I like it up north, and the Titanic Spa in Huddersfield is a good example of why. There is no namby-pamby whale music, no feminine candles or scented sticks. This is no-nonsense, upfront pampering, northern-style
Titanic Spa is tucked away in a secluded corner of the Pennines, perched on the side of the imposing Colne valley, beside the River at Linthwaite. But don't let the rural surroundings fool you. The spa resides within an imposing renovated Grade II former textile mill, and is named after the famous ship that set sail for America in 1911, the same year the mill was built.
Outside, the building is a fierce yet impressive industrial grey brick affair, softened inside with minimalist decor of beiges and browns, smooth yet defined edges and high ceilings, giving an awesome sense of space and freedom.
Armed with a fluffy towel and my friend Charli (a bit of a spa aficionado), we padded our way to the heat experience complex. This is a set of treatment rooms, tricks and treats arranged around the edges of a circular room - the idea being that you work round the rooms, ritually heating and cooling your body for an all-round sensory experience.
The heat experience includes saunas, an aroma room, a crystal steam room, and for the very brave, the freezing plunge pool, the ice bucket and the ice room, where you can rub flakes of ice all over your skin - all very refreshing, and apparently great for circulation, if slightly painful. The treatment rooms were clean, small and unfussy, yet despite being fully booked, it did not feel busy. Indeed, we rarely shared a room with more than one or two others at any one time.
Eco-friendly
Before lunch we went for a quick swim in the massive pool and checked out the gym (less massive, but with all the necessities). The pool is a chlorine-free, salt water pool, one of the many eco measures that Titanic have in place.'We are working towards becoming totally self-sufficient,' says Spa Manager, Daniel Orabona. 'We have our own water source, are getting solar panels for the roof and there is even a board in the restaurant which displays CO2 emissions so customers can see how much energy is being used'. The place is heated with a bio-mass generator, and it is admirable that the minds behind Titanic Spa are taking environmental care very seriously.
I am always happy in a spa that has champagne on the menu, and I was delighted with the culinary choices on offer. From prawns and home smoked salmon in a creme freche marie rose sauce to linguine cherry tomatoes, spring onions and garlic pan-fried with olive oil and crumbled goats cheese, washed down with a glass of bubbly, it was all delicious. Plus, the staff are so friendly, open and unassuming that it is very easy to feel right at home.
Chilling out bean bag-style
I left Charli in the bean bag den, a chill-out room with a big hole in the middle filled with squishy squashy bean bags and cushions, perfect for reading a paper or taking a snooze after a hard day in the sauna.
Meanwhile, I was off for my Prescriptive Facial. My therapist was a softly-spoken slip of a thing, who, after laying me out on the bed, passed a UV light across my face which revealed any impurities or issues that my skin had. According to the light, I have some pretty big old pores around my cheeks and nose, and a bit of sun damage on my chest (my summer holiday 2006, I burnt my chest, twice).
Another eco touch is in the lotions and potions. Titanic use Pevonia Botanica beauty products which apparently follow a holistic approach, combining 100 per cent natural products with modern science to provide effective skincare solutions. After some light extraction, I was creamed, cleansed and toned with recovery and reviving lotions, and afterwards my skin felt much fresher and less congested, and free from the pollutants of London living.
The Titanic Spa has not been open long, but already attracts a mix of clientele. 'During the week many of our guests come from Huddersfield,' says Orabona. 'At the weekends we have people from Manchester, Leeds and London. We have even had some people over from Holland recently.'
It's not the most romantic of spas I have been to, but the apartments and the relaxed atmosphere and impressive treatment menu makes Titanic Spa perfect for anyone looking for a fun, girly weekend away, in relaxing surroundings, with minimal environmental cost.
Cost
The Heat Experience Rooms cost £65 and include light lunch and access to the gym and pool. The Prescriptive Facial cost £55 and last approximately 55 minutes.Where to stay
The mill has access to three apartments available to visitors who wish to stay over, and there is also a hotel being developed in another part of the mill building which will provide accommodation for those travelling from further a field.Charli and I stayed in one of the apartments which were fresh, modern and spacious. Our apartment cost us £140 per night, and had two bedrooms with two beds each, two bathrooms, a kitchen diner with all mod cons and a large flat screen television. And it was about four times the size of my flat in London.
Check the website for more details at www.titanicspa.com