 300-year-old Grade II listed coaching inn has been in its present ownership since 2017 and as of last summer £5.3million had been spent on the business - £3.5m of that in 2018 following the initial purchase and £1.8m in 2022. As of last year, the business employed 53 people, most of them living locally.
The Ffolkes has a restaurant, lounge, bar, games room, beer garden, play area and a container golf course. There are 23 bedrooms, three spa cabins, and the Stables event space with function rooms.
The new spa will provide exclusive day guest access to holders of a Norfolk Passport, a free-to-join membership programme providing exclusive perks across leading Norfolk experiences, including Pigs at Edgefield, Byfords of Holt, The Assembly House in Norwich, Shirehall Apartments in Holt, and Beachside Apartments in Sheringham.
You can find out more by visiting: https://www.norfolkpassport.com/
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