Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, UK has announced it has entered into a new partnership with international spa products and design company, ESPA.

It is one of the first major products to be undertaken at the spa and hotel following its rescue from administration earlier this year and represents a six-figure investment.

ESPA has teamed up with Lifehouse as part of its year-long bid to secure partnerships with UK cultural institutions and experiential brands - which includes London's Serpentine Gallery.

Spa facilities - including 35 treatment rooms and a thermal area - have remained unchanged, although it has been re-equipped to reflect ESPA's input and a retail area is also available. Babor products are no longer used in the spa.

ESPA CEO and founder Susan Harmsworth said: "We feel proud to announce our partnership with the Lifehouse Spa and Hotel, which we consider to be a unique and exciting spa situated in magnificent surroundings."

Thorpe Hall Leisure, a company owned by Donald Emslie and Peter Murphy, purchased the Lifehouse Spa and Hotel out of the administration of Tangram Leisure earlier this year.

Emslie and Murphy have assumed overall responsibility for the spa and hotel, while Brian Hunter is operations director and will oversee its day-to-day management. Stephen Carter has been appointed as non-executive director.

Speaking to Spa Opportunities, Emslie said the Lifehouse Hotel and Spa has "huge potential to be a first-class spa and hotel" and is predicting a bright future for the spa and hotel.

"Our philosophy is that Lifehouse Spa and Hotel is a place to get your life back in balance - a holistic view about how guests can use the facilities to maximum benefit," he said.

Emslie is also chair of Castle Hotel Management Company (CHMC) and had worked with the spa and hotel last year to review its progress in a consulting capacity.

An official launch of the spa, which will continue to be operated by Thorpe Hall Leisure, will take place next month (September).

Click here for more information about Lifehouse Spa and Hotel and click here for more information about CHMC's management team.

To read more about the 2010 opening of the £30m (US$46.8m, EUR38.1m) Lifehouse Spa and Hotel, see Spa Business 2011 Issue 1, p37

To read the current issue of Spa Business magazine, visit www.spabusiness.com/magazine