Style Magazine 2006

Spa Vision

A haven of treats and treatments opens its doors in Ely this month with the aim of serving its clients from head to toe. By Sue Elliott

From its foundations, through revitalising regimes to finishing touches of colour a lovingly restored building has been given a face-lift which has transformed it into a thing of beauty and now it is offering sanctuary to its customers looking for a little pampering themselves.

The idea of restoring the building in Fore Hill, Ely, and using it as a base for a luxury spa is the vision of owner Caroline Bailey. She said: Its a massively exciting project. This beautiful Grade II listed building lends itself perfectly to what we plan to create here. Customers will come in from the bustle of the street outside into an oasis of calm and tranquillity in spacious and sumptuous surroundings.

Situated just below the cathedral, the building dates back to the 1600s. Once a brewery and latterly and architects office, its elegant Georgian Faade gives Spa Ely its public image, while inside there are original early Victorian features including a curvaceous, winding staircase and fireplaces.

There is a touch of smart American colonial living about the grand relaxation room with its rich-toned, dark wooden floor, and deep, welcoming cream sofas and stylish Lloyd Loom furniture which invite customers to stop a while after treatments with a fruit tea and a favourite magazine.

General manager Andrea Boardman is thrilled with the ambience of the place. It is a beautiful room with its plaster mouldings on the ceiling and the double high sash windows. It is the perfect room to relax in a fabulous fleecy robe after treatment and put your feet up.

Throughout the spa the colours chosen are soft and restful sandstone with accents of cream, soft green and cherry to add warmth. The six treatment rooms have couches draped with cherry and sandstone throws and cosy duvets.

Spa products have been chosen from Elemis and Molton Brown for treatments and stock for the shop in the reception area where customers can try samples and ask advice of therapists.

Caroline and Andrea met while retraining in holistic massage and aromatherapy. They got on so well they decided they wanted to work together and when Caroline found a suitable site in the area where she grew up, Andrea jumped at the chance to join her.

There are seven permanent staff members of beauty therapists trained to the top level and we will be including specialists such as reiki, reflexology, massage and sports massage she said.

There is also a Power-Plate room, offering the latest exercise. It involves standing on vibrating plates and the great thing about it is that you dont have to have a lot of special clothing to do it, just something loose and comfortable and some flat shoes and the Power-Plate does everything else, said Andrea.

With increasing numbers of men now interested in therapies and treatments, there will be plenty of choice for both sexes. The trend has been that men are much more likely to opt for things like skin treatments and facials these days and waxing is very popular. The latest figures show something like 40 per cent of business is coming from male customers. The lovely thing about this spa is we can provide bespoke treatments for anyone and cater just for them, said Andrea.

These include the Molton Brown Floataway Foot Therapy and the Elemis two-hour ritual, a full face and body treatment. Prices range from 13.50 for a bath gel, around 50 for a massage to 90 for a full skin treatment. One of the newest therapies to be offered is the mud Rasul chamber, where up to four customers at a time can rub different coloured algae muds into the skin (theyre helpful for skin and joint conditions), the lights dim and everyone relaxes in herbal steam until a soft shower rinses everything off.

Spa Ely opens on 24th April.