A classy, traditional English hotel is likely to have a classy, traditional English spa. So it’s no surprise that the spa at Brown’s Hotel is indeed classy and, in all the good ways, traditional too.
The basement spa is small but perfectly well-equipped with serene treatment rooms, and designed in classic white and brown tones. There is a gym with personal trainers available too: the lunchtime specials, which combine the use of both spa and gym, are popular with the Mayfair suits who form the majority of the weekday clientele.
On the weekend it’s mainly hotel guests who come for one of the signature treatments, like the 80-minute ‘Spiezia Head in Heaven Ritual’. Spiezia is a fully organic, made in Cornwall, product range with ingredients to soothe all sorts of skin - great when you are prone to sensitive or very dry skin. The Head in Heaven treatment starts with a thorough consultation in which the therapist asks questions like ‘do you want to feel invigorated or relaxed’ and ‘are you stressed or anxious’ to guide you through a choice of 5 aromatherapy massage oils.
This scented oil is used at the beginning of the treatment for a 25-minute back and neck massage that hits all the right pressure points and melts away achy knots -thanks to the sports massage trained therapist. This is followed by an equally satisfying facial, that after a gentle exfoliation and vanilla and rose face mask, might have you drift off on your heated massage bed. The energizing oily head massage at the end (yes, you can wash your hair straight afterwards in the spacious private bathroom that’s adjacent to the treatment room) should awaken you again.
Unlike in some other hotels, there is no separate relaxation room. Brown’s spa is more of a salon of elegant treatment rooms, but a very nice and upmarket one at that. Prices reflect the smart atmosphere, but if you can splash the cash, it’s worth the treat.
The 80-minute Spiezia Head in Heaven Ritual costs £150