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PURE Spa, Silverburn - 3 bubbles
This shopping-mall spa offers delicious de-stressing and beauty treatments. No pools or steam rooms, but a focus on making you feel good and look good. Ideal for busy people who find it hard to find time for themselves; a great opportunity to take time out without breaking the budget.
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?
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
Was it easy to book?
We were invited to the spa when we visited, but I listened to the staff being helpful over the phone when I was there.
First impressions?
Pure Spa in Glasgow is in the large and modern Silverburn shopping mall, so if there was ever an opportunity to combine a meal from M&S with a minxy manicure or some shoes from LK Bennett with a soothing massage, this is your chance. There are signs, but the touch-screen map at the entrance to the mall is useful for pinpointing location. You need to go up the stairs to the first floor. The lifts will do that as well. (Their signs say they take you to the car park but they will take you upstairs, too.) Useful if you are carrying a suitcase -- as I was.
The shop front looked light and bright, and white tables and chairs outside invited passing shoppers to peruse the spa menu.
How did they welcome you?
Efficiently and in a friendly fashion. Helen, the spa manager, took my coat and bag, and showed me round the spa. The main area is very stylish, with a grey slate floor, dramatic paintings on the walls, and large silver lights. The five manicure stations and five pedicure stations were all neatly fitted out. Rooms to the left are for beauty treatments but, to the right, is an area centred round a relaxation room, which is the "spa" part of Pure.
What happens next?
Once I had seen the layout, Helen took me to the changing room, explained that I was booked into the sauna later on, and showed me the door to push to get into the relaxation room.
The changing room is a basic, functional area, with no wet facilities such as showers, just a small bank of wooden lockers, two curtained-off cubicles for privacy, a mirrored hand-basin shelf with shiny mosaic tiles and Skin Wisdom soap and moisturiser, and a shelf with hairdryers and brushes. Someone had made an effort to add a spa touch, with some rose petals in a bowl. My towelling robe was in my locker so, having donned that and my swimsuit, I made my way into the relaxation room.
The relaxation area is dark, with a dark carpet, leaf-pattern wallpaper and five black steel and leather-like recliners. I used the machine for making hot drinks (bit noisy -- good thing there was only one other woman actually doing any relaxing) and settled with a green tea on one of the recliners.
It was then I noticed, opposite me, through a glass door, a man sitting in a two-seater sauna. Was I going to have to share? No. You are booked into the sauna individually, unless, of course, you arrive as a couple.
A short while later, the man left the sauna; a therapist came along, changed the towels on the wooden benches, and wiped down the door so it was fresh and clean. My turn. I took off my robe, laid it on the recliner next to the sauna, and closed the door. I felt a little like a museum exhibit, wondering who would come into the relaxation area next and stare at me sweating behind the glass door.
I am sceptical about infra-red saunas. Can they really have a benefit of burning, in 30 minutes, "the equivalent of 800 calories"? (So, not 800 actual calories, then, just the equivalent of them? So, what is it actually burning, then?)
Despite being told I could "pop out and in as I like", I was also not sure I would be in the best shape to meet my therapist if I had been sitting in a warm room for 30 minutes then presented myself for my massage and facial without showering -- and I had not seen a shower. I discovered some later, but at this stage of my journey, I was very hesitant. So, I warmed up, but then went back to the recliner. My equivalent of 800 calories would have to wait another day.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a selection of treatments from the Pure Spa essentials experience (85 minutes, £92). You can choose from a back, neck and shoulder massage; a lime and ginger salt glow; an Elemis mini facial; hopi ear candles; Pure Indulgence hand or foot treatment; and a Thai bundle or hot stone back massage. I wasn't sure what to choose, so enquired what a foot indulgence might entail. On hearing that it involved massage and heated mitts, I was sold. Combining that with the facial and the hot-stone massage sounded like my idea of a perfect spa treat.
What were the treatments like?
