Why our sleep experts loved it
The Staples & Co Artisan Pure Splendour is very much a “classic” British natural mattress, but one with a thoroughly modern specification. When I first tested it, what struck me straight away was how breathable it felt and how incredibly dense the support was. There is an almost outrageous number of pocket springs packed inside, and you really feel that in the way it props you up and contours at the same time.
This is a 30 cm deep, natural-fibre, pocket sprung mattress available in Firm and Extra Firm tensions, sitting in the premium price bracket with single through to super king sizes. It is made in the UK, uses GOTS-certified organic fibres, and carries a 10 year guarantee, so the pitch is very much long term quality, sustainability and proper support rather than trend-led gimmicks.
If you are someone who runs warm at night, prefers a firmer, more orthopaedic style feel, or simply wants a mattress that feels “high quality” the moment you lie down, the Artisan Pure Splendour is immediately compelling. It is not the soft, marshmallow type of mattress, and that is deliberate.
Construction & Materials At the heart of the Artisan Pure Splendour is a dual layer pocket spring core with a total of 4000 springs in a king size. That is made up of around 3000 mini springs closer to the surface and 1000 full height pocket springs underneath. The full height units do the heavy lifting for spinal support, while the dense layer of mini springs adds finer contouring and helps the surface adapt more precisely to your curves. It is this “insane” spring count that gives the mattress its combination of high support and extra nuance around the shoulders and hips.
Above and around the springs, Staples & Co has gone all in on natural, sustainably sourced fibres. You get GOTS-certified organic fibres, which indicates an audited supply chain and responsible production. The comfort layers include soft cotton for breathability, flax to help regulate temperature and moisture, and a generous blend of New Zealand wool and UK alpaca wool. The wool mix is there not just for a bit of loft and cosiness, but also to help buffer humidity and keep your sleeping climate stable through the seasons. Alpaca, in particular, is naturally low in lanolin and tends to feel very soft and kind on sensitive skin.
The outer cover is an opulent Belgian damask fabric, which feels properly substantial to the touch, rather than thin or stretchy. Fire resistance is handled with an M-Pure treatment, which uses 100% natural technology rather than the usual cocktail of chemical finishes, a nice touch if you are trying to minimise synthetics in the bedroom. The mattress is traditionally hand tufted to keep all those fibres and springs locked in place, and you get flag stitched handles around the sides to help with rotating. All told, it feels like a dense, weighty, old school mattress, but with much cleaner chemistry than the average option.
There is also a reinforced perimeter, branded as Comfort Edge Pro, built in to reduce that familiar “roll off” feeling when you sleep near the edge and to make the entire surface genuinely usable, right corner to corner. The whole mattress stands at roughly 30 cm deep, so you will want deep fitted sheets.
Firmness & Feel The Artisan Pure Splendour comes in two comfort options, Firm and Extra Firm. In practice, the Firm feels like a true, confident firm rather than a soft-medium masquerading as firm. Lying on my back, my hips were held nicely in line with my shoulders and I did not feel as though I was disappearing into the bed at all. There is a touch of surface padding from the natural fibres and mini springs, but this is a supportive mattress first and a plush one second.
On my side, the Firm version gave me noticeable contact along the entire side of my body, but there was enough give from the mini springs and wool layers that my shoulders did not feel jammed against the surface. That said, lighter weight side sleepers who are used to a plusher pillow top may find the feel a little unyielding, especially in the first couple of weeks before the top settles slightly.
The Extra Firm option ramps this up again. It is the sort of mattress that will appeal to those who actively seek out an orthopaedic level of firmness or who are heavier and want to avoid any sense of sagging. On my front, the Extra Firm prevented my lower back from dipping, which is exactly what you want to avoid strain.
The best way to think of the feel is “buoyant, lifted support with a lightly cushioned natural top”. That large spring count and firmer tuning means you rest on the mattress rather than in it, but there is still enough contouring from those 3000 mini springs to stop it feeling like a board. For back and stomach sleepers in particular, it is a very reassuring sensation. Independent analysis also tags this model as particularly suited to back and tummy sleepers, which tallies with my own experience.
