LIFESTYLE

Anna Britten visits the new Sanctuary Spa.

When The Sanctuary opened its third UK boutique spa in Cabot Circus just before Christmas, beauty junkies sat up and raised their perfectly plucked eyebrows. Not only is the brand a famous one, with salt scrubs on supermarket shelves all over the country, but it also comes with a history that trumps any high street rival’s. The Sanctuary, see, was a trailblazer – the original day spa opened in London’s Covent Garden 30 years ago, before the expression “me-time” was invented, and when facials were something French women had. It began life as a place for the female dancers of the Royal Opera House to soothe their tired limbs, and though the clientele tend to wear fewer legwarmers nowadays, the original women-only ethos remains. As does, in the memory, the old publicity photo of a woman in the famous swing above the pool – the ultimate symbol of a girly oasis. Venue felt duty bound to check it out.

Disappointingly, there’s no pool with a swing over it at the Cabot Circus branch. That said, the expensive whiff of the West End hits you as soon as you enter the glass doors on Quakers Friars. The place feels like a boutique hotel, or private members’ club – wow-factor modern lighting, dark chocolate-coloured wood everywhere, white Havaianas and hi-tech lockers for all.

First, I’m ushered into The Lavender Lounge – this is a purple, dimly lit, womb-like space with thick velvet ceiling-to-floor drapes holding the bustle of the city at bay, and with purple armchairs, footstools, furry throws, neck pillows and lavender bags begging you to chill the heck out. There’s also glossy mags, a tea/coffee/juice area and piped Melua.

After a few minutes’ lounging, I’m led into one of the five treatment rooms (there’s also a Champagne Nail Bar) where the music switches to off-the-peg New Age-y tinklecore (what is it with spas and crap music? What would be wrong with a bit of Chopin?). I lie on a treatment table with such a thick duvet it’s practically a princess’s bed, as genial therapist Stav quizzes me on my diet and skincare routine – my responses help her plan my Prescriptions Facial (so called because products can be adapted according to need). The 50-minute treatment is full of interesting quirks I don’t recall coming across in bog-standard facials. As well as the usual double-cleanse, exfoliate, mask etc routine, she makes me inhale frankincense at the start; and at points focuses not unpleasantly on my eyeballs, my temples and even my hair, which she tugs gently. Her skills are faultless and it all feels very effective. Finally, she applies eye gel, moisturizer and serum before giving me her ‘prescription’ – in other words, my homework. Computer rays and tap water can be dehydrating to the skin, she tells me, so I should drink more water – and my shoulders “are suffering”. Several Sanctuary products, conveniently on sale in the shop downstairs, are recommended and written down for me. Hmm. Although it’s far from a hard sell, it seems wrong of The Sanctuary to ask their therapists to end a £56 treatment in this way – as a hack, I’m not paying for mine, but I’d feel zen-disruptingly pressurised if I was. This is the only part of the whole luxury experience I don’t like. Oh, and the music. Both are rife in the beauty industry and unlikely to disappear soon – thankfully, The Sanctuary has enough upmarket swank to lure you back regardless.

THE SANCTUARY SPA QUAKERS FRIARS, CABOT CIRCUS, BRISTOL, BS1 3BU. FFI: 0117 370 2791 OR WWW.THESANCTUARY.CO.UK/BRISTOL-SPA.HTM
 

Copyright Anna Britten 2011

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