Review of Portland Hall Spa, Southport

Portland Hall Spa, Southport - 4 bubbles

It's not every day you find a spa in what used to be a synagogue, but Portland Hall Day Spa in central Southport is one. Its Moroccan theme and professional treatments make it a unique proposition for a pamper, but it's best to plan your pampering in advance. There are few frills on offer, but if you are looking for a day-spa bargain, head along the A565.

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?

The outside of the building is imposing; this was once a Quaker meeting hall and then a synagogue. There are precious parking spaces through the narrow gate, to the side of the building and along the front. The initial reception area is a little stark, with a dark wood reception desk, and they could perhaps make this are a little less forbidding. However, once you're through into the lounge and relaxation area, you can begin to relax on the soft sofas and cushions, sipping your Moroccan mint tea. The building has been sympathetically converted to retain many of the original windows, and the colourful stained glass gives the spa a rococo air, further enhanced by natural wooden floors, old timber, and exotic textiles.

How did they welcome you?

In a very friendly fashion.

What happens next?

My spa experience began in the small changing room, which contained perhaps the fewest frills I have ever seen in a spa changing room. There is a small bank of lockers, a bench -- which had my robe and slippers laid out on it -- and a sink with a couple of hairdryers. That's it. No showers, no lotions or potions, no dinky little individually wrapped cotton buds (which I sadly got used to on a recent trip to Japan). No frills, in fact. Once I had changed into my robe and the flip-flops I'd brought (I am not a fan of pre-worn towelling slippers, which were on offer), my therapist, Michelle, took me down a narrow black-and-white tiled corridor to the spa pool. This was candlelit, with a starry ceiling over the pool, some white plastic chairs to sit on around the edges, and a white ceramic shower stall to wash in before you got in the water. Michelle showed me the best place to step into the pool and how to turn on the jets. She then left me to lie back and relax, so I took the opportunity to press all the buttons to see what they did, as I always do. And the result was a satisfying mass of bubbles. There is a nice atmosphere in this room: five tall, narrow windows with candles continue the meditative theme. After a little while, Michelle came in bearing some chilled water and a skewer of fresh fruit. She advised me that my private time in the pool was coming to an end, so perhaps I'd like to eat my fruit and try the sauna before returning to the changing room. It felt suitably decadent to be munching fresh pineapple in a candlelit bubble-bath at 9.30 in the morning. The wooden sauna is small, but as you only ever use it alone or with a friend, large enough and warm enough. Muscles warmed, it was time to change out of my wet swimsuit and don my robe for my treatment. The no frills extended to no plastic bag to put my wet swimwear in, and no spin-dryer to get rid of the worst of the wet. Luckily, I had brought my own bag, at least. Attired once again in my towelling robe, I went back to the reception area, where Michelle was waiting to take me up to the first floor for my treatment. (She also treated me to a little tour of the spa. There are several treatment rooms, largely warmly decorated with a Moroccan theme, two double treatment rooms for those moments a deux -- one with a beautiful stained glass window -- and a brightly coloured Rasul, which adjoins one of the double treatment rooms.)

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Kimia facial (60 minutes, £65). Seasoned spa spy I may be, but this was a spa brand new to me and I welcomed the opportunity to try a different experience.

What were the treatments like?

Fantastic. I am a great fan of massage, and the Kimia facial certainly incorporates a lot of this, making it an unusual facial, but a very relaxing one.

My treatment room was small but clean, with a standard massage bed in the centre, and a couple of Elemis posters on the walls. There is a small art gallery downstairs, exhibiting originals by local artists, and I couldn't help but feel that there was a missed opportunity to showcase a dramatic work of art on the treatment-room walls.

I took off my robe, hung it on the back of the door, and started the treatment lying face-down on the massage table, with my face in a face-holder for added comfort. As I stared at the wooden floorboards, I noticed another missed opportunity, as some spas enliven this view with an aromatherapy bowl. With flowers in. I gathered myself under a printed sheet -- a nice change from white towelling -- and waited for Michelle.

