How we fell in love with a 'Countesa'

by George and Susan Shillito, Sutton Coldfield (in retirement 2015)

The first hot day of the year, March 2015, and it was too hot to lay out in loungers in our garden writes George. The whole of our back garden is in full sun from 10.30am to dusk.

Our first thoughts were that perhaps we should install a large paddling pool for when our grandchildren visit and that we could also lounge in on very hot days.

Sue remarked that she had seen 'inflatable spa's for sale at discounted prices. We read a number of reviews on inflatable spa' with a number of reviewers saying that they are 'bulky to store' and never pack down to the box size in which they were delivered. Others also commented 'OK for the first year' but on opening up the second year, air leaks needed to be repaired before being the spa could be put into use.

Our thinking quickly changed and we decided that we needed something that suited US and would also be available for the families and grandchildren (8 off) when they visited.

We were only a couple of days away from Easter weekend and opted to use our weekend both visiting Spa / Hot Tub suppliers and doing 'on line' research.

We quickly found the web site of Hot Tub Suppliers of Leicester. Not only were we impressed by their website and range of Spa's available and the prices of their Spa's we considered to be extremely good value for money.  Bearing in mind in no more than 5 days our 'project had grown from a 'a paddling pool for the grandchildren to an now 'adult Hot Tub Spa'.

We were emailed Arun at Hottubsuppliers during the evening of Easter Monday and were impressed to receive his return call by 9.00am the following morning. We expressed our interest in the 'Countesa' to Arun who explained that he would be over at their warehouse that morning showing another potential Countesa buyer the Spa. By midday we were also in Leicester viewer 'the Countesa' ourselves.

There was no pressure from Arun, no hard sell and he answered all our questions that we were able to put to him.

He explained that there was a shipment of Hot Tub due mid may. Our chosen colours were 'pebble grey / white interior housed in grey base. Our luck was in as there was a 'Countesa' to that spec due in the May shipment.

 We already had a weeks holiday planned and we opted to lay a substantial concrete base for our spa so a late May / early June was a very acceptable delivery promise.

Dealing with Arun and his team at Hottubsuppliers was totally hassle free, with plenty of advice given and gratefully accepted by Sue and myself.

The deal with Hottubsuppliers was done within 1 week of of that blazing March afternoon in our back garden.

So Why Countesa ?

Price  -  prices quoted from a UK major supplier would have immediately killed our project.

1 lounger and 4 other seats, suited our requirements. It is worth noting that you can actually 'lounge or lay full length' in 2 additional seats in the 'Countesa'.

23 Jets – This I thought was ample knowing full well that for the majority of the time there would be no more than 2 of us in the Spa at anytime.

 We installed a Cantilever Parasol to swing over out Hot Tub or over loungers table and chairs for alfresco dinning as required. These parasols are only  for use in non or light breeze conditions, so we had a rethink on parasol.

Being in retirement we are fortunate to be able to use our Countesa at any time or in any weather conditions. We like to make the most of our sunny garden so decided not to enclose our spa in its own enclosure.

We looked at a number of Gazebo's all of which manufacturers stress are not to be considered as permanent structures and not suitable for use in strong winds. I was impressed with the construction and steelwork of the Rowlinson BBQ Gazebo's on sale at our B and Q at £126 (over 60's day £113)

I bought 2 of these, more for the steelwork than for the fabric. Longer term, depending on how long the fabric lasts, I am considering building a single solid, shingle tiles or polycarbonate roof over the framework of the 2 gazebo.

This years project has been the Hot Tub Spa.

Last year years project was the 'astro turf' lawn and replaced our fish pond.

The previous years project was covering over our 6m x 3 m patio.

Next year we intend to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labours.

Thank-you Arun and your Hottubsuppliers team.

George & Sue ordered the Countesa in pebble grey with steel grey cabinet