Nestled at the foot of the Cheviot Hills, Breamish Valley Cottages has taken its offering to new heights by launching a new luxury spa following support from The Cumberland Building Society.
The stunning new spa, which saw almost £700K investment with The Cumberland providing £300K of the financing, is designed to deliver a holistic approach to relaxation, serving as a wedding venue while catering for holidaying families and gym members.
Building on Breamish Valley Cottages’ offering of unique luxury cottages, a high-quality restaurant and recreational facilities, the spa will provide an economic boost to the surrounding area, driving tourism to the local hamlet of Branton, and delivering job creation for local residents.
The newly opened spa features two treatment rooms, an outdoor tiled spa, sauna, ice bath, float room and a full modernisation of the existing fitness facilities, and changing areas.
Peter Moralee, who runs Breamish Valley Cottages with his wife Kim, invested in the new spa with a view to create a holiday destination that will encourage tourism to the area.
“We’re not on the coastline, but we’ve found that families come here, and they don’t need to go anywhere else because they have everything they need,” he said.
“We wanted to build upon this and with the spa we’ve enhanced the aesthetics and created a tranquil space that complements the natural beauty of Breamish Valley.”
Breamish Valley Cottages, which employs 20 people and accommodates up to 60 guests on-site, is located in the scenic Northumberland National Park, providing an ideal base for exploring historic castles, engaging in outdoor activities, and enjoying the peace of the countryside.
A family-run business which has spanned two generations, Breamish Valley Cottages has grown to become one of Northumberland’s premier tourist destinations.
Established in 1993, Breamish Valley Cottages began as a collection of holiday cottages and has steadily grown under the stewardship of Peter and Kim, who took over the reins from his parents, Peter Snr and Michele.
Now hosting 12 cottages on site, the business has expanded its amenities to include a heated swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, and now, the new state-of-the-art spa to deliver memorable experiences.
The Cumberland, which implements a Kinder Banking approach which puts people at the heart of what they do, has had a relationship with Peter dating back to 2018, with the building society providing refinancing for the development of The Bosk restaurant on the site.
Offering locally sourced food in a relaxing atmosphere for guests, the restaurant enabled Breamish Valley Cottages to cater for weddings and deliver bed and breakfast services.
Following its success, Peter secured further refinancing with The Cumberland to create the spa at the venue.
Peter said: “With both projects The Cumberland have supported us to expand our offering and create a destination which will attract visitors.
“Northumberland is a breath-taking place. Whether it’s looking around historical castles, finding hidden gardens, or viewing the beautiful countryside, we’re thrilled to encourage people to the area and The Cumberland has helped make this possible.”
He added: “We’ve been with the Cumberland for seven years and they have always been supportive and have never been restrictive.
“Even during the pandemic, they offered us a mortgage holiday to alleviate the pressure and looked after us as much as possible.”
Stuart McNaughton, Commercial Relationship Manager at The Cumberland, who works closely with Peter, said: “Breamish Valley Cottages is more than just a place to stay, it’s a place which offers something for everyone.
“Whether it’s providing luxury accommodation, hosting weddings, relaxed dining experiences, or weekend breaks, guests have everything they need.
“Everyone at Breamish Valley Cottages holds ambitions to grow the business, with the new spa being the latest step in making it a must-visit destination. We were thrilled to support them in this project.”
As well as providing traditional stone-built cottages for relaxation, Breamish Valley Cottages also provides a football pitch, disc golf, and putting green, as well as a games room complete with pool, table tennis and air hockey and soft play.
Meanwhile, for those looking to explore, Peter Snr has created a selection of walks which cater for all abilities, enabling guests to take in the breathtaking scenery of the Northumberland countryside.
Publisher of Hospitality and Leisure News, 365 Retail, Retail Source and organiser of the Creative Retail Awards.
