Occasional Digest - a story for you

THIS former pub has had a serious glow-up, says Senior Writer Donna Smiley.

Spa stays for two cost from £270 B&B (Ffolkes.org.uk).

Blow away any hangovers with a walk on nearby Snettisham Beach in NorfolkCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
Ffolkespa, at former coaching inn Ffolkes, is a vibe and a halfCredit: DANIELLA SELF

THE LOWDOWN

Set in the sleepy village of Hillingdon, Ffolkespa, at former coaching inn Ffolkes, is a vibe and a half.

Think bold splashes of colour, neon lights, disco balls and graffiti-decorated crazy golf.

Want Ibiza feels? You’ve got them.

WHAT WE LOVED

The rooms are well equipped with super-king beds and a smart TV that swivels from bed to bath tubCredit: DANIELLA SELF

Aside from the super-king beds, a smart TV that swivels from bed to bath tub (which is big enough for two, btw), home-made shortbread cookies, a drench shower and Templespa toiletries, our fave thing was our room’s door straight into the spa, which gave us Narnia feels, too.

WAIL OF A TIME

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Talking of the spa, the giant hot tub complete with a bar made us feel like we were on our hols while sipping Revitalise smoothies of avocado, mango, spinach, broccoli, coconut, lime and ginger, £5.50, quickly followed by Hugo Spritzes, £10.

We were also big fans of the aroma steam room and the pre-steam salt scrubs, which left us with baby-soft skin for days.

Group sauna rituals featuring storytelling and scents hosted by a “sauna master” are quirky, £10 per person, and the “disco” toilets, where a smoke machine, flashing lights and loud tunes turn on at the press of a button are also very fun.

Most importantly, the My Kinda Skin facial, £80 for 45 minutes, left me glowing, and the afternoon street tea, £27.50 per person, is legendary, too, with cheeseburger sausage rolls, choc-chip scones, plus jalapeño and cheese scones with chilli butter.

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Street-food traders take over come evening – we tucked into outstanding (and huge) onion, potato and kale bhajis topped with yoghurt, tamarind and pomegranate, £8, and beef keema roti kebabs with masala fries and a dal dip, £16.50.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LOVE

Enjoy tea time vibes at FfolkesCredit: Supplied by PR

The coffee pod machines at breakfast were disappointing when all we craved was a proper barista hit.

What’s more, the poached eggs were made to order, but still a bit rubbery.

OUT & ABOUT

Snettisham Beach is a natural haven for an array of wading birdsCredit: Shutterstock / tony mills

Blow away any hangovers with a walk on nearby Snettisham Beach, which is a natural haven for an array of wading birds (Rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/snettisham).

Follow it up with a chip butty at Snettisham Beach Fish And Chip Shop, £2.70.

Or hand-feed the beautiful red deer on a safari among the herd of more than 60 at lush Snettisham Park.

There are plenty of farm animals to visit on the 329-acre site, too.

Tickets cost £21 (Snettishampark.co.uk).

Norfolk Lavender in Heacham is equally close, with around 100 acres of peaceful gardens, not forgetting a cracking lavender sponge cake, £4.95 a slice (Norfolk-lavender.co.uk).

As is the historic town of King’s Lynn – follow its Maritime Trail from cobbled lanes to the Great Ouse river.

After working up an appetite, Mem’s Kitchen on Market Place serves delicious spinach and feta filo parcels, £7.95, and a super seafood casserole with calamari, mussels, king prawns, baby prawns and salmon, £20.95.

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XMAS SPIRIT

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Don’t miss the apricot, apple and almond crumble, £7.95 (Memskitchen.co.uk).

THE DAMAGE?

Spa stays for two cost from £270 B&B (Ffolkes.org.uk).

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