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Molton Brown Day Spa, Bluewater - 3 bubbles
Molton Brown Day spa is buried in the middle of Bluewater shopping centre. Walk ten paces north from Waterstones café and start digging for spa gold, shopped-out Sassy Spy advises. She took a friend for spa fun. They both enjoyed the treatments in the lotus pods, and loved the Molton Brown products, but were unimpressed by the shower curtain.
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?
I'd never been to Bluewater shopping centre before and was feeling a little overwhelmed. I hoped Molton Brown Day Spa would be a haven away from the retail madness. We could see the spa on the enormous Bluewater map, but my friend and I couldn't work out how to get to it! If you haven't been to the Molton Brown Day Spa before, head to Waterstones, walk all the way to the back of the store, through the cafe, and you'll come out by the opaque, frosted doors of the spa.
My mind was put at rest when we finally found the spa and I was beckoned inside by a warm, orangey glow. As you walk through the doors, there's a reception desk to your right. To your left, the room opens up into a spacious, wooden-floored reception area, where there is a large selection of Molton Brown products for sale.
How did they welcome you?
Elaine, the spa's Business Development Manager, greeted us warmly and showed us around the spa. She told us that Molton Brown had just introduced a new spa therapies menu, so we had come to visit at a good time.
What happens next?
Elaine asked if we'd like a drink of juice or water, then we walked round the far end of the reception area and into the treatment rooms section. This area opened up to a central raised walkway with wooden huts leading off at various points. Each hut contains a treatment room. Above each hut was a futuristic "swoosh" shape, with different coloured lights reflecting and changing slowly on each one. All very stylish.
There were large, lightly fragranced candles burning throughout the room. The lighting was great: quite light but not intrusive. A scattering of greenery about the spa gave it a real "urban retreat" feel.
Elaine took our coats and asked that we take off our shoes. She handed us Molton-Brown-branded slippers and a beige waffle dressing gown each. The gown was light-weight rather than sumptuous, and mine had a noticeable hole by the pocket. It would have taken two minutes to sew this up, or -- even better -- why not give me a different one?
On one side of the room there were plenty of lockers with a small cotton bag attached to each key. This was to keep your jewellery in: a nice little touch.
Elaine took us through a beaded curtain to the changing rooms. We were greeted by three illuminated mirrors and a table with an inviting variety of Molton Brown goodies to try out. On each side of the dressing table was a changing room, one with a door to lock, the other with a curtain to pull across. Both changing rooms were pretty compact.
We changed into our robes and slippers and slipped back through the beaded curtain, to the soft seating area, filled out our health forms, and sipped our cranberry juice, which was waiting for us.
Our consultation forms asked us how we'd like to feel at the end of our treatment and the areas we wanted the therapists to concentrate on. I decided that I'd like to feel "purified and cleansed", and that my arms and legs were in particular need of exfoliation.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Ambrusca Purifying Kese ritual (£95 for 75 minutes) and my friend had the Skin Awakening Up-lifting facial (£115 for 90 minutes).
Our treatments lasted a slightly different amount of time, with mine finishing first, but our therapists explained that I could chill out in the relaxation area at the end and wait for my friend there.
What were the treatments like?
We each followed our therapists to our assigned treatment rooms (or as Molton Brown like to call them, "lotus pods").
The Ambrusca Purifying Kese ritual
Michelle, my therapist, looked through my form, and explained what the treatment would involve. She said that she would use one of Molton Brown's new product lines called Ambrusca, designed to put life back into dull skin. It sounded ideal. I declined the offer of a hair mask. (It was a Friday, and I was going out that evening).
The wooden walled, ample sized treatment room had dimmed lighting, a couch in the middle and a curtained floor-to-ceiling window. Light music was playing. Michelle told me to remove my underwear and change into some paper knickers while she left the room. There was a small wardrobe to one side of the dressing table, in which I hung my gown; pants in pocket.
I lay face down on the couch and covered myself with a towel. Through the hole in the face rest, I could see a cut-out in the floor of a low-lit flower behind glass. A nice touch and much better than looking at a floor.
Michelle returned and sprayed some relaxing room-mist into the air. She told me to take a few deep breaths, to help me start relaxing. She checked that I was warm enough and that I was comfy, then she gently wiped my hands and feet with a hot flannel. She moved silently about my body and ensured that each part of me was aware of itself and connected.
Michelle uncovered each of my legs and drizzled delicious hot oil from heel to upper thigh. As she drizzled, she followed the oil with her hand and massaged it into my skin. Michelle repeated this on my arms from hand to shoulder, then I turned over and she repeated the process on the fronts of my limbs and upper chest. What a delicious sensation.
