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Thermal facilities
Accessible Spa
RE:TREAT is the newly-refurbished transformative sanctuary in the heart of The Lowry Hotel with a large sprinkling of the extraordinary. Boasting the most highly trained therapists in the city.
Its technology-based equipment includes a cryotherapy chamber, meditation pod and sensory deprivation tank.
There are four treatment rooms offering face and body treatments by ELEMIS, GAIA and Grown Alchemist, a relaxation room, a mani/pedi area, as well as a gym and fitness studio.
The Lowry is a five-star hotel in the Salford area of Manchester overlooking the river Irwell. It’s famous for its premiership clientele so keep your eyes peeled for footballers during your stay.
If you’re arriving by car for an overnight stay, you’ll need to park in the car park opposite and walk across to the hotel - remember to get a car parking code at the reception desk and pay the £28 fee. Day spa guests can park for free.
As well as a 2 AA Rosette restaurant, the hotel has a Club Lounge and Bar, function rooms, a hair salon and Re-Treat, the hotel’s spa which is on the first floor – walk down the stairs or push R (rather unusually) on the lift.
The spa is a warm, charming space with much to admire in its herringbone floors, light tongue-and-groove wood, pink paintwork, rattan/tan chairs/sofas, and plants galore. We loved the living moss wall and the slightly Spanish feel of the whole space.
We were warmly greeted at reception and shown through to the changing rooms. These are compact but well designed with more pinks and light woods. Half-height grey lockers are operated with a four-digit code of your choosing; your beige robe and slippers will be inside – help yourself to towels from a stand under a large mirror. One GHD hairdryer and a pair of GHD straighteners hang on the wall – busy times might well require a bit of a wait (luckily there was only one other person in the changing room on our visit). Both showers have separate areas for drying, large rain heads and Grown Alchemist products.
A sunny studio opposite puts on a range of Pilates and Yoga classes including Varanasi. Beyond here you’ll find a relaxation area with a table and cushioned bench; two beds separated by flowing curtains; Somadome; a guided meditation pod with headphones; a Cryotherapy chamber; and a space-age looking flotation tank. There are also four treatment rooms and a spacious gym with equipment pointing towards the river for workout views.
Straight opposite the reception desk is the mani-pedi area, and on the right a display of Gaia, Elemis and Grown Alchemist products. Around the corner is an Assure Health Room for well-woman testing - guests can get their cholesterol, hormone levels or liver function checked, and - rather conversely (although you’ll get no judgement from us) – book in for Botox or fillers.
We tried a Gaia Total Holistic Ritual (120 minutes, £195), the Sensory Deprivation Tank (30 minutes, £35), the Cryotherapy Chamber (10 minutes, £45) and a Somadome Session (20 minutes, £35).
My therapist, Emily, met me in the reception area and led me to a larger-than-average treatment room with two beds, light wood floors and attractive woven discs on the walls giving more of that Mediterranean vibe.
She began the treatment with a foot ritual – wash, scrub, dry – before asking me to choose a preferred blend from three Gaia oils. Facing the Cryotherapy chamber later that afternoon, I intuitively chose ‘awakening’, an uplifting scent containing tangerine, grapefruit and peppermint.
Emily then left the room so that I could get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face down. The ritual began with a salt and oil scrub which Emily smoothed onto my back and shoulders and removed with hot mitts, followed by a mud mask. Emily repeated this on the back of my legs before asking me to turn over so that she could do the same on my front.
She then covered me in extra towels so that I could remain warm while the mud worked its magic. Emily then turned her focus to the facial element of the ritual which consisted of make-up removal followed by a relaxing facial cleanse using an oil. A light cream mask was then applied to my face and neck; while this worked, Emily treated my scalp to a dry massage including lots of meridian pressure points and gentle hair tugging (dreamy).
Once the mask was removed, Emily guided me towards the shower and asked me to wash the mud off. Once dry, I was to hop onto the second bed for my full body massage (this is a treatment that keeps on giving, it seems).
Using a pre-warmed Gaia awakening oil, Emily used long strokes to massage my body, increasing the pressure around my knotty shoulders. My tight calves were thankful for Emily’s expert hands.
