It had been ages since I’d been to a spa so when I was invited to check out Alexandra House’s new thermal suite I thought I should definitely go- I mean it’s good for the mind body and soul right?!
After (photo from John Steel Photography)
Before
The cellar of the house is the setting for the new thermal suite which includes my favourite thing to do at a spa – laying down on warm tiled beds (it’s called a Laconium apparently) Literally it’s heaven. It’s amazing to see where the rooms have got to after being a flooded cellar (as you can see in the dark ‘before photo above’ and one of the owners was talking about all the drainage they had to put in and it was all very technical, but I did take out of it that they must have been very dedicated to have gone through such a transformation! The other owner talked about how she had to chip off the paint from the stones by hand on her days and evenings off, like I lose patience trying to get polish of my nails never mind a vast expanse of wall!
Photo above by John Steel Photography
The Tepidarium is across the way and houses their newly installed salt brick wall at the end of two long tiled benches. It’s warmer than the other room and myself and Laura sat and chatted in there for ages as it was just so warm and lovely. Infact she had to get me to leave or else I probably would have fallen asleep in there! It’s quite handy as its meant to nag ate the ions produced by electrical equipment (basically from me being in my phone non stop) and ease breathing too so was perfect after my asthma had flared up the day before!
We also got a tour of the vast treatment rooms in the house. There’s a retail therapy room too (heaven) where they sell lots of cute products including the ones they gave me above. I actually think retail therapy is the best form so feel like the room was designed for me!
I also experienced a paraffin wax hand treatment which is so unusual! You basically put each hand into the warm wax, which has like a skin on top of it (think old school primary school custard skin) and then as you draw it out its wrapped up and then put into what looks like an oven glove.
Not being able use my phone meant I had time to chat and we talked to Robert a reporter and to a life coach who were both really interesting! However my hands were soon freed and i got to try out the best canapés that have ever passed my lips. They were from Rachals Kitchen and I haven’t stopped talking about them since. The black pudding scotch egg, beetroot and hazelnut mousse, chorizo and prawns skewer were all just fabulous.
It was soon time to go home though, I could spend a day there and I’ve been looking up the treatments already.
They are all reasonably priced and can be found here and to use the thermal suite before a treatment is £20 for 60mins. Worth it for the tiled beds and salt brick wall for sure. I also like how you can add it on alongside the parafin hand wax, foot soak and fresh cakes and drinks (for £35) onto a treatment to make your own pamper package. I really fancy having an Indian Head Massage (£45) which also comes in a deal of two treatments for £60 so why not. Hot stone back massage is another on of my faves which is on there too, although I’m up for trying a new treatment so if you have a fave let me know in the comments!