It’s been more than a decade since I first visited The Lowry Hotel Spa. I remember the trip with fondness.
I’d asked the therapist to truncate the hot stone treatment time (due to a deadline) and I started chuckling when she was trying to explain what the chakras meant. It was a great treatment first time round. This time though, no deadlines were curtailing my relaxation.
Seventeen years after the five-star hotel’s spa first opened, it has announced a partnership with Elemis as the brand’s flagship brand for the North. The spa itself is an immaculate white and cool blue space that offers pleasing views over the River Irwell. There are relaxation rooms where you can chill following your treatments.
I had an intensive lime and ginger salt scrub followed by a back, neck and shoulder massage while lying face down on a heated bed. The definition of relaxation.
Usually during treatments, the ambient music is a minor background irritant. This time it didn’t bother me. Paula, the helpful and friendly therapist, chatted about what the treatment involved and answered my many questions. I was impressed by her commitment to the job – she said she’d worked nights in a hospital while studying for her beauty therapy exams during the day.
The scrub left my skin feeling buttery soft. Paula said it would, but I was pleasantly surprised that it actually did feel so lovely. There’s a shower in the corner of the treatment room for use after the scrub. I managed to get the shower door stuck by pushing it the wrong way and had to holler for help. Luckily, Paula heard me and got me out.
Afternoon tea was the usual crust-less sandwiches with coronation chicken, smoked salmon and cream cheese and cucumber. Followed by little cakes – a mini iced bakewell tart, raspberry macaron, hazelnut profiterole and a light ginger cake. All delicious.
Then I had a Biotec facial, an intensive five-in-one treatment favoured by A-listers such as Jourdan Dunn and Christina Hendricks. I was uncertain as I’ve never even had a Caci treatment before, but these doubts evaporated as Paula explained that it would make a difference and was scientifically-proven. Some clients even preferred it to Botox, she said. 
I chose the hydration range with an anti-ageing balm for dehydrated skin. Your face is cleansed with hot mitts which is really relaxing. An eye mask was used to help out the pesky eye bags beneath my eyes. There’s more: a gentle rose exfoliator is used on your face to soften it with jojoba beads which help get rid of dead skin cells.
Paula controlled the Elemis and its various high-tech probes that are smoothed across your face using a foot pedal. I had a jowl-busting mask hooked under my ears and amber balm applied to my face ahead of the treatment. You can feel the slight sensation of electricity pulsating through your skin, but it’s not at all uncomfortable. Then oxygen is puffed onto your face to plump it up.
Finally, a rich energising day cream is smoothed onto your face. My face felt so soft, I felt relaxed and unstressed and a little giddy. All in all, an excellent way to indulge yourself. Ask for Paula!
Treatments start at £35. Further details can be found at https://www.thelowryhotel.com/the-lowry-spa
To book or for more information visit www.thelowryhotel.com or call 0161 827 4000.
