Plans to install external ice baths, a sauna, hot tub and changing rooms at Holm House in Penarth have been approved by Vale of Glamorgan Council.
During its life as a boutique hotel, Holm House had stars such as Harry Styles, Daniel Craig, Tyson Fury, and David Hasselhof staying there.
It closed in 2024 due to the impact of Covid and the cost of living crisis.
Holm House reopened in 2025 with popular restaurant Silures setting up at the site, which is now described as a luxury retreat.
Planning documents propose the instillation of enhanced spa facilities in the rear seating area of the hotel comprising of external ice baths, sauna, hot tub, changing facility and associated plant ancillary to existing hotel operations.
The proposed site plan also shows additional screen planting which would provide a degree of separation and privacy between these external spa facilities and the main seating area to the rear of the hotel.
The planned “outdoor wellness area” is planned to have a maximum occupancy of six users at any one time, with proposed hours of 09:00 to 20:00 Monday through Saturdays and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sundays and bank holidays.
These external spa facilities are not expected to result in any “undue noise and disturbance” over and above the use of the outdoor dining and seating areas by hotel and restaurant guests.
It was recognised that the hot tub does generate a degree of noise from the pumps, and the ice baths from the chillers and pumps, but their siting means they are not considered to result in any unacceptable impact on nearby residential amenities.
The structures themselves, whilst located in close proximity to the part of the garden located to the south serving New Skomer, would not unacceptably impact on the outlook from the adjacent occupiers garden.
The application reads that the development has been “carefully designed” to be both “visually attractive” and “clearly functional”, which is suitable for Holm House’s operation as a “high-quality hospitality and leisure offering.”
