 |
 |
 |
Refinery, Brook Street, Mayfair - 4 bubbles
Our male spy was invited to the treatment rooms for men at The Refinery for their new wellbeing treatment. He enjoyed the top-notch customer service, their commitment to quality, and their willingness to offer new treatments in a man-friendly environment. He'll be back.
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?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
Very good. The Mayfair branch of the Refinery (the other is in Harrods) is a single-fronted shop premise with a canopied entrance on Brook Street. These treatment rooms are in the plutocratic heart of Mayfair, not far from Bond Street in one direction and the Gavroche in the other. A small shop area has a counter that was doubling, on our visit, as shop counter and reception desk for the treatment rooms. The front area has a clean, white-tiled floor and dark-wood shelving with neatly arranged products, including Dermalogica, Crew, Japanese Kyoku, and their own Refinery range, which runs from face scrub to shave oil.
How did they welcome you?
The greeting was brisk and efficient. I was actually about five minutes late, but there was no panic. My masseuse, Nicky, appeared within seconds, and asked me to go through to the waiting area. The waiting area has comfortable leather seats and magazines, with a slight air of an airport business lounge in miniature, right down to a plasma screen TV showing BBC News 24. I hate rolling news channels, and don't especially want to be reminded of Afghanistan immediately before a relaxing treatment, but others were glued. Barely had I sat down, however, than Nicky called me through.
What happens next?
Nicky led me down two flights of stairs and into a very sultry small treatment room, permeated with strong aromatherapy fragrances. The steaminess and the pronounced scent of lime in the air made me feel I was (somewhere respectable) in Bangkok. Nicky left me to get undressed and lie down on a narrow table set with a plethora of towels. After a couple of minutes, a knock, and Nicky came back in.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the new The Refinery wellbeing treatment (£90, 75 minutes). This is a holistic face and body treatment that "aims to provide a deep sense of calm through gentle rocking and rotation movements, followed by a gentle and cleansing facial and massage".
What were the treatments like?
Very good. Nicky dimmed the lights to sepulchral level, and explained what the treatment would consist of, and that the aim of it was to leave the body feeling supremely relaxed. My treatment began with a circular trip around my body -- arm, leg, leg, arm -- with Nicky extending my muscles as in a gym warm-down, and rotating my elbow, wrist, knee and ankle joints. There followed a prolonged foot massage with abrasive gloves and aroma oils. This was deeply relaxing, with Nicky manipulating pressure points along the soles and sides of my feet. At different times in the treatment, Nicky rocked my whole body from side to side; this rocking created a nice sense of weightlessness and surrender, like being on a very gentle fairground ride. Finally, Nicky carried out a facial cleansing treatment, followed by Indian head massage. This massage utilised the bone structure of my skull, softening my neck muscles and frizzing my scalp, interspersed with two-handed pressure in the centre of my chest. The whole treatment was wonderfully therapeutic. Nicky worked quietly and unhurriedly, to a backdrop of Indian-effect muzak, with the soft ploshing of water in a sink somewhere behind me.
How did you feel afterwards?
I felt faintly spacey at the end of my treatment, immensely relaxed and in a border zone between light sleep and waking. My head was very tingly. My feet felt so delicious, I was almost reluctant to stand up and put my weight back on them. I also smelt divine, if I say so myself.
What happens afterwards?
Nicky gave me a fresh cup of water, and invited me to get dressed and drift back up to reception in my own time.
Long-term effects
My face looked very glowy and clean when I came out. The feeling of contentment lasted just about as long as it took me to get on the Central Line, but the stiffness I'm used to in the joints of my feet had gone.
Was it worth it?
The Wellbeing treatment is quite an expensive routine, but the benefits are as advertised. Deborah told me afterwards the thinking behind this treatment is that men don't always want rough handling. The treatment is intended to be hypnotically soothing, with an almost babyish solicitude in rocking the body and manipulating the joints. They don't stint on the oils and lotions, and I felt cleansed and relaxed afterwards, as promised. So, yes, it was worth it.
What else could you have?
The works. Barbering, a range of massages from aromatherapy to synchronised to sports and deep-tissue, depilatory treatments including intimate waxing, hair-colouring, manicures and pedicures, detoxing skin treatments (such as mud wraps), and even polarised light treatments for damaged veins.
Who do you think would like it?
The more adventurous male-grooming type. Manager Deborah told me they have introduced some daring aromatherapy fragrances such as rose oil, without any eyelids being noticeably batted. The Refinery is definitely for boys who like to look after themselves, and who have a fair amount of disposable income to dispose on doing so. The feeling of a private club is welcoming rather than alienating. The Refinery doesn't feel in the least "exclusive" in the bad sense, but there is an air of quality about the treatments and products. The staff on my visit seemed to be entirely female, so The Refinery might be a good bet for guys who are shy about being massaged by another man.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave The Refinery a well deserved 4 bubbles. The Refinery is more treatment rooms than "spa" in its atmosphere and offering. However, they have the right customer approach, a commitment to quality, and an evident willingness to try out new things, rather than relying on a tried-and-trusted repertoire.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
I certainly would. Deborah tells us that the reception area is going to change, when the two functions of "shop selling products" and "reception area for the treatments" will be usefully separated. This will enhance the feeling of a private club that The Refinery has, and we're looking forward to seeing how it works.
We visited The Refinery in December 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for The Refinery
* Treatments for men
* Deep tissue massage
|
|
|