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Dorchester Spa, Mayfair - 5 bubbles
We were invited to sample some Dorchester delights after the spa's refurbishment and expansion programme, and delights we definitely found. If glamour, 1930s elegance, and facials that deliver results are an essential part of your spa experience, head for these treatment rooms on Park Lane. Take your credit card.
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?
Long-term effects
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?
We just love the way The Dorchester does luxury. I had hardly turned the corner from Park Lane and started walking towards the hotel entrance than a polite gentleman in a top hat offered to take my case and escort me to the door. The hotel is not intimidatingly grand. The foyer is smaller than many larger London hotels but is very luxurious and very welcoming. When I asked for the spa, a member of staff took me to the lift and even pressed the button for me.
The spa on the lower ground floor was always quite luxurious but, on our last visit, was feeling a little dated. The £3.2 million refurbishment has changed all that. This spa now really has the wow factor.
The designers have gone for white in a big way: white tiles, white walls, white ceilings, and white hangings in the reception area. But the whiteness is softened and made glamorous by the use of glossy, champagne-pink tiles and locker doors in the changing area, soft beige and pink seats and cushions in the waiting area, and a stunning blue-and-white relaxation room. The combined effect is to make the spa area look and feel much bigger than it actually is.
How did they welcome you?
Two receptionists in smart black uniforms greeted me, escorted me to the changing rooms, and gave me a key to my locker. Locker keys usually come attached to a plastic wrist-band, maybe a ribbon if you are lucky. At The Dorchester, the keys come attached to a faux-pearl bracelet. A nice touch that makes you feel special.
What happens next?
The changing room has pale-pink leather chairs arranged around mirrors on a pretty table. It all felt very 1930s glam. I almost expected my robe to be champagne-pink silk, of the sort worn by Hollywood starlets. However, the fluffy white towelling robe provided is probably more practical.
All the lockers are floor-to-ceiling height with a safe in each. If I had brought my own pearls, I could have safely locked them away. Off the changing room is a very large and nicely hot steam room and three showers. There were plenty of spare towels stacked on shelves, a water dispenser, a wall-mounted mirror, two hairdryers, and a set of hair straighteners. If you are going out somewhere grand afterwards, you can make sure you look like a Hollywood starlet.
I followed the corridor to find the waiting area, but missed the door to the reception. I was just wandering along the white corridor when a therapist stopped me and asked if I needed help. It turned out that she was my therapist. She told me that the trick to finding your way around the white Dorchester world is to look for the wall of brightly coloured nail-polish bottles and turn right. This brings you to the waiting area.
Ah yes. Two walls of the manicure and pedicure room are glass and have bottles of brightly coloured polish on tiny glass shelves: 1,760 bottles of polish of every hue. The effect is a brilliant swathe of jewel-like colour.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a Carol Joy London facial (£100, 55 minutes) and it was delightful.
What were the treatments like?
First, the bed. The bed was white, of course, very wide and wonderfully comfortable. It was set in a curved position so my legs were raised, and my head and shoulders were well supported. I felt very well cushioned and able to relax completely. Even the princess who could feel the pea under her stack of mattresses would be comfortable on the Dorchester treatment bed. A section of the bed drops down on each side when you lie on your front so that there is somewhere to put your arms. Fab. I hate leaving my arms to hang down with accompanying pins and needles.
I snuggled down while my therapist took off my makeup, covered my eyes and shone a bright light to inspect my skin. I was worried about the nasty little milia on my forehead, but my therapist was worried about the broken capillaries around my nose and on my chin. She opted for a gentle steam to protect those areas. She gave me a cleanse, scrub, steam and massage. All the lotions were amazingly rich and my skin drank them in.
Next, my therapist softened a collagen sheet and laid it over my face. She then gave me a hand and arm massage while the collagen mask was doing its magic.
How did you feel afterwards?
Magic it was. The collagen plumped up my dehydrated skin and smoothed out the lines and wrinkles that are becoming ever more apparent. The fine lines on my top lip (which caused a cosmetic surgeon at a dinner the week before to offer to "sort them out, just pop into my office tomorrow ") were much less noticeable. My neck area really did look ten years younger.
The Carol Joy range uses golden millet oil and diamond dust, which reflects the light and brightens the skin. The massage is designed to firm and lift the face. My rather saggy jowls looked much improved and my neck area really did look ten years younger. A treatment to book before a big event.
What happens afterwards?
I was reluctant to leave my comfy treatment bed, but I wandered off to the relaxation room where I chose a white day-bed to recline on. There are deep-blue blankets to keep you warm.
I was just snuggling down with a glossy magazine when someone brought me a tray with a lemon-and-lychee drink and warm hazelnut biscuits. Both were delicious and I felt very pampered. Just in case I got hungry anytime soon, on the central table were bowls of semi-dried apricots and salted almonds to nibble on, too.
Long-term effects
My skin looked great for several days. As my skin returned to its usual dehydrated state, I longed to go back to The Dorchester Spa and repeat the experience. This treatment could be addictive!
Was it worth it?
Well, the Carol Joy facial is not cheap at £100 for 55 minutes. However, I felt that the results and the whole experience of using the spa and relaxing in that lovely room was well worth the price. My motto is: having decided to do it, just pay, then forget about the cost and enjoy!
What else could you have?
You can choose from a range of ten different facials, including a bespoke one for men, body treatments including wraps and exfoliations, and what is rumoured to be the most effective anti-jet-lag massage around. We like the sound of the luxurious caviar manicure which involves an age-defying masque, as well as a massage designed to speed up the production of collagen and plump up your skin. There is also a rather grand hairdressing salon and a proper barber's shop, too, so you could leave looking like a million dollars.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
How wonderful my skin would look. I would have arranged to go out on the town to show it off. Even if you just book one treatment, allow plenty of time to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Any special features?
Apart from the sheer glamour of the spa, there is also the "Spatisserie", where you can have lunch or afternoon tea, a glass of champagne or a spa cocktail.
Who do you think would like it?
Anyone so famous that they need a discreet spa without paparazzi waiting around to catch them make-up-less. Also, anyone looking for a glamorous and luxurious spa experience in central London. The Dorchester Spa is ideal for a special treat and for friends who want to catch up and gossip while defying the passing of the years.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
The Dorchester Spa earns its 5 bubbles. Everything is well thought out. The aim is to give spa-goers a very luxurious and special experience -- and it works. The bright white design and the careful soundproofing of the rooms means the spa is peaceful and feels much bigger than it actually is. You simply don’t notice that there is no natural light. The customer service is subdued but efficient. The Dorchester Spa is an expensive spa, of course, but it uses some of the most expensive products around and delivers the treatments faultlessly.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
I'm saving up already!
We visited The Dorchester Spa in November 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for Dorchester Spa
* All about facials
* If I go for a facial, should I take off my make-up first?
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