Performance & Support Support is where the Artisan Pure Splendour really earns its keep. The dual-layer spring system works subtly underneath you, so larger, full height springs hold the frame of the body while the mini units fine tune support under shoulders, lumbar and hips. On my back, I felt the lumbar area well cradled without any obvious pressure points. On my side, the hip area dipped just enough into the mini springs to avoid that familiar ache you sometimes get with very firm mattresses.
Motion isolation is good for such a responsive mattress. Each spring is in its own fabric pocket, and with 4000 of them acting fairly independently, partner movement is well contained. When someone gets in or out of bed, you feel a little movement, but it is more of a gentle ripple than a wobble. That makes this a strong option for couples where one partner is restless or works shifts.
Edge support is also impressive. The reinforced perimeter lets you sit on the edge to put shoes on without feeling like you are sliding off, and sleeping right up to the side feels just as supported as the centre. It sounds like a small detail, but on a shared bed it effectively makes the mattress feel bigger, because you are not both subconsciously avoiding the edge.
Over the long term, the deep natural fillings, traditional tufting and high spring count should all pay off. This is not a light mattress and that weight is indicative of the amount of material inside. The inclusion of a free 10 year guarantee suggests Staples & Co is confident in the build quality, and the mattress is produced in a UK factory that carries recognised quality marks, which is reassuring if you are investing for the long haul.
Temperature Regulation If you are a warm sleeper, this is one of the main reasons to consider the Artisan Pure Splendour. Everything about the specification leans towards breathability. You have a fully sprung core with plenty of air channels, natural cotton right up near the surface, flax to help manage humidity, and layers of breathable wool and alpaca to buffer temperature.
In practice, I found the surface stayed comfortably neutral. On warmer nights there was no clammy build up under my shoulders or lower back, and the damask cover felt cool to the touch at bedtime. On cooler nights, the wool content came into its own, holding on to just enough warmth without becoming stuffy. It is very much that “sleeping on a natural bed” sensation rather than on a block of foam.
Because there is no thick memory foam layer, the mattress does not trap heat around the body in the same way many hybrid designs do. If you tend to overheat or are prone to night sweats and want something firmer, this level of natural breathability is a strong plus point.
Practical Features The Artisan Pure Splendour is available in a full run of sizes from single through to super king, with the same specification across the range, and a choice of Firm or Extra Firm tension as noted above.
It is a rotate only mattress, so you do not need to flip it over, but you are expected to turn it head to toe regularly, particularly in the first few months, to even out settlement. The flag stitched handles are firm and well attached, but I would still recommend two people for the job, as the mattress is quite heavy.
At around 30 cm deep, this is a high profile mattress. Standard fitted sheets will be tight; deep or extra deep sheets are a better match, especially if you like to add a protector on top. On the plus side, the extra height gives the bed a more luxurious, hotel like presence in the room.
For peace of mind, you get a free 10 year guarantee from Bensons for Beds, and the retailer also operates a 40 night comfort guarantee scheme, which allows you to exchange if the feel is not quite right, subject to their usual conditions and the use of a protector. That is not unique to this mattress, but it is helpful given you are buying a relatively firm model and may be moving up from something softer.
Pricing places the Artisan Pure Splendour firmly in the premium natural mattress category. Larger sizes sit in the low to mid four figures at full price, although Bensons frequently runs promotions, so the live price can fluctuate considerably. Given the specification and guarantee, it feels fairly pitched against similar natural, high spring count mattresses, but it is definitely an investment rather than an impulse buy.
Who It Suits Back and stomach sleepers
Heavier sleepers and those who prefer very firm support
Hot sleepers and those who dislike foam
Eco conscious buyers and those sensitive to chemicals
Couples who value stability
Who It Doesn't Suit Side sleepers who want a plush, sinking feel
Fans of memory foam hugging comfort
Shoppers on a tight budget
Those who struggle to lift or rotate a heavy mattress
Final Verdict The Staples & Co Artisan Pure Splendour is a serious mattress for people who want serious support. Very breathable, clearly high quality in both materials and finish, and built around a frankly impressive 4000 spring system, it feels particularly well suited to back and stomach sleepers, heavier individuals and anyone who values a cooler, more natural sleeping environment.
It is not the softest or cheapest option in the showroom, and it will not convert die hard memory foam fans, but if you have been hunting for a firm or extra firm natural mattress that still offers some contouring and does not cook you in the summer, this one earns its place on the shortlist. Treat it as a long term investment in your sleep and it makes a lot of sense.
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