Very enjoyable. My therapist, Leanne, collected me from the recliner and took me into a dimly lit treatment room. It wasn't huge, but gave Leanne just enough room to work. Her massage, using the Elemis MuscleEase body oil, was excellent. ("Your poor shoulders," said Leanne.) Leanne pressed and kneaded my neck and spine till my shoulders stopped living in their usual position (somewhere near my ears). She also massaged Instant Refreshing Gel into my skin, which had an enlivening, tingly feel.
The Elemis facial had the usual divine scents -- rose-petal cleanser, ginseng toner --and was very rehydrating to my skin. I loved the way Leanne used lymphatic drainage techniques to help me look a little less stressed and a little more radiant. Cleanse, tone, mask, moisturise: all were very professionally carried out and soothing. I drift away remembering it...
The foot treatment was soothing and extremely relaxing. I loved the massage to the soles of my feet, and the gentle heat.
What I loved most about all three treatments was the seamless way Leanne moved from one to the next, and how relaxed she made me feel. I also loved the fact that whenever one thing was happening, such as a mask or a heated foot-mitt, Leanne massaged another bit of me, either my arms or my scalp, so I came out of my taster experiences definitely de-stressed.
The only thing I have to remark on -- apart from Leanne's de-stressing skills -- is the taped music. There was a lot of weather in the drifty music. Several times I felt I had come through a storm at sea, only to be washed up on a beach with a harp. I quite enjoyed it, but it might not suit non-mariners.
How did you feel afterwards?
Very relaxed. Which is how I aim to feel every day and too often don't succeed. Top marks for treatments.
What happens afterwards?
I went back to my recliner in the relaxation room, and Leanne brought me a glass of juice. I tried to do some relaxing, but the area was actually quite busy: staff seemed to be coming and going, therapists were collecting people for treatments, things for treatments... I could also hear people talking in other treatment rooms (not actual words, you understand, I'd have had to cemented my ear to the door for that) but general bonhomie.
I got up, looked around, and realised that my consultation form had been left on a table in the general to-ing and fro-ing area. This busy transit corridor could have been closed off from the relaxation area by a curtain, but it wasn't, which was a shame, as a corridor never makes a relaxation area relaxing. So, I swiped my form before any other members of the general public decided to find out if I were suffering from any medical ailments.
Was it worth it?
Yes. The treatments are reasonably priced and the spa is very handy for the shops. If you're not sure about those shoes from LK Bennett, maybe a quick de-stress massage will put you right (and even save you money!) (perhaps).
What else could you have?
You can choose from a selection of REN and Elemis treatments. As well as facials and massages, you can also try reflexology, Indian head massage, and wraps. There are treatments specifically for mums-to-be, for men and for couples. The beauty side is not forgotten, either, with manis, pedis, nail extensions, tanning, waxing and eye treatments on offer.
The half-day packages provide good value and allow you to try a variety of therapies, as I did, so you can learn what you enjoy most. You can also opt for a spa day, which includes a two-course lunch, but you'd need to get dressed and go out of the spa for the lunch, as they don't have the facilities for mass catering in the spa.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Take your swimsuit for the infra-red sauna. You'll need to wear something as the sauna is in a public area.
Who do you think would like it?
Shoppers, of course. There are also some fab packages for pampering parties, a works outing, or teens who want to preen.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Pure Spa 3 bubbles because this spa offers excellent treatments at good-value prices in a clean and stylish environment. The spa offering is limited, but what Pure Spa does offer, it does well. A little more thought about how to make the relaxation area a little more relaxing would go a long way.
See more on how we rate the spas.
Would you go again?
If I were planning a trip to Silverburn, most definitely. Plus, the other way round: I might book the spa treatment first, then do some shopping on the side.
We visited PURE Spa Silverburn in March 2011.
See also:
* Contact details for PURE Spa Silverburn
* Our Spa Spies review Elemis products
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