Portland Hall Spa, Southport - 4 bubbles

It's not every day you find a spa in what used to be a synagogue, but Portland Hall Day Spa in central Southport is one. Its Moroccan theme and professional treatments make it a unique proposition for a pamper, but it's best to plan your pampering in advance. There are few frills on offer, but if you are looking for a day-spa bargain, head along the A565.

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"Beware ! Their customer care leads a lot to be desired.
We booked a Spa day at Portland Hall Spa for March and paid them money up front in January.
Portland Spa had to cancel our day the week before then refused to refund our money for over two weeks despite numerous calls and emails. "

"Visited Portland Hall Spa twice, first with a girl friend as a x'mas girl celebration then my husband surprised me with a Mom-to-be treatment on my birthday. Didn't had a particular great experience in my first time, hence I wasn't too keen on my second time. Because it was a birthday treat from my husband, I decided to keep an open mind and hopeful the spa had improved since my last visit.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very nice receptionist like my first time, always smiling and friendly. Then we were served with tea/ coffee in lounge and led to a super tiny changing room which has no shower, no toilet and no what so ever room. However, I can say it was clean at least and lockers were provided in the room.

We then spent sometime in the bubble jet bath which was nothing special, then the treatment started. For the Mom-to-be treatment, it included a body wrap, a facial, a foot message, conditioning and scalp massage. I followed my therapist to a room up stair where I found a floating bed in the middle of the room and then the therapist asked me to 'climb' into the floating bed to be ready for the body wrap treatment. Bear in mind that the bed was actually quite high and was in a shape of a solid plastic bowl. For this treatment which is especially tailored for pregnant women, you would expected staff are at least more aware of small details such as offering help to get into/ get out of the bed or at least provide a stool to step on, for the bed which was moving constantly and was not easy to settle in. I struggled and eventually manage to get myself into it. Lying in the floaty bed, I was given a foot clean with warm towel then the therapist started to applied body oil all over my legs, arms and back. She then wrapped me with a plastic blanket filled with warm water (a bit like a giant ice pack) and started the facial treatment. While I was still wrapped, I kept wondering why she didn't give me at least some gentle massage of legs, arms and back when applying the oil. I'd had body wrap treatment previously at another Elemis spa which was very different to what I had been given in Portland hall spa. It was more comprehensive with a body scrub, body oil and massage before being wrapped rather than just oil and wrap.

The final stage of the facial was a mask (in this case was the lavender repair mask which I'd used at home also and the instruction says never leave it on for more than 10 mins). This was the most unbearable part of the whole day experience. I was left with the mask on and wrapped in this floating bed, then the therapist told me to get some rest and walked off to somewhere. I slept for a while which I believed was about 30mins then started to feel getting too warm and sweaty inside this wrapped plastic sheet in the floating bed, and started to wonder if the therapist had actually forgotten me and left for the day. I patiently waited for at least another 20mins then the heat really got into my body and I've became feeling very uncomfortable. I wasn't able to move easily because was still in this constantly shifting floating bed and with the baby bump, and then the facial mask starting to get very dry and really stretching my face. I had to take off the eye covers and eye pillow and unwrapped myself to let the heat off. At the end I was left in the room by myself for over an hour with no one came in to ask if I feel okay. For the price we paid for for this treatment and the purpose of this treatment, the therapist at Portland Hall Spa could have done a lot better than this, for example at least being more attentive and perhaps check on me every 20 minutes to see if things were okay. I just felt the whole day was spoiled at the point when I was left alone in the room, feeling extremely hot and uncomfortable, worrying and wondering if I need to endanger myself to climb out the bed and try to call the therapist to return to the room and finish her job. It was absolutely frustrating.
When the therapist finally returned to the room, I asked how long the facial mask should be left on, her answer was it could be left as long as you wished because it was a rejuvenated mask! Then she told me to get out of the bed 'with care' and off to the next room where my foot massage would take place by another therapist. At that moment, my body was still full of oil she'd applied, and I could just easily slip off when trying to get out of the floating bed. This was a potential hazard and she just didn't see the point of coming to help me get up. The foot massage, scalp massage and conditioning were just okay, although therapist was nice enough to ensure I lie in the position that I was best comfortable with.

When everything was finished, I asked if I could take a shower somewhere and the last therapist prepped me into a treatment room where I found a shower cabin in it. I was once again, amazed by the poor facility this place has. There wasn't a proper place to take shower after your treatment when your body were covered in layers of oil with hair covered in this conditioner after the scalp massage and there wasn't even shower gel or shampoo to offer which is the very basic things you would find in a SPA.

All in all, the Mom-to-be treatment at Portland hall spa was not worth for the value and staff who carried out the treatment could have been more proactive and more attentive. Making your pregnant client feeling anxious, uncomfortable and worried should be the last thing to do as a professional therapist. I have to say my experience was far from relax, happy and enjoyable at this spa on both of my visits. I will not recommend any friends (pregnant or not) to go there and I will even say there are places a lot better than it."

"My experience at this amazing spa was absolutely wonderful. I was worried that it wouldn't be for me. How wrong! The staff are friendly and made me feel very welcomed and relaxed. The Moroccan mud rasul is fab. Everyone must try it. Thanks for a lovely, memorable day."

"Here's a couple of test questions for anyone considering going to Portland Hall Spa in Southport: 1. If you're browsing for books, would you rather go to (a) Waterstone's or (b) the local second hand book shop with piles of books stacked on the rickety staircase? 2. If you want a sandwich, do you prefer (a) Ginsters or (b) something made to order from the local bakery? If the answer is (b) to both, you'll like this place.

Portland Hall isn't glitzy and isn't the fully polished final product. It also isn't perfectly consistent and things can go wrong but this is part of the charm of the place. It is unique in many important ways: the building is a delight; the service is so personal you can feel you're the only person there; the treatments are consistently escellent and you feel the therapists really care about you.

It gets four bubbles (and rightly so) for what it does and does well, not for what it doesn't do.

If you want high quality, personal treatment in delightful distinctive surroundings, you'll love it. If you want a wider range of facilities, bigger spaces more people and a more polished, processed experience, go to Formby Hall.

I live locally and have an annual membership. Is there a better way to end a working day than to pop in to have an hour by yourself in the sauna? With over £600 worth of treatments available within a £450 membership, this is effectiely free. I'm astonished more locals don't do it (but don't want to encourage too many more)

Ian B 04/11/09"