The two-hour ritual concluded with dollop of moisturiser and dots of eye cream. Emily then gave me a minute to come to whilst she fetched me a glass of cold water. I left the room and skipped to the relaxation area ready – and willing – to face the Cryotherapy chamber and other hi-tech experiences. My body felt revived, while my face glowed.
Gaby took care of us from here, offering us drinks and refreshments before the Sensory Deprivation tank. Gaby then set a 20-minute cycle on the machine, turned the music to a low level and pushed the light button. After showering, we climbed in the space-age looking tank and floated side-by-side in the tank. That is, until my spa partner got salt water in their eyes and had to reach for a towel (note to self: opt to float alone in future).
Next, I braved the Cryotherapy chamber which I managed to remain in for the required three minute, thankful for the fluffy earmuffs, thermal gloves, practical socks and Crocs on my feet. As a Cryotherapy virgin, Gaby checked in on me regularly, monitoring my temperature at the halfway point before increasing the intensity for the final 90 seconds. Feeling pumped and proud, I counted the benefits, including reduced stress and improving blood circulation.
Our final experience was the Somadome meditation pod. Sitting comfortably in the white chair, we selected a meditation track, popped on a pair of headphones and pulled the lid down. The combination of LED colour therapy and soothing music sent me promptly to sleep. Bingo.
Lying under a blanket sipping tea in the relaxation room afterwards, we couldn’t help but feel relaxed and care-free after our medley of treatments and experiences.
Re-Treat at The Lowry offers a good range of massages (poultice, hot stones), facials (regenerator, bio-tech), wraps (nourishing, detox) and scrubs from Gaia, Grown Alchemist and Elemis, as well as Botox and Fillers, manis/pedis, well-woman testing, and treatments for men and mums-to-be.
Arriving on the Sunday evening, we dined in The River Restaurant with its Art Deco nods, river views, autumnal palette and intimate seating separated by contemporary woods and metals.
The Sunday menu offers traditional British dishes such as smoked salmon, Crispy Gloucester Old Spot Pork Belly and a selection of cheeses.
To fit three courses in, we opted for soup of the day to start (which was sweet potato and coconut on our visit); our spa partner plumped for a light Celeriac Mille Feuille. Our Roast Sirloin of Cheshire Farm Beef with a huge fluffy Yorkshire pudding, crispy duck fat roasties, cauliflower and Lancashire bomb cheese, honey roasted carrots, broccoli and lashings of gravy was perfection – and what Sundays are made for.
Our waiter, Gigi, recommended the cherry cheesecake to end our meal which comes in the shape of a huge 3D cherry shimmering with fruit glaze, dark chocolate aero, pistachio and amaretto cream. This was as visually impressive as it was moreish.
The drinks menu is extensive with plenty of cocktails and wines to choose from, either by the glass or the bottle. We chose a refreshing Vidal Sauvignon Blanc to complement our meal and weren’t disappointed.
We loved
The design of the spa: several tips were picked up to be used at home – how do you care for a living wall, we wonder?
Our treatments: rarely do you get to try Cryotherapy, a float, guided meditation and a Gaia ritual in one spa visit.
Their affiliation with The Bee Centre: The Lowry Hotel partners with The Bee Centre in nearby Preston and uses the sustainable honey in cocktails, food dishes and as room gifts.
We didn’t love
The absence of thermal/wet facilities: we love dipping in and out of pools and thermal rooms during a spa visit but, with so much on offer, didn’t miss these too much.
Lucky locals can pop in for a massage, a float or a yoga session.
Business types: The Lowry’s central location and function rooms make it popular with business guests; several mini meetings seemed to be taking place over breakfast.
Spa goers looking for something a little bit different – this is no ordinary spa.
We awarded Re:Treat at The Lowry Hotel a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its charming design; range of unusual treatments; and friendly, informative staff.
There are a wide range of dining options at the Lowry Hotel. The River Restaurant has stunning views towards the Santiago Calatrava’s Trinity Bridge and it boasts a modern British menu and a tempting afternoon tea. The River Bar offers informal dining and drinks and the open air terrace offers al fresco dining with stunning city views.
The 5* Lowry Hotel offers 165 contemporary bedrooms including six suites and the Charles Forte Presidential Suite.
9am-8pm
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