Silverlake Launches New Firefly Spa & Restaurant

On the 1st of August 2026, Silverlake, Dorset, part of Habitat First Group - will launch its new luxury outdoor spa experience, bringing together wild swimming, thermal wellness and deep nature immersion. Set on the edge of the Jurassic Coast, it reflects the rising demand for experience-led UK staycations, where landscape, wellbeing and outdoor living shape how people choose to travel. Firefly Spa and Restaurant marks a new chapter for the destination, strengthening its long-term vision of sustainability and nature-led living, and will welcome guests, homeowners and local members alike.

At the heart of the spa is a 25-metre heated outdoor pool, alongside a sauna, cold plunge, treatment rooms and designated wild swimming areas, all positioned to encourage guests to fully embrace the surrounding landscape. Wellness experiences will be available across morning, afternoon and twilight sessions, with twilight experiences incorporating stargazing beneath Dorset's dark skies. A relaxation yurt, a rarely seen concept in UK spa design, will provide a peaceful post-treatment space inspired by the natural rhythms of the outdoors. Complementing the wider wellness experience, guests will also have access to lakeside dining at the restaurant, Silverlake's new restaurant overlooking the water, which offers a thoughtfully curated menu centred on nutrition, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Red Paxton, CEO, Habitat First Group, said: "Demand for wellness experiences that feel genuinely restorative and connected to nature continues to grow, particularly as more travellers seek slower, outdoor-led escapes closer to home. Firefly Spa represents our largest investment across Habitat First Group to date and marks an important milestone in the estate's long-term evolution. We wanted to create something that feels entirely different from a traditional spa experience - somewhere guests move between lake water, heat, cold therapy and open skies, leaving guests feeling both invigorated and deeply restored."

With the UK wellness tourism market forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% between 2026 and 2035, The Firefly Spa reflects wider shifts towards restorative, closer-to-home escapes and increasing demand for experiences based around wellbeing, outdoor living and connection to nature. Set amongst Silverlake's lakes, woodland and heathlands, the spa has been designed to offer a distinctly different approach to traditional wellness experiences.

Devised around the concept of 'wilderness wellness', it combines outdoor heat and cold therapy, wild swimming, waterside relaxation and nature-focused treatments with a relaxed sense of barefoot luxury.

With a partnership confirmed with leading wellness brand ESPA, a treatment menu has been developed specifically for Silverlake spa's, combining accessible luxury with therapies inspired by the estate's wild surroundings. Signature treatments will include the ESPA Natural Face Lift and ESPA Instant Renewal Cryo Facial, alongside a range of bespoke wellness experiences designed to promote relaxation and restoration. Guests will also experience curated sensory elements throughout the spa, including soundscapes inspired by birdsong, rainfall and woodland winds, designed to deepen the feeling of escapism and calm, while having the opportunity to purchase ESPA products to continue the spa experience at home.

Abi Selby, Firefly Spa Strategist, said:" We wanted to create something that feels genuinely different from a traditional spa experience; somewhere that embraces the wild beauty of the landscape while still delivering comfort, calm and a sense of escape. The Firefly Spa's unique lakeside setting allows guests to feel immersed in nature, surrounded by water, open skies and ever-changing views. By blurring the boundary between inside and outside, we've created a space where guests can slow down, reconnect with the environment and experience the restorative power of the landscape."

The Firefly restaurant sits alongside the spa, overlooking ten acres of Firefly Lake and a 25-metre outdoor pool, and has been designed to complement the estate's broader wellness offering. Led by Chef Patron Paul Clarke, a Two AA Rosette-awarded chef and Taste of the West Gold Medalist, the restaurant champions seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and a menu inspired by its Dorset surroundings, with dishes including Portland crab crumpet with smoked paprika mayonnaise, pickled fennel and endive, alongside Lyme Bay mussels served in a Thai coconut and lemongrass broth with garlic sourdough and fries.

Reflecting the estate's proximity to the coast, fresh fish and shellfish sourced locally will feature prominently, alongside family favourites crafted with the same commitment to provenance and quality. Designed by award-winning interior designer Lisa Helmanis, the restaurant opens onto a lakeside veranda at the water's edge, creating a relaxed setting for long lunches, sunset dinners and wellness-led refreshments inspired by the surrounding landscape.

Beyond the spa itself, guests will have access to a diverse programme of nature-led wellness experiences designed to make the most of Silverlake's unique lakeside setting. Experiences available from launch will include cold plunge and breathwork sessions, sunrise and sunset lake swimming, paddleboard yoga, outdoor personal training, sauna rituals, forest bathing and guided floating mindfulness sessions, alongside access to the estate's 10-acre lake. Wellness talks covering topics such as menopause and holistic wellbeing will further enhance the offering, creating an inclusive space for all ages and lifestyles. Children are also welcome, reinforcing a relaxed and accessible approach to wellness, with all facilities designed on a single level with wheelchair access and disabled parking.

Looking ahead, a second phase of the wellness offering is planned for 2027 and will include a dedicated gym, further expanding the estate's health and fitness facilities. Three 22kW electric vehicle chargers are also being installed on site, supporting more sustainable travel and the needs of modern guests.

Developed by Habitat First Group, Silverlake is known for its design-led architecture, ecological restoration and low-impact living, with sustainability central to its vision. The estate holds Building with Nature Gold accreditation and supports habitats including otters, osprey, dormice and sika deer.

Designed to feel restorative rather than prescriptive, The Firefly Spa marks the next evolution of a nature-led destination, reflecting Habitat First Group's wider vision across its estates - from Dorset to the Cotswolds - centred on outdoor living, wellbeing and connection to nature.

For more information, visit www.silverlakedorset.com or call 0333 241 6616. Firefly Spa founding memberships start from £1,200 per year for local residents, with exclusive pricing tiers available for Silverlake homeowners. Individual memberships include one complimentary child place (under 18) as standard. Holiday let prices start from £579 for a two-night stay in a two-bedroom property at Silverlake Estate.