It was a relief to get out of the fierce midday sun in Soho, Central London
and go through the cool reception of the Courthouse Hotel - Kempinski
downstairs to the Sanook Spa. Although I was pleased to have sought out some
subterrannean shade the therapists, who’d been cooped up in this small
underground spa, craved sunlight.
Despite its mini size the spa has a boxy swimming pool with waist-high water.
It is overhung in one corner by a glass cabin where after a quick dip and a
challenging shower - the single shower had so many controls that it spat
things out at me from unlikely angles - a light spa lunch was served. This
comprised a tasty stack of sea bream with tarragon, fine green beans and
freshly squeezed orange juice - suitable spa fare and delicious. It was
accompanied by Voss artesian water from Norway in shampoo-style bottles.
Perched alone above the pool, I felt like a Bond villain and expected any
moment to see shark fins through the reinforced glass floor.
In the big scheme of things it’s the people and treatment that count but the
reputation of a luxury hotel is forged in details – the used plasters around
the slate-crumbling edge of the pool, the dirty mats at the changing room
entrances, and no bathing robe were minor flaws. The poolside fruit platter
was a nice touch but had been well pecked at by the time I arrived. It was
suitably replenished (like my bath robe) and it subsequently proved a true
test trying to eat blackberries without sullying the Persil white robe.
Professional moans over, my therapist Bhavna was as chirpy as the exotic birds
on the treatment room stereo – the same soundtrack sounded like a blocked
cistern at one point during the 90-minute session, fortunately I’d de-Vossed
beforehand.
Bhavna was entrepreneurial in spirit. Before we'd so much as opened a Karin
Herzog unguent I'd been invited kindly to the Kempinski's sister spa, Le
Kalon at the Bentley Hotel in Kensington and to her father’s vegetarian
restaurant in Brent Cross. I wasn't, however, peddled any products.
She started my O2 Relax treatment (£85 for 120 mins) with a chocolate facial
taster. "The cocoa bean has many health benefits including anti-ageing
properties derived from its high antioxidant levels," said Bhavna. I
tried hard not to lick around my lips.
I then had an all-over Ayurvedic-style exfoliant rub- firm but not too firm -
before being painted with an anti-bacterial oxygen cream. This, according to
the label on the side of the "tin", "uniquely increases o2
pressure to guarantee that the skin has the necessary energy to fully
utilise vitamins for enhanced sustainable results." My sun-ravaged skin
certainly felt supple and moisturised.
It was my feet, though, that got the best attention. It was strangely
becalming to know that I was laid out beneath the frenetic sweating crowds
of Oxford Street receiving a bonus tickle-free pedicure.
By the time Bhavna left the room my feet gleamed. They had been buffed and
clipped to a state previously unknown. It seemed a shame to put them back
into whiffy sandals – and foolish to go home in fluffy white spa slippers -
so as soon as I was back on street level I picked up a new pair of flip
flops and dispensed with the old footwear.
In brief
USP Its central Soho location and down-to-earth feel.
AMBIENCE The word sanook means "enjoy yourself" in
Thai and there's a Buddhist tone to the decor at this slightly
claustrophobic spa.
EXPERIENCE Relaxed but thorough. My feet had never felt so
good.
FOOD The Silk restaurant is housed in the old courtroom no.1
and serves fusion food from the old silk route specialising in aphrodisiacs.
You can also have a drink in former prison cells – which have been renovated
into designer drinking cubicles complete with non-functioning lavatory. They
would make ideal treatment rooms.
IN CROWD Me. At least I was the only one there on a midweek
afternoon. Ordinarily the hotel houses an eclectic bunch of celebs,
including David Hasselhoff, Jack Johnson, the Sugarbabes and Bollywood casts
– who hopefully don’t all want to use the bedroom-sized gym at the same
time.
WALLET WATCH An O2 Relax treatment costs £85 for 120 mins;
30-minute lunch-hour facials start from £35 and a 90-minute aromatherapy
massage designed to help you sleep is £100.
NEED TO KNOW Sanook Spa at the Courthouse Hotel – Kempinski,
19-21 Great Malborough Street, Soho, London (0207 297 5555; www.courthouse-hotel.com)
