Review of Yu Spa at Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee

Yu Spa at Apex City Quay Hotel - 3 bubbles

This busy health club and spa is in a modern hotel. The gym and pool are both good sizes and the treatments are well delivered. Yu Spa is not grand but it is very good value. Ideal for bringing a little Eastern promise into your life, with a wide range of treatments to choose from.

First impressions?

What's on offer?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

What else could you have?

Food facts

Was it worth it?

We loved

We didn't love

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

Yu Spa is in a very modern building in brick and black, overlooking the dock area of Dundee. We weren't quite sure if the docks were just about to become trendy or whether the vogue for rejuvenating docklands has passed Dundee by, but the area didn't seem very lively. The Apex City Quay Hotel is more business and budget than luxury, but nonetheless comfortable with friendly, welcoming staff. The rooms are a good size and nicely decorated, with huge windows overlooking the water. The smart flat-screen TV on the wall defeated our attempts to turn it on. We had to ask for help, and learned that everyone had problems! Wifi throughout the hotel is free, so brownie points for that.

The spa is on the ground floor opposite the reception desk. The spa has a Japanese theme, which starts with the kimono decorating the reception area, and follows through to the huge wooden hot tubs by the pool. Lovely black-and-pink Japanese-style wallpaper and screen in the waiting/relaxation area set the tone.

What's on offer?

The spa has a 12-metre, ozone, black tiled swimming pool with two part-sunken wooden hot tubs, and a sauna and steam room. The pool area is well lit and has wooden decking rather than tiles which makes it warmer and quieter than many pool areas. There is also a light and airy gym with plenty of machines.

There are four treatment rooms including one double room, all with wooden flooring and "Japanese-inspired" wall-hangings.

Health-club members and hotel guests can use the facilities, or you can book a day-spa package.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Yu Spa Total Time Out (120 minutes, £99).

What were the treatments like?

Anusia, my therapist, had a Polish name courtesy of her Polish grandmother, but was a Dundee girl, having trained at the college just up the road. Anusia explained the treatment carefully, checked how I liked my massage and whether there were any areas to focus on.

The treatment began with an exfoliation. While I showered that off in the small shower in the corner of the room, Anusia tidied the room, so I could get back on the (rather wobbly) bed for the massage. The massage was very good. Anusia paid attention to my upper back and shoulders, as I had asked, and generally made me feel unknotted and relaxed. A facial followed and then a head massage. All were delivered expertly.

Anusia then showed me to the relaxation area, which was the same room in which I had waited for my treatment. It was pleasant, with wicker chairs with bright pink cushions and stools and tables with lamps and magazines. Nothing can hide the fact that a major road is just outside the window, but they have done their best with soft music and attractive decorations.

What else could you have?

Elemis is the mainstay of the treatment menu, with the addition of several hot-stone massages to go with the Japanese theme. You can also have tanning treatments, Jessica manicures and pedicures, including gel nail treatments, reiki, reflexology, Hopi ear candling, Indian head massage and waxing, as well as a selection of facials and massages. Men's treatments and treatments for pregnancy are also on offer.

Most of the packages have Japanese-style names such as Tsuki (Full Moon) or Zanshoo (Remaining Heat) but these are combinations of more ordinary facials and massages.

Food facts

In the spa, they offer tea and coffee served at the sofas just off reception. My post-treatment smoothie of orange, mango and banana was a delight.

In the hotel, meals are served in the Metro Brasserie and Bar, an impressive space which has huge windows overlooking the quay. The food was good in parts. My husband's fish was fresh and tasty but my duck was very overdone. I would have sent it back, but having waited 50 minutes for it to arrive, I worried that we might never finish. Breakfast was good with freshly made porridge and eggs cooked to order.

Was it worth it?

Yu Spa offers very good value spa-ing. My total care package cost just £99. Considering it included an exfoliation, a massage, a facial, and a head massage, that is good value. A "Discover Yu" offers two hours' use of the facilities, a facial or neck and shoulder massage and lunch for £50. Spa days which include three treatments and lunch are also competitively priced.

We loved

The standard of the treatments, which was excellent.

The Japanese theme: it gives a harmony to the decoration and facilities.

The post-treatment smoothie; something to give you an energy boost after a treatment is a great idea.

We didn't love

The rather untidy and not very clean changing rooms. To be fair, the vanity unit had been removed for refurbishing, so the space must usually look much better. However, on the afternoon of our visit, the ladies' changing area was untidy, with used towels lying around, pools of water near the showers and the one loo had no paper towels above the vanity basin. The loo roll was propped on the grab bar and had very obviously fallen on the floor earlier in the day. The room was well used, and did not smell very fresh. I went back the next morning to check it out and all was clean and tidy. So the changing area obviously starts the day well. As this is a busy health club, more regular tidying and cleaning would be welcome.

The rather cramped treatment room: it was on the small side and got very hot and stuffy. The therapist turned on a fan, but this was noisy and made the exposed areas of my body feel quite chilly.

Who do you think would like it?

City workers who want to pop in for a treatment.

Locals who can join the health club.

Hotel guests who want to spend a few hours unwinding.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Yu Spa at the Apex Quayside Hotel 3 bubbles. The spa offers good treatments, has a great pool area, and makes the best of its city-centre location. Yu Spa is very good value for money. But it is more "health club" than spa and could do with more attention to cleaning.

See more on how we rate the spas.