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Champneys, Tunbridge Wells - 3 bubbles
Perfect for a pick-me-up after shopping in The Pantiles, these high-street treatment rooms offer a reasonably priced menu of spa treats. Just don't expect to spend your time resting on comfy loungers in candlelight.
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?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
Champneys Town and City Spa is situated on the Old High Street in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Through its shop-front window, you can see a brightly lit sea of products: Elemis, Champneys, and Bare Minerals make-up. Heaven for product devotees!
How did they welcome you?
Two well-presented young ladies greeted me with polite, sparkling smiles. One of the two introduced herself as Kelly and gave me a consultation form. She directed me to a table at the back of the shop which was laden with magazines and surrounded by four mismatched chairs.
What happens next?
Kelly brought me a dainty cup of peppermint tea and offered me a tour of the building. We started on the ground floor, which consists of the retail area, a small reception and a fragrant treatment room used for Elemis facials. There is disabled access to this spacious room. Upstairs has a large landing complete with mani-pedi area with two large comfy chairs perfect for the job. This area was flooded with natural light from the sky-lights. There are four treatment rooms on the upper floor, a St Tropez tanning station (which Kelly said was very popular) and a toilet.
I recognised the pretty Laura Ashley wallpaper in the treatment rooms, synonymous with other Champneys Town and City spas. I particularly liked the black-and-white, retro spa photos that decorate the walls, as they convey a sense that wellbeing is a timeless necessity.
The tour ended back at the waiting area, where I sat reading the glossies until my therapist came and took me to a treatment room upstairs.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a back, neck and shoulder massage (25 minutes, £32) and a personalised facial (55 minutes, £55) combined with a Head in the Clouds head massage (25 minutes, £25).
What were the treatments like?
My therapist led me into a fair-sized treatment room, and advised that I should get undressed and lie face down under the cover, whilst she left the room. There was nowhere to put my bag or clothes, so I had to leave them to one side, on the floor. I laid under the Champneys-branded sheet and thin-but-warm blanket, with my face in the loop of the head rest.
My therapist came back, dimmed the lights and reduced the volume of the iPod's gentle music. She asked if I had any points on my back that I would like her to focus on. I insisted that the top of my back and shoulder blades were in dire need of attention, and that I liked deep and firm pressure. She proceeded to massage my back with one of my all-time favourite oils, Elemis's Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt. A scent sent to earth from spa heaven. Instantly relaxed and content, I settled down nicely.
I then received a pleasant massage with what would be classed as light-to-medium pressure. I twice encouraged firmer pressure from my therapist, but I didn't feel that she observed this. The pressure would increase then dwindle again. A couple of my troublesome shoulder knots were missed as a result.
My therapist then asked me to turn onto my back whilst she left the room, which I dutifully did. I tried to adjust the head rest for my comfort, but it came away in my hands! My therapist re-entered the room to find me looking embarrassed. She told me not to worry and placed it to one side.
After careful analysis of my face, my therapist concluded that I had dehydrated skin with a few blemishes. She cleansed, toned and moisturised my face with Champneys products. She applied a skin-refining microderm face polish to slough off my dead winter cells, and applied a chamomile and rose moisture mask to my parched skin. This was obviously very much needed.
My therapist then secured a cotton wool pad over each eye and gave me an amazing Head in the Clouds massage. I drifted way above the clouds and into sleepy la-la land. What a shame that this massage had to end! I came to with a snaffle, and my therapist recommended that I relax for another ten to fifteen minutes before getting ready to make my way downstairs.
How did you feel afterwards?
The back massage left me wanting more. I felt absolutely superb after my facial and head massage, though. My skin felt hydrated and refreshed and I felt calm and ready to take on the world. Or, rather, my bus journey home.
What happens afterwards?
I think I drifted for another five minutes (I hope it wasn't longer!) Back downstairs, my therapist showed me the products that she had used throughout my treatments, and was not pushy with selling them. I had a further nose around the other products and went on my way.
Was it worth it?
Champneys is reasonably priced, so yes, I'd say it was worth it for the facial and head massage.
What else could you have?
Champneys massages, facials, and body treatments, CACI treatments, St Tropez tanning, pregnancy massage and celebration packages. There's a range of Elemis spa therapies, waxing, manis, pedis and a couple of men's treatments thrown in for good measure.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
That there was no relaxation room where I could come back to earth after my Head in the Clouds treatment.
Who do you think would like it?
Champneys Town and City Spa is perfect for the ladies of Tunbridge Wells who are looking for a pick-me-up treatment after shopping at The Pantiles.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Champneys Tunbridge Wells 3 bubbles. These treatment rooms are a perfect place for a pop-in treatment, but not for a day spent lounging about.
A few things popped bubbles. Firstly, the minimal response to my requests for firm pressure during my massage. As there is no relaxation room, the waiting area could have had some comfy seating to relax in. Currently, the waiting area is not a place you would want to relax in after a treatment. Finally, there weren't enough soft touches to make the spa feel that little bit special.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Next time I'm in Tunbridge Wells, I might pop in for a facial or a head massage, as well as a stock-up on products.
We visited Champneys Tunbridge Wells in January 2010
See also:
* Contact Details for Champneys Town and City Tunbridge Wells
* Our Spa Spies review Champneys products
* How can I get a firm spa massage?
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