A new "hidden gem" café and wellness centre based in Wavertree is racking up rave reviews and solidifying its place in the neighbourhood.
Maitri, based on Picton Road, specialises in natural and holistic products and treatments to help improve everyday life. The deceptively large space boasts a café, shop, multiple treatment rooms, shower facilities, a nail bar and more.
It was created by a group of like-minded people, with the intention of making treatments accessible to all.
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I visited the venue to get a feel for the space and was instantly drawn in by the relaxing ambience and passion on show from each staff member.
Owner Alison Edwards-Smith explained the idea originally began at Liverpool's popular craft space The Tapestry before relocating to Wavertree, where she has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community.
She said: "We got our keys the day the pandemic started, we were in the fashion hub in The Tapestry off London road for the first two years and it suited us at the time but we wanted something bigger.
"This isn’t my background, I was interested in it but I’ve always worked in corporate so I hooked up with a couple of people who wanted to do it but didn’t know how, but we outgrow ourselves very quickly. We started selling a lot of products in lockdown because there wasn't anything else we could do, so we looked for a space."
Treatments and appointments include Reiki, card readings (angel or tarot), massage, Chinese fire cupping therapy, Hijama (wet cupping), reflexology, acupuncture and more.
The creative hub is also home to a café, which was Alison's idea.
She continued: "When I go somewhere, I like it when there’s a space where you can chill and relax. We’ve got a lot of regulars who sit in for a few hours, we have people popping in and saying it feels nice and cosy, which is what we wanted.
"It’s accessible - it’s a spa feeling without going to a spa. We do nails, we do makeup, we do yoga, sound baths, all sorts. We’ll sort out food if people want, we do herbal teas and events. If anyone walks through the door and wants to do something; we’ll help them do it.
"For me, holistic is all about making you feel better - whether that’s getting your makeup done, or your nails, or having a chat in the cafe, it's all about making you feel good."
Maitri has a team of 14 people working in the space, some self employed, while some work directly for Alison. Clare Sanchez, who specialises in sports massage and Chinese fire cupping, spotted the space when going past on the bus. She reached out to Maitri on Instagram and found herself in a new place of work. She told me: "We all get on, we all gel really well."
Callum Johnson, 22, specialises in makeup and nails and "loves" working at Maitri. He said: "My friend introduced me to Al [Alison], she’d just finished the Kickstart Scheme. I love it, I’ve worked in salons previously but some of them have had a bitchy atmosphere but it’s really chilled here - I look forward to coming to work."
Alison added: "He runs the place for me, he helps organise and tells me what to do which is what I need."
Elaborating on hopes for Maitri's future, Alison said: “It’s about organic growth. I can’t tell you how good they’ve been in Wavertree, the local businesses, the community; everyone has been amazing.
"I don’t know what it’s going to be, does that sound weird? We met all the neighbours, Love Wavertree, we’ve done the markets and the amount of people that popped in and wished us luck while we were getting things sorted was amazing. We’ve done a collab with the hairdressers RiffRaff, we’ve been connecting with local businesses. It’s got a proper community vibe.
"Love Wavertree have promoted us, everyone popped in and they wished us luck. We got a Christmas tree off Wavertree Christmas Trees from Love Wavertree, little things like that mean a lot to me. My landlord is great, he cleaned my windows on opening day - that meant a lot to me. He’s a local boy and was keen to have something that adds to the area."
She added: "It’s good fun as well. We do the wet cupping, it’s a suction on the skin and you do little scratches and it removes toxins; it’s good for headaches, back pain, anxiety, the menopause, for sleeping. It’s brilliant, I was really sceptical about it and now I have it and love it. It’s absolutely amazing. As far as I’m aware, we’re the only place in Liverpool that offers it."
Reviews on Maitri's website praise the effects of the varied treatments on offer, dubbing the venue a "hidden gem".
While at the centre, I had the opportunity to try one of Maitri's services, Hopi Ear Candling. It's a traditional therapy which was used by the Ancient Greeks and was popularised by the Hopi Indian Tribe of the American South-West.
The therapy gently removes wax and debris from the ears and is used to help with a variety of conditions, like stress, anxiety, sinusitis, swimmers' ear, sore throats, headaches and more, as well as to aid general well-being.
The candles work by vaporising the ingredients and causing mild suction in the ear which lets the vapours gently massage the eardrum and ear canal. Once the candle is placed in the ear, it forms a seal that enables the wax and impurities to be drawn out.
I was a little nervous having a lit candle placed in my ear, but within seconds, I was lost in the soothing aromas filling the treatment room while relaxing blue lights danced majestically across the ceiling. The candles release a comforting crackling sound, conjuring images of curling up in front of the fire on a cold winter's night.
I left the venue feeling calmer, with a clearer head and a significant reduction in the anxiety which seems to plague most of my days. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try and seeing if it works for you.
You can book a treatment at Maitri by clicking here. The venue can be found at 127-131 Picton Road, Wavertree, L15 4LG.
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