Michelle then applied an exfoliating scrub, using a kese body-mitt. I liked the way that she kept me informed about what she was doing throughout the treatment, and was happy to answer any questions. After she applied the scrub, Michelle showed me to the shower and asked me to wash off all the exfoliant. She had laid out some fresh towels, and a new gown for me, along with some Ambrusca body wash. Excellent! Shame that the shower curtain was mouldy; what a pity after the rest of the spa was so clean.
When I returned to the treatment room, Michelle brought me some more water, and asked me to lie on my front so she could apply a hot collagen mask to my back. There was a small "oven" in the room, hidden behind closed, slightly squeaky doors, and this was where all the heavenly, warm potions were coming from. After applying the mask to my back, Michelle asked me to flip over for the same treatment all over my limbs and my tummy. Once she'd applied the mask, she covered each limb and my body with a light sheet which clung to the mask. Michelle expertly lifted me up, covering my modesty, and reapplied the mask to my back. My parched skin was slurping up this mask quick time!
Michelle placed a warm wheat-bag over my belly; this was delightfully comforting. I already had a towel covering my front but Michelle added a warm, soft duvet and said that I would stay tucked up for 15 - 20 minutes, while she gave me a tension-relieving scalp massage. The treatment was truly amazing. I'd felt calm and serene before, but now I just felt plain heavenly.
Everything went a bit blurry... I eventually came round with a snuffle. Eyes still closed, I realised that Michelle was quietly telling me that she was going to remove the duvet and the wrap. I was dazed, to say the least. Michelle mentioned that there was none of the mask left, so my skin had most definitely been thirsty.
She lifted up the head and shoulder area of the couch and proceeded to massage my neck a little, then sat me up and asked me to put my hand behind my head, to give me a stretch. I felt this did little, as I am very flexible. I would have liked it if she'd asked me if she'd stretched me enough or if I wanted more.
The Skin Awakening Up-lifting facial
My friend reported that she enjoyed this facial, but it was "a bit boring". What? How can a facial be boring?! She explained that it was a treatment designed for more mature ladies, and the therapist had concentrated on working over her whole face very slowly, twisting each tiny part of it, retraining the muscles. Apparently, this retraining just went on and on and on... As her skin is wrinkle-free (and blemish-free, lucky lady), this treatment was perhaps an inappropriate choice for her. However, she reported that her therapist was great and very professional, and that she really liked the Molton Brown products.
How did you feel afterwards?
I felt cleansed, softened, positive and happy. I was very relaxed and impressed with my treatment.
My friend felt good, if a little put out by all that face twisting.
What happens afterwards?
Michelle told me to dress in my own time and play with the Molton Brown products by the sink, which I did.
Afterwards, there was a berry sorbet waiting for me in the relaxation area and another glass of water. Top marks to Molton Brown for hydration!
Was it worth it?
Yes, although Molton Brown Day Spa does err on the expensive side. My friend thought that £115 was a lot to pay for her 90-minute facial.
What else could you have?
Molton Brown's new menu comprises of 22 treatments: facials, massages, body polishes, grooming and eight different sorts of what they call "Global Treasures". You can have anything from Chinese-influenced massage to Middle-Eastern-style body cleansing, via Hawaiian massage. There are express treatments for shoppers in a hurry, treatments for men and mums-to-be, and a small range of beauty therapies.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
On our previous visit to Molton Brown Day Spa, our reviewer arrived just in time for her appointment, and not for the 15 minutes extra beforehand that the spa suggests. This meant that she was considered "late", which added to her sense of feeling rushed.
I hadn't been told by the spa that these 15 minutes were crucial but (luckily!) I'd read our previous review so arrived early, in case the same was true again. It was. So don't dilly-dally and get there 15 minutes before your treatment time.
Any special features?
The spa is in the middle of an amazing shopping centre!
Who do you think would like it?
Ladies who love to shop till they drop. When we visited, there were no men present, so it felt a little like a ladies-only spa. Having said that, Molton Brown would be a perfect haven for shopped-out men, too.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Molton Brown Day Spa 3 bubbles. The spa was clean and tidy and the environment was invitingly relaxing. There was a pleasant sense of hush about the place, and customers seemed to be naturally inclined to speak at an appropriate volume. I couldn't hear any noises from my treatment room.
There were a lot of towels on offer and there were plenty of products to try. However, the changing rooms were tiny; any more than three spa-goers would have felt like a squeeze. Also, the spa let themselves down on a few small touches: my first robe had holes in, and the shower curtain in my treatment room was mouldy. Small things make big differences to a spa experience. I would have given Molton Brown Day Spa 4 bubbles if these details hadn't popped a bubble for me.
See more on how we rate the spas.
Would you go again?
Yes, if I was shopping at Bluewater. I would go at the end of my shopping spree for post-retail revival. We visited Molton Brown Day Spa in January 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for Molton Brown Day Spa
* All Spa Spy Reviews
* Facials
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