Review of Sanook Spa, Soho

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Sanook Spa at the Courthouse Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton, Soho - 4 bubbles

Sweet Spy tried a Winter Warmer body treatment in the small but perfectly formed Oriental-influenced spa in the basement of the imposing Courthouse DoubleTree hotel in central London. A private swimming pool, attentive staff and a skin-softening scrub and massage added up to four bubbles for Sanook!

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?

I was invited to come along, but you need to book your time in advance at Sanook, even use of the swimming pool is by appointment only - a rare chance to be totally private in a central London space.

First impressions?

This central London hotel used to be the UK's second-oldest magistrates court. The hotel has 116 rooms, with 13 suites in what were once the judges' robing rooms. The entrance on Great Marlborough Street feels rather institutional with its tiled corridor, however, once you arrive in the stylish, modern reception, you're back in the 21st Century.

"Sanook" (which means "Enjoy yourself" or "Fun" in Thai) is in the basement. Throughout, the emphasis is on dim lighting and Sanook's Thai theme lends an Oriental tranquillity to the space. Sanook is small, but cleverly designed to make the most of what's available. The spa reception is tiny, and there’s also a compact exercise room with a cross trainer and other exercise machines. The changing room has about twelve lockers but two people in there is a squeeze. There is one shower, which comes with sample sizes of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.

I didn't stay in the hotel on this visit, but another Good Spa Spy had this to say:

"The room was comfortable, with paid-for Wi-Fi and a 'state of the art' media system, which I couldn't get to work. You also get a minibar, which contained a nice selection of waters, elderflower juice and fruit juices, but no tea or coffee making facilities - you have to call room service for that.

The bathroom was small but immaculate (hyper clean and brown marble) with Kempinski-branded products. Nice touches were the weighing scales (or was that just sadism after my dinner?), the magnifying mirror and scented loo paper.

The bed was comfortable with crisp sheets. Although I was in central London, my sixth-floor room was quiet. In the morning, we had a buffet-style breakfast in the tiled-floor restaurant. You can choose cereals, fresh fruit, rolls and preserves, or the traditional cooked affair."

How did they welcome you?

The staff were very friendly and welcoming.

What happens next?

The receptionist asked me to fill in a standard consultation form. The spa provides a useful booklet (which they'll send you in the post if you ask), which not only outlines the treatments they offer but also provides useful advice on what to wear during a treatment and general spa etiquette. Your locker comes with a robe and slippers, but it's only a short walk from the changing room to the pool so you haven't got to travel very far in them.

The pool is warm and the lighting is dim. Frankly, a bit dark for me. As part of making the most of the space, there's a glass-floored relaxation area over the pool. This cuts down the room available for energetic splashing about, but creates a tranquil space to have a treatment in. I felt a little eerie swimming in an empty spa, as if I'd just wandered in and decided to take a dip. Then I started thinking about the history of the building and how prisoners would have been kept in basement cells, and I got a little freaked out! There is a sauna, which was, by contrast, bright and light.

Which treatments did you have?

I had a Winter Warmer Spice Experience (90 minutes, £75).

What were the treatments like?

I had my Winter Warmer Spice Experience in one of the two treatment rooms just off the main spa reception. Fortunately, the room was particularly festive and cosy with candlelight, warm, twinkly-but-unobtrusive music and lightly scented with mulled spices.

The Winter Warmer Spice Experience at Sanook aims to "bring together all the exotic ingredients of Asian beauty rituals to create the perfect body polish and muscle-melting wrap infused with cinnamon, cloves, ginger and sandalwood." The body scrub was just the right amount of scrubbyness for my liking (but hardcore exfoliation fans might find it a little tame) then my therapist wrapped me in plastic, made sure I was warm and comfortable and got to work on my head massage.

I've never had an Indian head massage before, this felt quite delicate and a bit like the sort of head massage you get at the hairdressers. Definitely more of a filler than dedicated treatment, but I enjoyed it. I liked the feeling that there was no dead time during the treatment. I wasn't left on my own at any point and had constant attention.

After the head massage, I popped back into the changing room to shower off. Whilst I was de-scrubbifying, my therapist swapped my robe and slippers for fresh ones. I donned these, and headed back into the treatment room where my therapist moisturised me, and gave me a relaxing back and shoulder massage.

How did you feel afterwards?

After my treatment, my therapist told me to drink plenty of water. That made sense, but I couldn't find any, so I was a little thirsty! Other than that, I felt smooth, de-stressed, and toasty. Just the remedy for a morning's wandering in a snowy London.

What happens afterwards?

As part of the Winter Warmer Spice Experience you also get a glass of mulled wine or herbal tea afterwards. Once I'd showered and changed, my therapist took me up to the Carnaby Restaurant for my drink. I felt a little out of place as it was filled with people on business lunches; it would have been nicer to have the mulled wine downstairs by the pool, perhaps.

Long-term effects

I had a few days of slightly smoother skin.

Was it worth it?

For the treatment, and the sense of royalty you get from having an empty spa to yourself, I'd say Sanook is definitely good value for money. If you're staying at the hotel, use of the gym facilities of Sanook, including the swimming pool, is complimentary -- just be sure to book the time in advance.

What else could you have?

For such a small spa, Sanook has a wide and imaginative range of treatments. From Dermalogica facials and body treatments Swedish massage, Indian head massage and a whole range of beauty treatments.

But Sanook's signature packages really stand out.If you're feeling indulgent, book an afternoon of naughtiness, you get afternoon tea (the naughty bit) in the Carnaby Restaurant followed by a 75 minute intensive Dermalogica facial or an aromatherapy massage.

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

I wish I'd booked more time so that I could have tried the Deluxe Hot Stone Pedicure.

Any special features?

They do some great package deals, so keep an eye on the Good Spa Guide Hot Deals page for details.

Who do you think would like it?

Anyone who needs (or wants) to stay in central London and build some downtime into the busy-ness. Sanook is not the place for you if fitness is a priority as you might find the small pool and exercise area quite limiting. If you're after some unwinding, Sanook should suit you very well.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Sanook 4 bubbles because although the spa is tiny, the staff look after you well. What stopped Sanook getting 5 bubbles? The fact that the space is so small you bump into things.

The fact that you have the spa to yourself is absolutely gorgeous. The downside is that when you are relaxed, there isn't anywhere for you to hang around relaxing. The spa would benefit from a chill-out room so that you don't have to timetable your return to the real world.

See more on how we rate the spas

Would you go again?

Yes please!

We visited Sanook in December 2009.

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