Stylish Spy tries a Body Scrub & Rub

TAKE ME WITH YOU…

The grand, whitewashed Beaumont Hotel has a small but perfectly formed spa just near Selfridges on Oxford Street. Step away from the bustle of the shoppers and you’ll find a place of indulgence, from excellent spa treatments to flawless afternoon teas. As far as London postcodes go, it’s golden.

The five-star hotel draws heavily from Art Deco design running from the lobby - with its chequerboard black and gold floor, cherrywood panelling, portrait art and dramatic walnut seating – right through to the restaurants and the spa.

SHALL WE SPA?

Although the hotel feels very British, the spa feels more Paris than Mayfair with aged mirrors, gleaming chrome and monochrome tiles giving it Roaring Twenties vibes.

You’ll find the petit spa down a short flight of stairs from the entrance lobby. There’s a small reception area with Oskia and Sultane de Saba products to tempt, a glamorous hair salon, and changing rooms with large lockers, central leather seating and well-stocked showers. The vanity area has Oskia facial products and hair dryers to use post showering; straighteners and curlers can be provided on request.

The star of the spa is the thermal area which has a traditional wooden sauna and a white-tiled steam room with sufficient seating for six – hop in the shower in between to cool down. To our dismay, the round cold plunge in the centre had been filled in since our last visit; watch this space for something new and exciting, however. The steam room was super toasty on our visit, requiring us to use the cold tap (which was leaking slightly) to remain inside beyond five minutes. The spa’s hammam can be found behind a sliding glass and chrome door.

Alongside the thermal rooms, there are four white leather loungers on which to relax (wait here for treatments, too). Help yourself to tea, fruit fruit-infused water, grab a copy of Harper’s Bazaar (or is Wallpaper more your thing?) and settle in. It’s here that we completed paper consultation forms, sipped ginger tea and munched on crisp, green apples.

We had the changing rooms and thermal facilities entirely to ourselves on our visit, which felt very special indeed.

TREATMENT TALK

We tried a Body Scrub & Rub with Shea Butter (60 mins, £150).

Our therapist, Florentina, met us relaxing on a lounger in the thermal area and led us to a treatment room with black and white retro photos in silver frames on the walls. Florentina invited me to sit on a chair so that she could talk me through the treatment before leaving the room so that I could de-robe, slip on disposable undies and get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face down.

The treatment began with a body brush using firm upward strokes, beginning on the calves and moving up to my back. Next came a refreshing scrub containing ginger and green tea which Florentina massed into my legs and back before asking me to turn over so that she could repeat both steps on my front, including my stomach.

Florentina then asked me to sit up so that she could paint a mask containing clay and rose onto my back. Lying down again, she slathered the mask on my legs and stomach before wrapping a towel underneath around me so that I was snug.

She then left the room for a few minutes to allow the mask to soften my skin. On returning, Florentina, unwrapped the towels, handed me my robe and led me back through to the female changing rooms to shower. A fresh robe, towel, undies and flip-flops were laid out for me on exit.

Back in the treatment room, and lying face down on the bed, Florentina covered my body in shea butter and then asked me to turn over so that she could repeat this final step on my front.

Florentina then helped me into my robe and met me in the thermal area with a glass of water.

HOW DID IT MEASURE UP?

My skin felt soft and supple; my whirring mind a little more relaxed. Despite the number of steps in this treatment – including leaving the room to take a shower – our spa partner drifted in and out of sleep throughout.

SPOT OF LUNCH?

The Colony Grill Room serves steaks and caviar; Le Magritte Bar and Terrance bourbons, whiskeys, cocktails and light snacks.

We tried a Champagne Afternoon Tea in The Colony Grill, with its corner piano and wall of books cleverly disguising a staff door. Sadly, as we were both doing Dry January, we opted for non-alcoholic versions of fizz (which wasn’t bad at all) as well as a pot of English breakfast tea.

A plate of finger sandwiches – cleverly laid out to look like a large slice of cake – appeared including beetroot with goat’s curd, salmon soaked in whiskey, pastrami with red cabbage and chicken with mascarpone truffle.

A silver two-tiered stand was then placed on the table containing warm plain and raisin scones on the bottom layer and pretty cakes and pastries on the top, including a pear tart, cheesecake éclair with tangy rhubarb, a Rocher (which tasted just like the Ferrero variety) and a chocolate and tonka bean mousse. Phew.

GOT ALL DAY?

Head to the salon for a cut and/or blow-dry then take your new ‘do’ out for a spot of designer shopping, a drink, a delectable dinner or a night in the West End.

SHORT ON TIME?

Combine a treatment with a spin in the gym and an indulgent afternoon tea.