Champneys Tring, the historic spa that introduced the concepts of 'health farm' and 'wellness' to the public in the 1920s, is grappling with an unexpected trend: an increasing number of guests are reportedly dining and dashing without settling their bills. Founded by eccentric health enthusiast Stanley Lief, the spa has hosted celebrities like Princess Diana, Kylie Minogue, Brad Pitt, and Daniel Craig. However, this trendsetter now finds itself reacting to a craze it never wanted to lead.
Rise in Non-Payment Incidents
Staff have observed that more visitors enjoying luxury treatments, typically costing £100 or more, are brazenly leaving without paying. Traditionally, the £345-per-night resort operates on a cashless trust system: guests receive white towelling robes and flip-flops upon check-in, are discouraged from using mobile phones in public areas, and simply provide their room number for meals or treatments. Day visitors request a bill. But an insider at the Hertfordshire resort, which celebrated its centenary last year, says an increasing number of diners in the gourmet restaurant are departing without payment.
The situation has become so problematic that waiting staff have been instructed to collect payment at the table before guests leave. One source told The Mail on Sunday: 'More and more people are sitting down, eating and drinking, and then just walking off. Traditionally, as some guests have meals included in their stay and others don't, or some are day visitors, we rely on honesty. Now we have many who just walk off. It's become such a problem that all waiting staff have been briefed to ask for payment for dinner at the end of the meal, which can be embarrassing. I've read about the shoplifting epidemic, but I didn't think it would happen here.'
Guests Surprised by Upfront Payment Requests
One couple dining last week and ordering a bottle of champagne were astonished to be asked to 'pay as they went along' for their drinks. A regular guest recounted: 'I was asked to settle up for the wine at dinner rather than put it on my room number. That has never happened before, and I was really taken aback. I didn't have any money on me, so they just had to trust me. Then I saw guests ordering champagne who were asked to pay there and then. They seemed surprised but accepted it. I was astonished—I've never seen that here before, in fact, I have never seen anyone in a restaurant asked to pay for drinks as they go along! It seems the 'dine and dash' problem has even spread to Champneys.'
Treatments Also Affected
Guests having luxury spa treatments are now also asked to pay immediately, no longer allowed to charge to their rooms. A beauty therapist admitted staff have been told to request payment right after treatments because 'so many people just nip off as soon as they can or even give the wrong room number' to avoid paying.
Champneys Response
A Champneys spokesperson said: 'As with many businesses across the hospitality and retail sectors, we occasionally experience isolated incidents of non-payment or theft, though these remain rare and very much the exception rather than the norm. Naturally, we have sensible operational measures in place to minimise any loss to the business. However, these are always handled discreetly and thoughtfully, ensuring they remain aligned with the premium, customer-focused experience Champneys is known for.'
History of Champneys
Stanley Lief, a naturopath, opened a health farm called the Nature Cure Resort in 1925 before buying the Champneys property from the Rothschilds and developing it into a health and wellness destination. The property was purchased by Stephen Purdew in 2002, who already owned three other spa resorts, all rebranded under the Champneys name. Purdew's mother, Dorothy, began their empire in 1970 with a slimming business named WeightGuard, which had over 70 clubs in the South East of England. She and her husband then bought Henlow Grange, a spa resort still run by the Purdews today. Celebrity guests include Naomi Campbell, Kylie Minogue, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Daniel Craig, and Brad Pitt.
