by Anna Mason
Newly opened in June this year, The Bulgari Hotel Spa is a sight to behold. Aside from the fact that it is, rather impressively, one of the largest in London, set over two floors with a 25m swimming pool, hydro-massage tub, eleven treatment rooms, a private spa suite for couples, a relaxation room and a gym, it is also one of the most exquisitely designed.
The most striking part of the spa is undoubtedly the swimming pool area where columns and wooden cabanas, housing comfy loungers, stretch the length of the pool creating the sense that you’re in a plush holiday resort. The cabana’s white drapes ensure chilling out is private as well as relaxing.
As you lounge in fluffy towelling robes, relax with the latest newspapers and magazines and take advantage of the complimentary tea which is high in antioxidants and cleanses the body from the inside out – a special blend of green tea, lemongrass, vanilla, coconut and ginger which is made fresh each day. Healthy snacks of fruit and nuts are also freely available and if you’re particularly hungry the spa can rustle up a variety of tasty meals all of which are created in line with diet and fitness guru James Duigan’s Bodyism range.
A special ‘A’ team of highly-skilled therapists, handpicked from esteemed hotel spas including The Grove, The Four Seasons and The Wardorf Astoria, has been assembled by Spa Director Shelley Hepburn and Head Therapist Igor Mitric. Everyone seems to be genuinely thrilled and proud to be working at Bulgari spa and staff are beyond courteous.
Igor has created an exclusive, bespoke treatment which launches this month, aptly called Escape To Thailand – which draws on his travels around Asia, his background in Chinese medicine and combines physio, acupressure and Thai stretching and I was the very first person to try it.
For the last ten years I’ve had numerous slipped discs and the thought of allowing anyone to touch my back has terrified me and it’s something I have avoided until now. Igor explained that this treatment is very much tailored to the individual.
Skilled in the art of meditation, he is ‘present’ with every touch, drawing on his intuition as well as his expertise. In addition to this unique combination of massage, physiotherapy, acupressure and stretching, Igor uses steamed herbal compresses packed full of potent Thai herbs and aromatic hot oil to thoroughly heal and rejuvenate the body in the two hour treatment. Post-treament my back felt better than it had in years.
The spa has an extensive list of treatments designed exclusively for Bulgari including a great selection of facials. Again, all facials are tailored to the individual using skin analysis to identify problems such as sun damage and dehydration and Espa products are used to remedy them. After the Regenerating Facial my skin felt plumped, baby soft, revived and fully cleansed.
The Bulgari Hotel Spa, 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 1DW. 0207 151 1055, www.bulgarihotels.com
Escape To Thailand treatment – £250/ 60-90 minute facial – prices range from £115 – £175