Treatments We Love: The Spa at The Midland Hotel, Manchester
If you're in or around Manchester, do schedule in a treat at The Spa at this town centre hotel. Sarah went to celebrate her niece’s birthday in Manchester and was impressed. Splendidly refurbished in 2015, The Spa is truly pampering and, like all the staff at The Midland, the therapists are charming and very friendly. The Spa only uses products and treatment protocols from ESPA, which made us sigh with delight. ESPA is noted for fabulous products and great treatments delivered by therapists who have all been through rigorous and ongoing training. Sarah's therapist told her that the ESPA training was the most intensive of all the brands, two weeks of head down/hands on learning, with regular updates as there is 'always something new to learn, and new products to catch up with’.
The Midland's signature Serene Sleep treatment was devised especially by ESPA for the hotel. It seemed a bit dotty to have it at 11am but as that was the only time-slot Sarah could manage - and it sounded heavenly - she went for it. So... It eased off by sniffing alternative ESPA Body Oil blends, one Restorative, the other Soothing, then segued into a much - much! - needed back massage with the oil and hot stones. Next, facial massage including the new Espa Overnight Hydration Therapy, which was left on while the (excellent) therapist delivered a fantastic head massage using ESPA's classic Pink Hair & Scalp Mud - an old favourite of ours.
Not wanting to shower off all the goodies and not having a hat, Sarah screwed her mop up into a scrunchie and threw vanity to the winds on her train journey back to London. If you are tempted by this - and it really is worth every penny - do schedule it for a girls’ night in, either in the hotel or before going home to bed. Sarah was so impressed that she is giving her niece, who lives just round the corner, a voucher for Christmas.
As well as treatments, there is a small cafe serving light healthy refreshments, a good size pool with jacuzzi, gym on two floors, sauna and salt-infusion aromatherapy steam bath plus a snooze-making assortment of relaxation areas - pods, hanging chairs, sleep chambers and little relaxation chambers that can be closed off for groups. They can take up to eight, which is hugely popular for pamper parties.
The Midland caters for lots of business events and, interestingly, a significant number of clients for The Spa are male. Their favourite treatment? The chaps’ top choice is a manicure and pedicure.
ESPA Serene Sleep Treatment for The Midland Hotel Manchester/£80 for 55 minutes