British Travel Journal | Winter 2019

A
HEALTHY GUT EQUALS
a healthy mind. They're
connected - it's simple, look
after your gut - and it will look
after you”, explains Kate. It’s day one and
I’m having my introductory consultation
with one of the integral members of the
small, but fullhearted, team.
We're sitting in the consultation room
of a large and characterful country
home (come wellness business), located
in rural Sussex, named Alliblasters - an
old French term for crossbowman,
believed to stem back to the Normans
and named after William Le Alblaster
(1279). This impressive property is
owned and family-run by Vivien Kay and
daughter Caroline, who together with
the help from Kate and Carolyn, (and
occasionally dog Poppy) have spent a
decade mastering their secret winning
formula that results in guests dancing
their way out of the door by the end of
their detox plan.
I’ve not been here long, just enough
time to check-in and to see my room (a
deluxe double), suitably equipped and
tastefully furnished, and I’m surprised
by just how homely it feels - the house is
elegantly decorated, full of colour and
character, with high ceilings and a grand
staircase. Photos, books, DVDs and
elegant travel ornaments and souvenirs,
line the book shelves and table tops in
every room and corridor, giving guests
an insight into Vivien’s intrepid worldtravels.
She is one of a family-generation
of healers and herbalists, and has worked
with shaman in countries including Peru,
Canada, Mexico and Egypt.
Kate takes my blood, weighs me, and
chats to me generally about my physical
and mental wellbeing. People come here
for many different reasons; it’s a celebrity
favourite for keeping the weight off,
others come for a general cleanse, some
more for the emotional or shamanic
healing therapies. I am here just in search
of a kick-start to a healthier lifestyle.
It’s simple, or at least that’s what I
thought - a few spa treatments, some
juice, cut out my caffeine and sugar
intake, what could be so hard about
that? Other than owning a Nutri-bullet I
know very little about the detox journey
I am about to take. I head back to my
room with my treatment itinerary in
hand, keen to research more into Colonic
Hydrotherapy and Manual Lymphatic
Drainage.
I make my way down to the lounge
before my first treatment; Outer Glow
Body Scrub. It is easy to relax here.
However, I am still struggling to allow
myself to. As I am sure most of you will
relate to, I’m so used to being on-thego,
juggling both family and work life,
deadlines, meetings, emails (mostly
coffee-fuelled), that I am feeling guilty,
and slightly uneasy, at doing so little.
I look out of the window and it helps,
the uninterrupted views of the South
Downs and beautifully kept English
gardens are a world away from my usual
daily routines. Guests are asked to refrain
from using their phones, laptops and
other devices in guest areas, (although
there’s wifi in the bedrooms) and this
'out of sight out of mind' digital-detox
approach doesn’t take long to have a
positive effect.
Therapist Kate works wonders on
me - feeling much more relaxed I head to
the dining room wrapped up in my fluffy
dressing gown and slippers ready to meet
the other guests and enjoy a fresh juice.
I am in great company. There’s a
scientist, musician, doctor, actor and
owner of a top London talent agency.
We hit it off, there’s lots of laughter and
many share their stories having been
here several times before. à
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