I’m soaking in a hot tub in Prague, but it’s not water that’s bubbling all around me – I’m wallowing in warm beer.
Having a soak in the Czech Republic’s capital takes on a different meaning at Chateaux Spa Beerland, where guests submerge themselves in 1,000 litres of Krusovice beer mixed with extracts including yeast, hops and malt.
Chateaux Spa Beerland, the world’s first dedicated beer spa, was founded in 1981 when Prague was still in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia.
And today the spa and its accompanying hotel are going stronger than ever, tucked away in the old town.
It now has six branches – two in Prague and one each in Karlovy Vary, Pilsen, Marienbad and Franzensbad.
The other one in Prague opened three years ago, making history (in the admittedly rather small world of beer spas) by becoming the world’s first official five-star beer spa, complete with state-of-the-art beer hot tubs and sauna.
Such has been Chateaux Spa Beerland’s success that rival operations have been popping up in Poland, France and Iceland.
As I arrive at Chateaux Spa Beerland, on a charming cobbled street of pastel-coloured 17th-century houses, I’m welcomed by hostesses Ivanka and Viktoria.
Wasting no time, they pour me a glass of draft Krusovice accompanied by delicious freshly baked beer bread. Things are already looking up.
The Mail’s Harry Dougherty settles into a boozy bath on his visit to the world’s first beer spa, in Prague, Czechia
Chateaux Spa Beerland, the world’s first dedicated beer spa, was founded in 1981 when Prague was still in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia
Chateaux Spa Beerland is found on a ‘charming cobbled street of pastel-coloured 17th century houses’, says Harry
In the lobby there’s a two-tap beer fountain providing free light and dark beer. These beers, the hostesses advise, go well mixed together – and indeed they do.
The hotel’s official name is At The Golden Pear, with four rooms named after Rudolf II (the Holy Roman Emperor), and the 16th century astronomers Brahe, Kepler and Kopernik (Copernicus).
My suite features a king-sized bed, antiques, plus an oil painting of ‘Good’ King Wenceslas and St Vitus.
Beer spa robes are provided and the wifi password is: DrinkMoreBeer.
The spa is in the cellar. Here oak tubs are filled with beer, yeast, hops and malt, and the bubbles turned on.
I’m told that the yeast – high in vitamin B and enzymes – aids skin regeneration.
Jazz plays amid the sound of gurgling bubbles. Beside the tub are two beer taps serving unlimited free Krusovice beer. Glasses are provided, as is more beer bread.
Drinking from the bath itself is not recommended.
The hotel’s official name is At The Golden Pear, with four rooms named after Rudolf II (the Holy Roman Emperor), and the 16th century astronomers Brahe, Kepler and Kopernik (Copernicus)
And the tubs can comfortably accommodate two adults (though I’m travelling solo).
Surprisingly, you don’t emerge stickier than a Wetherspoons table. Instead you smell sweet and feel revitalised.
Afterwards, you relax on a bed of wheat straw covered in a cotton sheet – an enjoyable experience.
Slots have to be booked in advance. One-hour, two-hour and two-and-a-half-hour sessions are available. It is surprisingly family friendly, too, catering to children and non-drinkers with non-alcoholic beer baths and zeroper cent beer.
And the verdict? A good old soak comes highly recommended. Na zdravi (cheers)!
TRAVEL FACTS
Luton-Prague flights from £22.99 one-way (easyjet.com). Doubles At The Golden Pear from £107 with spa treatment included. The five-star beer spa is £40 an hour (beerspa-beerland.com). More information: visitczechia.com.
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