Swimming in the rain

On Saturday, a friend and I spent the day at the Lido in Clifton - hands down, one of my very favourite places in Bristol (if not the world!). I remember going as a child, when it was the much more basic 'Clifton Open Air Pool' packed with families in the summer holidays, arm bands everywhere and certainly not the luxurious lido it is now. 

We went for the full day spa package which included a treatment, use of the pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna, plus breakfast, a two-course lunch in the restaurant, and complimentary soft drinks, tea and coffee all day.

Although we were only there for the day, I felt as though I'd been on holiday for a week. Hours spent reading in the hot tub, one of the best massages I've ever had followed by an hour drinking hibiscus and coconut tea in the tea room, a swim with the rain plopping into the (surprisingly warm) water, and finally getting out of that robe and into proper clothes again in the spa boudoir - I can think of no better way to spend the day.

The facilities are incredible, but what really makes it special is the truly wonderful food. Breakfast was granola with yoghurt and fruit, with a freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice. Lunch consisted of chargrilled asparagus with garlic breadcrumbs, parmesan and toasted hazelnuts, followed by falafel with carrot and caraway salad, flat bread and pomegranate seeds. Several almond presses were consumed as well - a sort of citrusy fizz with a fragrant nutty flavour. Just amazing.

Our package allowed us to stay til ten, so it seemed churlish not to order a glass of Prosecco and some tapas for supper - bread and oil, olives, tortilla, babaganoush, roasted beetroot with broad beans and capers, syrian lentils. All, quite frankly, bloody delicious. And for pudding, a salted butter caramel ice cream. Incredible.