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The Ritual Rooms, Portman Village - 4 bubbles
We sent Shy Spy north of Oxford Street when we were invited to these discreet London treatment rooms. She found a smart, petite hideaway from the nearby shopping chaos, and a good choice of spa treatments and haircuts. She was left wanting for that magical moisturiser, though.
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
Essentially a couple of streets that border Portman Square, Portman Village is a compact and upmarket area just north of Oxford Street. As you leave the shopper's chaos, you pass a few high-rise, modern hotels before reaching this discreet area of boutiques and bistros.
The Ritual Rooms is a smart, shop-fronted treatment rooms. With its dark wood fascia and awning, this spa could easily be mistaken for a jeweller's shop. Inside, the chocolate brown, beige and dull gold tones make for a very classy look.
How did they welcome you?
Perfectly cordially. Anna, who was also my therapist, greeted me from behind the reception desk. She took me straight from the small reception area to the relaxation room next door. Anna offered me a glass of water before showing me around.
The Ritual Rooms consists of a small relaxation room upstairs and three treatment rooms downstairs. There are no changing rooms or heat facilities. One treatment room has a shower, so the messier sort of body treatments are still on offer.
What happens next?
Anna took me back to the relaxation room to fill in my consultation form. She left me with water and some chocolate brownie chunks to munch on while ticking boxes. The relaxation room is a compact room with two brown leather, high-backed chairs, a small table, and some glossy magazines sitting on top of a cabinet. A nice little room, but a bit small for lounging about in for long.
When Anna returned, she had a look at my consultation form. We briefly discussed the only ticked box in the "areas of concern" section: sinuses. I hadn't seen this appear on forms before. As I am someone who spends the majority of her days either blocked up or sniffing, I was intrigued. Anna advised that she could work some reflexology into my massage, using certain pressure points on my toes to target sinus problems.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Relaxation Ritual (2 hours).
What were the treatments like?
Anna led me to my treatment room, which was a surprisingly good size given the compact space of The Ritual Rooms. The room was clean and uncluttered, with a brown faux-fur throw over the massage bed.
My ritual began with a full-body massage. Before she started, Anna checked what pressure I wanted and how I wanted to feel. As gentle strokes do nothing for the tension in my back, I requested firm pressure. Having asked for a firm-pressured massage a number of times before, I know that a therapist's interpretation of "firm" can range anywhere between "a bit of a dig" and "bone crunching". When Anna began massaging my back, she checked to see if her concept of firm matched mine. Her touch was certainly firm enough to make a dent in my knots, so I encouraged Anna to continue.
Anna massaged my back skilfully, using a combination of careful kneading and longer, gentler strokes. I felt myself melting into the warm massage bed as the tension eased away. As Anna moved to my legs, the firm pressure became a little less pleasurable. Although I can't claim to be an athlete, my calf muscles are quite tight. In future, I shall remember to ask for gentler pressure in that area...
I turned over onto my back for Anna to continue the ritual. As we had discussed, she performed a brief bit of reflexology on my toes. Using her thumb and forefinger, Anna squeezed my toes individually, using medium pressure. I hadn't had reflexology aimed at my sinus issues before, so wasn't sure exactly what to expect. The reflexology was a perfectly pleasurable aspect to the massage, though.
Anna then moved on to my facial, which used Aromatherapy Associates products. During our initial consultation, I had mentioned my rather annoying combination skin. Half my skin feels dry and tight whilst half is frustratingly shiny. First of all, Anna used a gentle cleanser and exfoliator for dry skin. The slightly foaming exfoliator felt very soft.
Anna massaged my face, which relaxed me at just the right moment. Anna then applied a cool face mask whilst I was struggling to stay awake. Anna massaged down my arms and around my neck as the mask did its work. Again, my earlier request for firm pressure brought me out of my daze. The pressure around my collar bone was too firm for falling asleep! Anna then removed the mask and applied the final lick of moisturiser. She used a moisturiser for balancing combination skin. She then left me to rest for a few moments.
How did you feel afterwards?
My shoulders felt much better. My skin looked fresh and balanced. The mixture of products for dry and combination skin clearly worked well. I was a little disappointed to find that the retail version of those products weren't in stock when I visited.
What happens afterwards?
Anna popped back into the room briefly to bring me a little shot glass of sorbet and some water. A nicely cooling treat after being warmed on a massage couch.
Was it worth it?
Treatments are fairly priced for a central London spa. The Ritual Rooms isn't cheap, but the treatments are of a good standard. Anna was clearly an experienced therapist. But London is a fiercely competitive area for spas. Standards have to stay high to match the equally high prices.
What else could you have?
As the name suggests, the focus at The Ritual Rooms is on rituals, although you are welcome to have just the one treatment if you wish! You can try a good range of Aromatherapy Associates and Skinceuticals face and body treatments. There are treatments for pregnant women, men and even a course on baby massage.
Finishing touches include manicures, pedicures, waxing and, of course, a full hair menu of cuts and colours.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
That firm massage hurts my calf muscles.
Any special features?
The treatment room that transforms into a hair salon! When I first looked around, I didn't see any evidence of hairdressing equipment. Anna then showed me an ingenious design that James Bond's Q would be proud of. She opened a cabinet to reveal a hairdressing sink that pulls out and flips over. The massage beds are specially designed to move so that you can have your hair washed whilst lying down, then you are moved upright for your haircut.
Who do you think would like it?
Solo spa-goers looking for privacy. The Ritual Rooms is very discreet.
Sybarites having a bad hair day. You can have a face and body ritual and a haircut all in the privacy of one treatment room.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave The Ritual Rooms a good 4 bubbles. Given that the overall floor plan is minute, the space is used well. None of the treatment rooms felt cramped. The relaxation room isn't really large enough for a long stretch of lounging, but at least there is a quiet area. Some London treatment rooms have a waiting area only.
Inside, all areas look clean and classy. But there weren't many luxurious finishing touches. For example, the toilet was quite basic and didn't match the chic decor throughout. And I couldn't buy the products used in my facial as they weren't in stock.
Would you go again?
I can see how a post-shopping fix may be called for nearer Christmas time...
We visited The Ritual Rooms in March 2010
See also:
* Contact details for The Ritual Rooms
* Massage
* Will a spa massage help my "laptop shoulders"?
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