How the Right Hospitality Lighting Helped Transform Seaham Hall’s Serenity Spa
Lighting can have a huge influence on how a hospitality space feels.
In hotels, spas, restaurants and leisure environments, it affects more than visibility. It can shape atmosphere, guide people through a space and help create the overall experience guests remember.
That was particularly important when Seaham Hall invested £1 million in reimagining the Zen Garden at its Serenity Spa.
The aim was to create an outdoor wellness experience centred around relaxation, nature and memorable guest experiences. TEP worked closely with the team to help bring that vision to life through carefully considered lighting.
The project is a good example of why hospitality lighting needs to balance design, atmosphere and practical performance.
Why does lighting matter in hospitality environments?
Hospitality lighting has to do several jobs at once.
It needs to help guests move through a space comfortably, support the atmosphere of the venue and complement the interior or landscape design.
At the same time, it still needs to perform reliably in the environment it has been specified for.
For Seaham Hall’s Zen Garden, the lighting needed to:
support the guest experience after dark
create the right ambience for relaxation and wellbeing
complement the wider design
work across pools, landscaping, walkways and architectural details
remain suitable for a cool, wet outdoor environment
can we add in a safety element after dark – balancing the feel of transition walkways with being adequately lit for safety
This is why hospitality lighting is rarely just about choosing a fitting that looks good.
The way the lighting works across the whole space matters just as much.
What was the lighting brief for Seaham Hall’s Zen Garden?
The Zen Garden needed to feel just as considered after dark as it did during the day.
TEP worked closely with Seaham Hall to understand the intended guest journey, how the outdoor areas would be used and what kind of atmosphere the finished environment needed to create.
The aim was not simply to illuminate the space.
It was to help create a seamless experience across the pools, walkways, landscaping and architectural details.
How was the hospitality lighting solution developed?
TEP reviewed the layout, landscaping and intended guest journey to understand how the space would be experienced after dark.
From there, the project involved selecting and supplying a combination of:
LED tape
ground lights
wall lights
colour-changing fittings
floodlighting
These different lighting effects were layered across the site to create a more seamless, atmospheric finish.
Each fitting also had to complement the wider aesthetic while remaining suitable for use in the spa’s outdoor environment.
Why is layered lighting important in hospitality?
Hospitality spaces often need more than one type of light.
Different layers can help define areas, highlight features and create a more considered overall environment.
For the Zen Garden, the lighting needed to bring together several different elements of the space rather than treating each area separately.
That meant using different fittings and lighting effects to support:
pools
walkways
landscaping
architectural details
evening and twilight experiences
The finished result was designed to feel cohesive, rather than like a collection of individual light sources.
How did the lighting support the guest experience?
The completed Zen Garden has helped Seaham Hall create a distinctive new experience within Serenity Spa.
The lighting now brings the space to life after dark and supports the spa’s Golden Hour Twilight Series and wider evening experiences.
The finished environment creates a blend of relaxation, nature and visual impact, while the new experience strengthens Serenity Spa’s appeal as a destination for guests looking for something distinctive.
The wider Serenity Spa experience has also received national recognition, with the spa shortlisted as one of five finalists for Best Spa at the Boutique Hotelier Awards 2026, and the only North East finalist.
What should hospitality businesses consider when planning lighting?
The Seaham Hall project highlights several useful considerations for hospitality lighting projects.
What experience does the space need to create? - A spa, hotel, restaurant or bar may all need something very different from their lighting. Before choosing products, it helps to understand how guests should feel and how the space will be used.
How will the space be used at different times of day? - A hospitality environment may need to work differently during the day, evening or night. Lighting should support those different uses where possible.
Does the lighting suit the environment? - In outdoor, wet or specialist environments, product suitability is particularly important. For Seaham Hall, the fittings had to deliver the right visual effect while also being suitable for a cool, wet outdoor setting.
How does the lighting fit with the wider design? - Lighting works best when it complements the architecture, interiors, landscaping and overall design intent. It should feel like part of the finished environment, rather than something added at the end.
When should a hospitality lighting supplier get involved? - Ideally, before the lighting decisions are completely fixed. Hospitality refurbishments often involve several people and disciplines, including designers, contractors, architects and operators.
TEP’s role is to support the lighting side of that process.
That can include understanding the brief, helping select suitable products and making sure the lighting fits both the intended experience and the practical demands of the environment.
On the Seaham Hall project, Sarah Marshall, General Manager at TEP, described the work as "an incredible project to work on and a great opportunity to demonstrate how much difference the right lighting can make to a guest experience.
It wasn’t simply a case of supplying fittings. We worked closely with Seaham Hall to understand their vision and create a lighting solution that complemented the design, delivered the right atmosphere and performed within a demanding outdoor spa environment.”
Looking for a hospitality lighting supplier?
TEP provides practical advice and tailored lighting support for hotels, spas, restaurants, leisure venues and other hospitality environments.
From understanding the initial vision through to product selection and supply, the aim is to help create lighting solutions that support the design, atmosphere and overall customer experience.
If you are planning a hospitality refurbishment or lighting upgrade, we are always happy to talk through the brief and help you explore the options.
Get in touch if you’d like to discuss how we could help with your next project:
📞 01325 467563
Comments