Last year, one of Manchester's best-loved 5-star hotels frequented by celebrities and footballers opened up a brand new spa. The Lowry Hotel is synonymous with luxury, and promises a VIP experience whether you're staying the night, having a meal out or simply nipping in for a cocktail.
But the Lowry Hotel's RE:TREAT spa has taken its luxurious five-star offerings to a whole new (technological) level. And it's the stuff which, once upon a time, only celebrities could dream of.
The spa opened its doors in November, and thanks to its diverse offering of gadgets and treatments, has already become hugely popular with both guests and locals.
With cryotherapy chambers, meditation pods and sensory deprivation tanks all under one roof in a UK first, RE:TREAT also offers a wealth of traditional spa treatments, wellness classes and membership options for locals.
The new luxury spa features four new spacious treatment rooms, a relaxation area – a zen space with loungers to sooth the senses, as well as technology advanced equipment, a multifunctional fitness studio which is used for a variety of fitness and wellbeing classes.
For those looking for more of an instant transformation, there's a brow & lash bar to ensure you look your best. RE:TREAT works with world-leading partners, Icepod®, Somadome® and I-sopod® to offer guests a combination of treatments which cannot be found at any other spa hotel in the UK, with each treatment offering a range of benefits to reduce stress and pain, lower blood pressure and improve stress levels.
Designed to evoke a sense of calm on arrival, the new spa boasts soft pink hues and a neutral colour palette with exposed terracotta walls, light wooden features, warm lighting, and rattan accessories, with nods to natural tropics – alongside a living moss wall which captures the ambience of wellness and peace perfectly.
RE:TREAT offers traditional spa treatments including massages and facials with ELEMIS, in addition to a new, bespoke, sustainable and organic treatment menu created with spa partner, Grown Alchemist, which features alongside local Manchester natural skincare brand GAIA.
I went down to the Lowry Hotel's new RE:REAT spa to try out a treatment curated by GAIA. There are plenty of options to choose from - including bespoke massages , hot stone therapy and salt scrubs - but I opted for a Raindrop Therapy.
GAIA's Raindrop therapy combines healing techniques with essential oils to create an experience like no other. I was particularly interested in claims that the Raindrop Therapy can help your immune system through its various techniques.
Techniques are used through the massage to release toxins and lymph, boosting the immune system and bringing the body back to natural alignment. Ritual includes full body massage using the purest essential oils used as droplets to the back, spine and feet, a face cleanse and a nurturing scalp massage.
Upon entering the treatment room, I was presented with three different oils. My therapist asked me to close my eyes, smell each of them in turn, and to choose which oil's scent did the most for me.
The three oils consisted of calming, de-stress, and awakening. I unknowingly opted for the awakening oil - which promised to energize me. It's worth pointing out here that my therapist did explain which oil I'd chosen and what benefits it had before we started the treatment, and gave me an option to change if I wished to do so.
Knowing I needed an energy boost, I was more than happy to go ahead with the treatment. After choosing my oil, my therapist turned on some relaxing music, and left the room as I undressed and got myself comfortable on the bed.
My therapist then proceeded to ask which areas of my body needed the most help, and asked which pressure I wanted. I opted for medium.
As the treatment started, my therapist started to place droplets of the GAIA down my spine and across my back. I won't lie, the sensation of droplets being placed across your back does make you jump at first, but that's completely normal, and you soon become used to it.
Using the oils, my therapist massaged my back using the various techniques outlined earlier, and focused on the parts I'd advised her were most problematic. She placed particular emphasis on my shoulders, given they had a lot of tension from the stresses of everyday life, and I could hear a satisfying cracking noise.
Then it was time for legs and feet, which were tackled with equal care and the same techniques. After around 45 minutes of working on my back, shoulders, legs and feet, my therapist turned me around and did the same with the front.
When the full body massage was complete, we moved on to the second part of the treatment - a facial and head and scalp massage. The facial was as you'd expect a facial to be, and afterwards, my skin was glowing.
After the treatment was complete, I felt totally and utterly relaxed, and certainly felt as though I'd benefitted from the healing and holistic properties my treatment promised. My back, which had previously been in significant pain due to a dodgy mattress, felt light and free.
My skin felt soft, smelt amazing, and most importantly, looked incredible. Following my massage, I put on the dressing gown and slippers which had been provided by the spa, and proceeded into the relaxation area, where I was met with a drink of my choice.
RE:TREAT has a range of different beverages on offer for guests, including some delicious smoothies and juices provided by popular Manchester wellness haunt the Green Lab.
I opted for a coffee, and sat in the quiet zen area for around half an hour, enjoying my escape from the hustle and bustle we often get lost in here in Manchester. It was delightful.
You can book a GAIA Raindrop therapy session for £190 on the Lowry Hotel's RE:TREAT website here. It's not the cheapest of sessions, but it does last for two hours; working out at £80 per hour - which isn't out of the ordinary for a massage - especially when it comes with a five-star hotel experience.
Speaking about the new RE:TREAT spa, Kelly Andreasson, Commercial Director at The Lowry Hotel said: “Our current hotel spa boasts the most highly trained therapists in the city. The level of care and attention given on any visit to The Spa at The Lowry Hotel is unrivalled. Now with the creation of RE:TREAT, the spa is individual in its ability to provide guests with world-renowned technologically advanced treatments all under one roof. We are delighted to be the first UK hotel spa to offer such a variety of distinct offerings."
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