Review of Radisson Edwardian Manchester (Sienna Day Spa)

Radisson Edwardian Manchester (Sienna Day Spa) - 4 bubbles

Sustainable Spy was invited to review the Sienna Spa in Manchester's Radisson Edwardian hotel. She discovered a stylish subterranean spa, deep in the vaults of what used to be the city's Free Trade Hall. She loved their incredibly helpful staff, superb facilities and zen-like blue-lit pool so much, she'll be hitting the North again soon…

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?

Fabulously glitzy. Awash with uniformed doormen who spring into action and usher you into the busy lobby. The hotel felt bustling and alive. There's a packed coffee shop, and I could just peep into the absurdly glamorous Opus bar and restaurant. A riot of dramatic black and scarlet, with gold and crocodile-skin touches.

Mancunian friends assure me that the Radisson Edwardian is the best place in Manchester for a Martini. Alas, I had no time to see if that was true, so I walked past the Finishing Touches nail salon and trotted down the stairs to the Sienna Spa.

How did they welcome you?

Cheerfully. Clive was on reception. After five minutes in his company, it was clear that every spa needs a Clive. He assigned me a credit-card style key, gave me a robe and spa slippers and despatched me to the changing room.

What happens next?

The changing rooms were clean and tidy. There was a wall of lockers and a bench to put your bags. I could see that more than six people would be a bit of a challenge for space. One of the four showers was out of order but was clearly marked, so no confusion there. But I was perplexed by the design of the door in the showers. When the door opens or closes, half of the door blocks off half of the shower! I could see that for anyone who wasn't especially sylph-like, this might be a squeeze.

I changed into my gym gear and met Clive back at reception for a mini-tour. The gym is well-stocked with a range of equipment. Everything was clean and in good working order. The Sienna Spa has two relaxation rooms leading directly off from the gym. My first instinct was to roll my eyes and think -- how un-relaxing to hear the pounding treadmill, but clever Sienna Spa had thought of that and the relaxation rooms were both sound-proofed. Ingenious.

One room faces the pool and is subtly lit, there are wicker sofas and chairs, piles of glossy magazines, a bowl of green apples, ice-water, juice and herbal teas plus the entire range of [ comfort zone ] to try out.

The other relaxation room is in one of the vaults, so has no windows, but is a warm, cocooning space, again well-stocked with drinks, apples and magazines. One tiny complaint -- the set-up clearly encourages sitting down, rather than lying down. Often, after a great treatment, I rather like to catch a few zzzs! I'd have felt out of place putting my feet up on the sofas, and there were no blankets to encourage curling up.

After I'd checked the gym machines and behind the chairs for dust (not a trace), I decided it was time to do some exercise, so made for the mats in the stretching area that was adjacent to the main gym space. Clive saw me doing Pilates and came over to offer some advice. He really knew what he was talking about, and offered to show me some additional poses.

Thirty minutes of core-stretches later, I returned to the changing room to get into my cossie. I was hugely impressed to see a ramp running down from the changing rooms to the pool, steam room and sauna area. It's all-too rare to see really well-thought-out disabled access, so well done to Sienna Spa for that.

The pool is fairly small but large enough to swim mini-laps. I was enchanted by its blue glow. There's a mini-Jacuzzi perched above the pool. One of my main bug-bears is Jacuzzis with timers. This didn't have one, so I was happy. Although the Jacuzzi was small -- more than a couple would be a squeeze -- it felt special and was sparkling clean.

The steam room was also blue-lit with ceiling lights which changed colour; it was spacious too, easily big enough for 12 and piping hot. The sauna was a little less exciting (no light display) but equally clean and well-maintained.

There were showers outside, but I could only get them to "cold" and, as I'm a complete wuss when it comes to getting chilly, I wished that there was a "hot" or at least "warm" setting, too.

Which treatments did you have?

I had a Jessica Manicure (30 minutes, £25).

What were the treatments like?

Natalie, my therapist, took me upstairs from the spa to the jewel-box-like Finishing Touches boutique salon located in the main foyer of the Radisson. The salon is quite small inside, just room for you and a friend to get manicures, but there's plenty to look at: the shelves positively glittered with a full range of Jessica colours and Bare Escentuals mineral make-up.

I picked out one of Jessica's new colours, Midnight Mist, a pleasingly Rouge-Noir-ish shade, and let Natalie work her magic. I should confess. I'm a nail-chewer and I was feeling rather anxious about showing Natalie my mangled mitts, but she seemed confident that she could make even my horrid hands look lovely.

Natalie began by soaking each hand in water and then lightly exfoliating my hands, before starting the serious work on my ragged cuticles.

Manicures tend to be a chatty affair and Natalie was interesting to talk to and very friendly. The 30-minutes flew by. All too soon, Natalie had buffed, filed, snipped and shaped my nails into order and after a relaxing hand massage, began carefully painting my nails. A final application of Quick-dry Oil meant that they were dry to the touch and the treatment was over.

How did you feel afterwards?

Delighted. My chewed-on paws looked positively lady-like. As ever, after I've had a manicure, I vowed to not nibble my nails. I managed it for a whole week!

What happens afterwards?

I left, wishing I'd had time to spend the whole day there.

Long-term effects

Seven long days of not gnawing at my nails! And the admiration of several girlfriends.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely. I don't think there's any swifter pick-me-up than a mini-manicure. A slick of nail polish, a buff of your nails and you're ready to take on the world. If you want to use the spa and not have any treatments, it's just £12, which is terrific value. If your treatment costs more than £40, then the spa and its facilities are free of charge. If you book a treatment that's less than £40, you need to pay an extra £6, which includes robe, slippers and all toiletries.

What else could you have?

Some rather wonderful-sounding day-escape packages which pamper from head to toe, mum-to-be and new-mum treatments. A full range of massages and facials using [comfort zone] products. Mud wraps and scrubs, St Tropez tanning, reflexology, aromatherapy, Indian head massage and a range of treatments for men. Waxing and hand-and-foot rituals.

The Finishing Touches boutique salon offers nail enhancements, manicures, Bare Escentuals mineral make-up lessons and complementary colour-match consultations. Sienna also caters for hen parties and bespoke pamper packages.

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

How much I'd want to stay for a night! The bar, the spa, the restaurant -- what a great experience.

Any special features?

The friendly staff are a fairly special feature. Also -- how rare and wonderful to find such a glam hotel that doesn't treat you like a human cash-machine. I was delighted to see that complimentary wi-fi throughout the hotel lobby and free newspapers. I get very grumpy about being charged for a paper when I stay at a posh hotel!

Who do you think would like it?

Funky business people. Couples looking to combine a luxurious city-break with a relaxing spa experience. Solo travellers who'll receive a warm welcome.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave the Sienna Spa 4 bubbles. It was a tough call and Sienna Spa missed being 5 bubbles by only a few points. What let it down? The changing room felt a little crowded. Anyone who wasn't especially slim might have a few issues getting into the showers thanks to the strange door arrangement! Also, there were a few spots of rust and a couple of lights out in the pool area -- all very easy fixes which we would hope they can sort out.

See more on how we rate the spas