Ragdale Hall celebrates 35 healthy years in business!

In June 1973 Ragdale Hall first opened it’s doors as a health hydro. The Hall had been purchased the previous year by Slimming Magazine to open as a retreat for their thriving slimming club business.

A local paper at the time reported: “Ragdale Hall to become a slimming hydro”.

The Hall in 1975

“One of Leicestershire’s famous old houses is being converted into a slimming hydro for women. The object of the hydro is helping guests to lose weight during their stay and to offer them guidance towards a permanent solution to their weight problems. The cost of a week’s stay will be £60 – £70”. 

Those were the days!!..... advertising at the time promised – “a staff of eighty (now nearly 500!) to look after your every comfort….. Gentle jogging, exercise and yoga sessions, together with the clean fresh air of Leicestershire – will act like a tonic and help you sleep like a baby”.

And the supply of food was certainly not what it is now…….

“The guests are allowed only 500 calories for the first three days, going up to 750 and for the last two days, a liberal 1000”. A spokeswomen said “few people seemed to feel hungry on the diet and guests were free to leave the building whenever they wanted”!!

The multi award winning Ragdale Hall of 2008 is a far cry from this – guests enjoy deliciously healthy food, luxurious surroundings, state of the art holistic therapies and most recently the much acclaimed new Thermal Spa. Opened in November 2007, it features a Candle Pool, indoor and outdoor Waterfall Pool, both heated to 34oC, and a series of heat and water experiences.

Privately owned for the last eighteen years Ragdale is able to continually develop and evolve, always listening to the needs and desires of its loyal guests. Plans for refurbishments and further enhancements to the facilities and services on offer, are always top of the agenda.

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