 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ritual Day Spa, Norwich - 3 bubbles
We sent our biggest Elemis fan to these central Norwich treatment rooms because we knew she loved the products. She did indeed love her massage, wasn't too sure about the facial, but felt that the treatments were very good value. She yearned for a relaxation room, though, to make the spa feel... well, like a proper spa.
Was it easy to book?
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?
Was it easy to book?
We were invited to The Ritual Day Spa, but check out bookings in advance: the spa can get busy.
First impressions?
First impressions may be misleading. The Ritual Day Spa, based in the centre of Norwich's shopping district, is really two separate experiences: a busy hair and nail salon on the ground floor, and a day spa on the first and second floors.
I felt that I had arrived at a hairdresser's, not a spa. Hair dryers were at full blast whilst I waited downstairs for my therapist to finish her previous treatment.
How did they welcome you?
After a few minutes, the spa manager greeted me and ushered me upstairs into the actual spa area on the first floor. I seated myself on a comfy sofa on the (narrow) landing.
Upstairs, the atmosphere was very different. The spa has eight treatment rooms spread over two floors. The rooms include a good-size double treatment room for couples or two friends. A relaxation room is "in progress" and should open later in 2008. The spa was attractively decorated in typical Elemis salon-style using oriental-esque fabrics, flowers and candles.
What happens next?
I met my therapist, who offered me a glass of water while I completed a very comprehensive Elemis health questionnaire. We chatted through the form in detail and I was grilled on everything from alcohol and caffeine consumption to whether I suffered from claustrophobia.
We also discussed my current skin-care concerns. My skin had become drier and more sensitive following a recent viral infection. The therapist said that she would tailor my Elemis Pro-collagen facial, changing some of the products to suit my skin. Then she showed me into the treatment room and left me to get undressed.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Elemis Absolute Spa Ritual (£85, 120 minutes), including a deep-tissue full-body massage and anti-ageing facial.
What were the treatments like?
Lovely. The two treatments were blended together so there was no gap between the body massage (which came first) and the facial. My therapist was extremely competent and used an Elemis de-stress oil to massage my body with slow firm strokes. The massage lasted well over an hour -- but the time passed swiftly. I like a massage with firm pressure and this one certainly did the trick. The only part of the massage which actually hurt was when my therapist massaged my lower back. Apparently, I was storing a lot of tension in the buttock area...
The facial came next. My therapist applied a chamomile cleanser and swiftly removed it with some delicious apricot cleanser. (I love the smell of Elemis products, can't you tell?)
Shortly afterwards, I understood why she had asked me about claustrophobia. The anti-ageing bit of the facial -- a silk mask impregnated with pro-collagen booster serum -- left me feeling a bit panicky. Having a cloth mask stuck to your face, when the mask feels like it has paralysed your facial muscles, isn't the most pleasant way of passing the time. I was relieved when this bit was over.
The facial finished with a rose-scented gentle exfoliating scrub; my therapist applied some soothing moisturiser for sensitive skin.
A tiny niggle: there was no communication from my therapist as to what she was doing or what products she was using, so I had to ask constantly. I'm sure many people prefer to have treatments in silence, but I like to know what products are being used.
How did you feel afterwards?
I felt very relaxed. My skin (and most of my hair) was still covered with oil. There were a few exfoliating granules left on my face, together with some of my eye make-up, which had reached half way down my cheeks. It would have been nice if this had been removed properly.
What happens afterwards?
My therapist left me to relax for a few moments and then told me to get dressed and meet her back on the sofa on the first floor. I would have liked to spend a bit of time in a relaxation area afterwards rather than my tiny treatment room. The spa is planning to open one soon, we hear.
There was a shower cubicle in my treatment room and I wanted to wash off all the oil, but I wasn't sure whether I should wash off the products or not. I was also running out of time, so I went downstairs for a debrief, still covered in massage oil.
One more niggle: while getting dressed, I noticed that the face-cloths used in my treatments had been thrown on the floor. I know that they were going to be cleaned away later, but couldn't they have gone in a bin?
Back on the sofa, we chatted about the treatment. My therapist thought I would benefit from monthly back massages to sort out my knotted back and shoulders. I agreed!
She also informed me that I absolutely must use toner on my face as I have blackheads on my nose. (Surely not! Open pores yes, blackheads no, I'm 37 for goodness' sake?)
Long-term effects
My back and shoulders felt much more relaxed for several days after my treatments. Once I had removed the debris of eye make-up, my skin definitely looked plumper, smoother and more glowing. Some of the fine lines around my eyes were possibly a little less noticeable.
Was it worth it?
Yes. At £85 for a two-hour treatment, this was very good value for money in the spa world.
What else could you have?
A whole host of Elemis massages, scrubs, wraps and facials, Jessica manicures and pedicures, waxes, Bobbi Brown make-up consultations, and treatments for men.
The hairdressing salon downstairs in The Ritual Day Spa is the only Aveda salon in Norwich. You can have treatments for two in the double treatment room, and the spa can organise treatment parties for groups of six or more (adults or teenagers).
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Not to drink a two-shot latte before entering the spa. I was desperate for the loo during the middle of my treatment and had to ask to be excused.
Any special features?
Despite the "day spa" name, The Ritual Day Spa is really a set of treatment rooms. When the relaxation room is completed, it will probably feel more like a proper spa.
Who do you think would like it?
Ladies who lunch in Norwich who want a change from their regular beauty salon.
Elemis and Aveda fans would like The Ritual Day Spa, too. Couples could give the double treatment room a go.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave The Ritual Day Spa a high 3 bubbles. My treatment was good and my therapist was competent and professional. A lack of a relaxation room and a few niggles dropped it down from any higher bubble-rating.
The Elemis salon-style decoration only partially masked a slightly shabby old, narrow building. Call me fussy (I am) but wood-chip wallpaper in the loos, a lack of lovely products to try, and distinctly unfluffy towels (blame it on East Anglian hard water) were features that detracted from the whole spa experience.
My treatment room was very small and narrow. There was room for a bed and not much else. More communication from my therapist during my treatment, and a tidy home for used face cloths wouldn't have gone amiss, either.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Possibly, yes, when the relaxation room is ready. I'd like to have a treatment in a bigger treatment room next time and wouldn't mind trying out the Aveda hair salon downstairs.
We visited Ritual Day Spa in July 2008
See also:
* Contact Details for Ritual Day Spa
* Deep tissue massage
* Facials: How to choose the right one for you
|
|
|