Who the Millbrook Serenity 2500 suits
The 2500 is where the Serenity range becomes a two-layer spring mattress, and that makes it a much better all-rounder than the 1020. It suits combination sleepers and couples who want proper support with some give at the shoulder and hip, without moving to memory foam.
Before buying, look at the price of the Serenity 4500: at the time of writing it costs only about £75 more for a double and has 3,500 micro springs rather than 1,500, plus cashgora in the fillings.
Construction
Every Serenity mattress shares the same chassis: Millbrook's ErgoZone 7 seven-zone spring layout, softer under the shoulders and hips and firmer under the lower back and legs; the Ultra Edge perimeter system with hand side-stitching; a Smooth-Tech tuft-free top, so there are no tufting buttons to feel; and a chemical-free Smooth-Flex four-way stretch cover. All are non-turn, so you rotate them head to foot rather than flipping. The models differ in spring count, the natural fillings on top and the depth.
The 2500 combines 1,000 full-size pocket springs with 1,500 Millbrook Comfonomic micro springs in the comfort layer, topped with traceable Hampshire wool, fine English cotton and silk. It is 29cm deep.
Comfort and support
The micro springs are the reason to buy this over the 1020. Small springs above the main unit let the surface shape itself to the shoulder and hip while the full-size springs underneath hold the spine level. The result is a more cushioned feel than the 1020 at the same tension, while staying buoyant rather than enveloping. Side sleepers who found the 1020 too firm should be comfortable here on medium tension.
Temperature, edges and motion
Two spring layers mean even more air movement than the 1020, and the wool, cotton and silk fillings regulate moisture well, so this is a cool-sleeping mattress. The Ultra Edge perimeter and side-stitching keep the edge firm for sitting. Motion transfer is low, as you would expect from two layers of independently pocketed springs.
Returns, guarantee and delivery
Millbrook mattresses are handmade to order in Southampton, where the company has made beds since 1946, and carry a 5-year guarantee. There is no sleep trial: Laudsleep accepts returns within 30 days of delivery, but its returns policy excludes sale items, so check whether the price you are paying is a sale price before you buy. A 5-year guarantee is also shorter than the 10 years most bed-in-a-box brands offer, although a well-made pocket-sprung mattress with natural fillings typically lasts longer than its guarantee.
Choosing between Millbrook models? Our Millbrook mattress review compares the whole Serenity range, and Millbrook vs Hypnos vs Vi-Spring sets it against the other British makers.
Our verdict
A genuinely good mattress that is slightly squeezed by its own range. It fixes the 1020's firm surface for side sleepers, but at current prices the 4500 gives you much more for little extra. Buy the 2500 if it is on a better offer than the 4500 when you shop.
