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Health du Vin, Birmingham - 3 bubbles
Sybaritic Spy is a fan of Hotels du Vin. Unusual buildings, comfortable beds, great food and wines, what more can you want? A spa, obviously. But Health du Vin in Birmingham left her feeling that this spa needs some TLC.
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?
First impressions?
All the Hotel du Vins are in interesting buildings: a brewery (Henley), a wine merchant's house (Brighton), a listed warehouse (Bristol), even a former Mansion House (Poole). The Birmingham Hotel du Vin is in the ornate, early Victorian building that was built as the local eye hospital. The hotel is well positioned in the Jewellery Quarter within walking distance of most of the museums, art galleries and shops.
Built around a grand, sweeping central staircase and canopied courtyard, the hotel is rather dark and Gothic. The bar and bistro are brighter, but the main hall, lifts and stairways are all gloomy. Dramatic gloomy (think Wuthering Heights) but gloomy all the same.
How did they welcome you?
Kindly. It was raining and they let us park right outside in one of their dedicated spaces.
What happens next?
We went down to the spa and had a mini-tour of the gym, the five treatment rooms, the sauna, the steam room and the drench shower. We confirmed my treatment time and booked my husband in for a pedicure. Or so we thought.
We had a delicious supper in the bistro -- fresh food, well cooked -- and went off to bed in our huge bedroom very happy.
Next morning, things were not quite so good. Having tried for about 45 minutes (and failed) to get a boiled egg for breakfast, we gave up and went down to the spa. I had a quick steam to warm up my muscles before my treatment and went along to the relaxation room to await my therapist.
And wait I did. She was 20 minutes late arriving. Although they did come and say she was on her way, no-one actually explained what was happening. When Kelly did arrive, she was obviously feeling very rushed and stressed. I wanted to tell her to take a few minutes to calm down before she began the treatment. Thankfully, the massage Kelly delivered seemed to help her focus and she gave a really excellent treatment.
Which treatments did you have?
An Espa Holistic back, neck and scalp massage with facial and hot stones. (£75 for 100 minutes).
What were the treatments like?
Delightful. Kelly was thoughtful and kept checking how I was feeling and if the massage was at the right pressure After a back cleanse, Kelly gave me a massage followed by hot stones on my neck and shoulders. I turned over and then had a facial, neck massage, and scalp massage.
Usually, I find the neck massage quite uncomfortable as I'm so tense, but Kelly was careful and worked the tense bits very gently. She had draped the treatment table with a duvet so when she stretched my arms and laid them down the side of the table, they rested on the soft duvet, rather than staying hanging in mid-air. This was much more comfortable and relaxing, so a good thoughtful touch.
How did you feel afterwards?
Wonderful. Very, very relaxed and quite spaced out. Top marks to Kelly.
What happens afterwards?
I spent a few minutes resting in the relaxation room, which has half-a-dozen black leather recliners. There are drinks to help yourself to: cold water, hot water for teas, some fruit and magazines and newspapers. A nice room, but the music was just plain weird: frantic drumming and modern electronic music is hardly what I expect in a relaxation room. Drumming does make a change from whale music but it made me want to get up and dance, or run away.
I planned to wait there while my husband had his pedicure, but they seemed to have lost any record of his appointment and they didn't have anyone available, so we gave up.
Long-term effects
My stressful lifestyle goes on, but I did feel looser and taller for a day or two.
Was it worth it?
Yes. The treatment itself was lovely.
What else could you have?
A wide range of Espa treatments including wraps, facials and the Espa lifesaving back treatment: ideal for men. Health du Vin also offers Jessica manicures and pedicures and St Tropez tanning treatments. You can also book in for reflexology, Indian head massage and Hopi ear candles.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
That the spa is so health-club orientated. For fitness bunnies, the health club is very well equipped. As well as a large, air conditioned gym with just about every piece of aerobic equipment you could ask for, the huge changing rooms are geared up for people who want to come to the gym and then go off to work. Weekdays, the spa is busy early morning, lunchtime and evening with health-club members. Plus, it is the only health club I have been to that has an iron and ironing board in the changing rooms -- and a wooden screen to hang clothes on. So they are serving their health-club members well. But it is at the expense of any sense of spa luxury.
Any special features?
Health du Vin rather lacks any special features -- which is a shame when their therapist is so good.
Who do you think would like it?
Health du Vin is good for a city-centre weekend break, especially if you can find one of their very good value offers.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Hotel du Vin Birmingham has comfortable rooms and an enjoyable bar and restaurant, but the spa itself was a little disappointing. The facilities are good: a decent-sized steam room and sauna, both nice and hot, and a huge drench shower. But there was a damp towel left from the day before that no-one bothered to take away. Some of the joints between the tiles were crumbling, and the underside of the seats in the steam room felt slimy.
The female changing room was reasonably tidy and clean, but the men's changing area had several areas that needed attention. A dripping soap container had been dripping for long enough to stain the marble underneath. An inspection-chamber cover in the floor had broken tiles around it and the urinal needed a deep clean.
So we gave Hotel du Vin Birmingham 3 bubbles. Apart from the cleaning issues, our general feeling was that this spa could do with some TLC. There are presentable treatment rooms and a pleasant relaxation area, but the spa was all a bit disorganised. The spa needs a firm hand and some imagination to turn it into a really good experience. This spa could easily earn another bubble or two with the right management.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
They do have a new spa manager who has apparently already made some improvements. I am looking forward to being invited back in a few months and being impressed.
We visited Health du Vin, Birmingham, in July 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for Health du Vin at Hotel du Vin, Birmingham
* Espa brand spotlight
* How can I make sure I get a firm massage?
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