Review of Spa at Bluebird, Chelsea, London

Spa at Bluebird, Chelsea - 3 bubbles

Single Spy was invited to sample the red-carpet treatments at the only spa in the UK offering Ole Henriksen treatments. You don't know Ole? A whole host of famous Hollywood names just adore him. So we headed down to Chelsea and found an all-you can-eat spa menu in the small but deliciously scented treatment rooms at Bluebird.

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?

Any special features?

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

Bluebird is a small spa in a big, big building. It's tucked away at the back of a huge, echoey space that was Europe's largest motor garage when it was built in 1923, and is now an upmarket mix of retail areas. From the outside, you go past the bustling Bluebird Café -- the largest terrace in Chelsea and a popular place to see and be seen in the sun of the al fresco summer months. On your right is the Bluebird Epicerie (not a usual spa landmark) and through the entrance you find a sort of minimalist shop offering garments on rails, chic handbags and shoes, and some books.

At the back on the left-hand side is a neon sign that pronounces "Spa at Bluebird" -- a little way away from the sign that says "Sex at Bluebird" but right next to the sign that says "Drink at Bluebird", signalling a bar. It was all a bit deserted.

How did they welcome you?

I hung around for a while by the "Drink at Bluebird" sign wondering if there was anyone actually in the spa. There was a sign on the door to the spa announcing that treatments were in progress. Unsure what lay behind the door, I was hesitant to push it in case I intruded on a cucumber-and-honey facial at a crucial moment. Eventually someone -- who turned out to be Sherron, my therapist -- turned up, said she was expecting me, and took me behind the door.

What happens next?

Behind the door is a dim corridor that has doors opening off it to the three treatment rooms and the changing room. Sherron took me through to the small changing room and showed me my locker, one of just four, each containing a robe. You'd have to be very tall to reach the top one, though. I loved the heated floor. Even in May, it was lovely to feel warmth on my feet. The robe was white and soft. I wasn't sure about the used spa slippers in the locker, though. Tell me, honestly, do you want to put your feet into obviously used footwear?

Which treatments did you have?

I had the spa's signature treatment, the African Red Tea Body Cocktail (75 minutes, £135). African red tea is known for its skin-soothing properties and I was looking forward to it.

What were the treatments like?

The spa brochure promises that "each treatment will unfold like a beautiful orchestration". The treatment was certainly orchestrated to appeal to all the senses. In the darkened room, a Calming Park CD was playing -- a mix of dreamy electronic beats put together by Olivier Rohrbach, who also created the aromatic scents of the large candle that was burning. (These candles are available only at Bluebird in the UK, and the smell was different, rich, and deeply relaxing.)

Sherron started with a short massage then exfoliated my arms, legs, stomach, shoulders and back with orange slices and brown sugar. It is appropriate for a product range that advertises itself as "skin food" that ingredients used in the treatments are ones you could actually eat. Sherron gave me a scalp massage while the orange juice did its work, then sluiced off the juice with a "rain bar" -- a shower rail that she moved over me on the treatment table.

While she relieved the table of its soggy towels and got it ready for the next stage of the treatment, I sat in a chair in the corner of the room and ate some orange slices. This, I approved of. A break in the middle of a treatment for a small snack is an idea I wish more spas would consider.

Stage two: Sherron mixed up some red-bush tea-leaves and yoghurt, smeared them all over me and wrapped me up in tinfoil. I smelled like a nursery pudding for my children. Sherron left me to "bake" for a while, so this is not a treatment to choose if you don't like being left on your own. There was more being left on my own later, too. When I was judged "done", Sherron came back in, turned on the tropical rain, put a flannel over my face so water didn't splash into my eyes, then left me to "enjoy the rain". I felt perilously close to boredom in this bit. And it's a bit claustrophobic having a wet flannel on your face. I was relieved when Sherron returned, but she simply asked me to turn onto my front so I could have the tropical rain experience all over again on my back. I was in a mess of wet soggy towels at this point, so cannot say this was my favourite treatment ever. I had had enough rain by the time the treatment ended.

How did you feel afterwards?

Very clean.

What happens afterwards?

I showered most of the remaining tea-leaves off in the shower in the treatment room. Sherron waited outside and took me through to the changing room where I could have a proper shower and chase down any remaining leaves. There are Ole Henriksen products in the shower and this was much appreciated. I particularly loved the conditioner (sorry, the natural hair hydrator with orchid flower). This left my hair silky soft and easy to brush.

Sherron left me some moisturiser, and there were cotton pads and suchlike available for your beauty needs before stepping back out in to the world.

When I came to leave, again, there was no-one around. I waited a while and did eventually speak to someone, but I felt a little like a lost soul.

Long-term effects

My skin was very soft and clear afterwards.

Was it worth it?

There were times when I felt that this particular body treatment could have been shortened for those of us who don't live in the dry climate of LA, where Ole first made his name. Enjoying tropical rain is not quite so appealing when you can pop outside and have some natural rain for free at the drop of a hat.

What else could you have?

You could have a whole host of massages, including hot stone, Swedish, deep-tissue and a pregnancy massage that aims to "prepare women psychologically and spiritually for the process of labor and birth". There are some delicious sounding face and body treatments, too, such as the cucumber-honey-milk-total face/body, which features freshly-grated cucumber. I'd also like to try the 8-step African red tea anti-oxidant complexion treatment; red tea is renowned for skin soothing, and as part of a facial sounds very appealing.

Any special features?

The product range is pretty special. I was impressed by the quality of the Ole Henriksen range of products and their use of natural yet effective ingredients.

Who do you think would like it?

The Spa at Bluebird is very handily placed for anyone at the far end of the Kings Road to pop in and have a pep-up. Rain addicts are also well catered for.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave the Spa at Bluebird 3 bubbles. It's definitely a treatment rooms rather than a day spa. It is small -- there'd be a squeeze if there was ever more than one of you in the changing room -- and there's nowhere to sit in the spa and have a relax and a cup of tea after your treatments. You could go to "Drink at Bluebird", though. The products are great and the treatment I had, while I didn't enjoy all of it, was a feast for the senses. There was an air of disorientation when I arrived and when I left, however, and I didn't like the used slippers.

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