On her return, Michelle began the treatment by using hot flannels on my feet. I always think this is a great start to a treatment, as it is a signal to relax. Michelle then asked me to take three deep breaths; on the three "out" breaths, she aligned first my legs, then my arms. She poured oil on my back and began a massage of my back, neck and shoulders that wasn't as deep as a Swedish massage, but was strong enough to relax me and dissipate tension.

I turned over onto my front for the facial. Michelle cleansed and exfoliated, then used Kimia Exquisite all natural face oil to massage my face: bit by bit, line by line. I am a great believer in facial massage having long-lasting effects on your complexion, so this therapy suited me completely. If you prefer a facial with masks, this isn't for you. But if you want a treatment that will help the lymphatic drainage of your facial tissues, and hence sparkling skin, the Kimia facial comes highly recommended.

Michelle also used hand and arm massage, some scalp massage, and got me to relax: a great result for a facial.

There are wooden floors throughout Portland Hall Day Spa, and this can make the traffic going past your treatment room noisily distracting, as can the overheard conversations from therapists and clients as they walk past; a sense of hush would be welcome!

How did you feel afterwards?

Nicely relaxed.

What happens afterwards?

I had lunch, which I chose from a buffet with carrot and coriander soup, salmon and chicken, freshly prepared on the premises, and a variety of salads, including green salad and couscous.

Before I left, I had my hair washed and blown dry, which seemed a sensible end to a spa day. After all, you don't want to get into a shower and wash off those precious oils which are still nurturing your skin; yet neither do you want to set off down the A565 looking like a refugee from The Addams Family with oil plastering your hair upright.

Was it worth it?

Portland Hall Day Spa provides good value, especially if you look for their special offers. Some of their packages are pampering bargains.

What else could you have?

Portland Hall is mainly an Elemis Day Spa, with plenty of facials and massages on offer. The Kimia treatments are new, as is the Universal Contour Wrap inch-loss programme. Another unusual treatment is the Spa Jet, which uses infra-red heat and water massage in a bid to reduce your cellulite or ease your stress. There's a Rasul, for fun with a friend, and dry floatation beds, for serious relaxation. You can also have Reiki or reflexology, hand and foot treatments, tanning, waxing and tints.

What do you wish you'd known before you went?

You can park outside!

Any special features?

Stained glass is something you see in far too few spas, in my opinion. Also, being able to have your hair washed and dried after your treatments is pretty good. (Don't forget to book this in advance.)

Who do you think would like it?

Portland Hall Day Spa has a very particular offering, which won't suit everybody. The management of people throughout the spa means that you do have a very private experience -- you don't share the spa pool with anyone, you will have the changing rooms to yourself -- but that means no spontaneity. You can't just suddenly decide you need some warm bubbles, as the pool will probably be booked. This spa is for people who plan their pampering in advance, not those who live life on the spa edge.

Portland Hall Day Spa will also appeal if you fancy no-frills spa-ing. It's the only spa I've ever been to that explains it will issue you with one towel, and if you want more, you may like to bring your own!

There's no gym, no swimming pool, no steam room; there is a large space to relax in, though, so if you're looking to chill, you'll like it here.

The spa will appeal most to those looking for a little peace, privacy and proper me-time.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Portland Hall Day Spa 4 bubbles because we felt that its offering would suit some people very well. If you like lounging about on sofas, you'll love it. If you want a full-on spa experience with swimming pool, gym, and unguents and towels galore, head elsewhere. There were places that could be slightly softer, such as the changing rooms; this is where people start and end their spa day and they are very basic, which doesn't make a great impression. The echo-y reception area could also be softened, too, and there are points where a little extra touch could go a long way.

See more on how we rate the spas.

Would you go again?

If I lived locally and was looking for a spot of pampering, yes. I am not sure there would be enough to occupy me for a whole day, though; my morning spa pool, treatment, hair-wash and lunch seemed perfectly timed.

We visited Portland Hall in April 2009

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