Review of DreamsDay Spa, Carlisle

DreamsDay Spa, Carlisle - 5 bubbles

DreamsDay Spa is a set of luxurious treatment rooms with private thermal facilities to help extend your spa day. A wide range of naturally effective Pevonia Botanica face and body treatments are available for women, men and teens, performed by professional, welcoming therapists. Our Spa Spy loved her signature massage; she tells us it's the best she's ever had.

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?

DreamsDay Spa is out of town at the top end of Carlisle, near the Kingstown industrial estate. There is customer parking at the rear. With big aircon fans at the back, the exterior of the building looks unpromising – more like a fish-and-chip shop – until you realise that the aromas coming out are altogether more fragrant! Once inside the front door I was immediately enveloped in luxury.

What's on offer?

A hydrotherapy room. This houses a "capsule" which has various functions: a hydro-bath at the base; a full-body tray sitting atop the bath so you can steam without getting wet; a lid to keep the steam in (there's a space for your head to poke out), and with a Vichy shower attached to rinse you down (called the "tropical rain shower" on the spa menu); and finally, coloured lighting inside for a taste of chromotherapy.

A Physiotherm infrared sauna (which is called the "Detox Box" on the spa's menu). A session in the Detox Box is complimentary with all one-hour massages.

A hydro foot-spa for luxurious pedicures.

A facial room, complete with a Beau Visage™ skin imaging system. This takes images of the skin up to 4 millimetres deep, revealing skin damage that may not be apparent on the surface. The individual skin profile produced allows your therapist to recommend individual and appropriate treatments.

For body treatments there is a male room, a double room and a specialist pregnancy treatment room.

Which treatments did you have?

I tried the Detox Box (complimentary with my massage), the tropical rain and steam experience (30 minutes, £10; £5 if you are having a 60-minute body treatment) and the DreamsDay signature massage (90 minutes £60).

What were the treatments like?

I was assigned my own chair in the relaxation room and given a box for my clothes (as there aren't any lockers). I changed, wrapped myself in the huge chocolate-coloured robe and went to fill in my consultation form. Spa owner Aileen also checked what sort of fragrances I like.

My spa journey started with the Detox Box. The heat in this infrared sauna opened my pores, but without any oppressive sweatiness (which meant reading books was an option – I had Gok Wan’s How to Look Good Naked, since you ask.) As the heat warmed my muscles, I did some stretching, too.

Back in the relaxation room, I helped myself to some chilled, fresh apple juice. A therapist brought me a large copper bowl filled with warm water and flowers, for a relaxing foot soak.

Next was the hydrotherapy room, for my steam treatment with tropical rain. Climbing onto the large plastic tray above the hydro-bath wasn't the easiest of manoeuvres, but once up there, I managed to get comfy. First of all, Emma, my therapist, applied a light salt-scrub to my body. She then closed the lid so that just my head was showing, and turned on the steam. Emma reassured me that she would stay in the room to check that the steam stayed at a pleasant temperature for me.

After 10 minutes of steam, Emma turned on tropical rain shower and massaged my head and neck. Emma then used a shower head to get the remaining scrub off, and I emerged, glowing. I was then treated to another Thai foot bath in the relaxation room.

Senior therapist Annabel came to collect me for my massage, which was to be in the spacious couples' room. Annabel gave me a shortlist of aromas to sniff. I opted for grapefruit and rosemary oil. Annabel used this for my massage, and dropped some into the aroma bowl underneath my massage bed's face-hole. Then began the best massage I’ve ever had.

Annabel's touch was firm but not painful, and she clearly knew exactly what she was doing. The massage was very thorough – every time I thought she was finished, she'd start work on somewhere else. Annabel finished my treatment with a head and neck massage. I think by that stage I was levitating from the table! I realised that this was not just a nine-to-five job for this therapist, but a real passion.

I was so relaxed it would have been dangerous to tackle the M6 in the rush hour, so I lingered a while. I slept really well that night.

What else could you have?

A huge range of Pevonia face and body treatments for women, men and teens. There are over 20 facials to firm, revive, relax, hydrate, calm or clear your skin. There are five different eye and lip treatments, five body polishes, nine wraps, 15 hand and foot treatments and rituals (not including manis and pedis) and a selection of massages!

On top of that, beauty treatments and finishing touches such as waxing, electrolysis, thread vein removal, body bronzing, lash tinting and various manicures and pedicures are available.

Food facts

Iced water and fresh apple juice were plentiful; the chocolate-chip cookies with my post-massage peppermint tea were a nice touch.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely. This was the best massage I’ve ever had, at a great value price.

We loved

The professional and welcoming staff.

The excellent, intuitive massage.

The relaxing footbaths.

We didn't love

The changing room – no hooks and no lockers.

Lying on a plastic tray for the steam bath.

Who do you think would like it?

Men and women who live and/or work in the Carlisle area and just need to switch off and relax for half a day.

It's not far from the M6, so would be a good pit-stop if you were travelling to or from Scotland.

Visitors to the garages at the nearby Kingstown estate. You could have your very own MOT at DreamsDay while you wait for your car!

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave DreamsDay Spa 5 bubbles. From the moment I arrived, I felt that I was in the hands of professionals. Aileen's small team work well together, and the spa has a sense of hushed luxury that makes you feel relaxed and special.

Find out more on how we rate the spas