Review: Winter Warmer Experience at Viva Urban Spa

We sent Liz Ledger along to Viva Urban Spa for some much deserved pampering. Here's how she got on...

I rarely make the time for any sort of pampering as I’m either working, or out running or cycling. However, I started to feel sluggish and like I’d been over doing it – just before a big Duathlon Race. One of my friends suggested I have a massage and that a bit of R&R would make a huge difference.

As many of you will know only too well, the vast choice of beauty therapists can be a bit baffling but when I saw the Winter Warmer offer at Viva Urban Spa I knew that was the one to go for; a 55 minute treatment including a back massage, heated hand treatment and an oriental scalp massage all for just £45 - with a free Starbucks hot chocolate and cookie thrown in. This was just the sort of pampering I was looking for!

I booked my appointment for 6pm on a Friday – a perfect way to wind down after a busy week. I arrived at the Village Hotel (Viva is part of the hotel on the top floor) and there was plenty of parking on site which is always a bonus.

As soon as I entered Viva Urban Spa a wave of calm ran through me; thanks to the ambient low lighting, warm décor and beautiful scent of the aromatherapy oils. Keira greeted me & walked me to the treatment room which was even more serene with soft relaxing music and perfect warm temperature.  Keira began by asking me questions about my lifestyle so she could choose the oils that would be of most benefit to me; she gave me a choice of two which to be honest was tricky as both were gorgeous but I opted for one with soft oriental notes.

I relaxed in to the massage as soon as Keira started working on my back. From the few massages I’ve had, I always struggle to switch off and get in to it but this was definitely not the case here! A good 25 minutes was spent working on my back where I really felt the knots and tightness gently begin to ease. Then on to the hand treatment which was a little different but incredibly effective. After a hand massage Keira put electrically heated gloves on me which felt like an extended hand massage and made you felt completely and utterly pampered!

I did start to think ‘oh no it will be over soon’ when it was time for the scalp massage, as I knew it was the final area, but it was not rushed at all and I managed to relax in to it again and enjoy the final 15 minutes of the treatment. In fact, it was so relaxing it put me in to an almost trance like state – even my ears had a little massage!

I was left to get dressed but to be honest I could barely lift my head; I felt as though I was floating – all the knots and lactic acid that had built up from heavy training had disappeared. The thought of the free hot chocolate and cookie waiting for me eventually got me moving! This was such a great touch and felt like an extended bit of ‘me time’. I parked myself on one of the comfy sofas in the lounge/Starbucks area downstairs and indulged myself with a chocolate chip cookie, a signature hot chocolate and a copy of Vogue – bliss!

I enjoyed my visit to Viva so much that shortly after, I booked a full body aromatherapy massage while on holiday at a Spa Resort in the Dead Sea – I thought if you’re going to have a massage this is the place to try one but I thought wrong. The experience was like a conveyer belt – all the guests were in and out with no personal bespoke service like at Viva and the treatment was only 40 minutes so I struggled to get in to it and relax despite being on holiday. Plus it was a whopping £75!

What a stark contrast to Viva where I felt like I’d had a real treat and fantastic value for money. I also went on to get a PB in my race the following week so it definitely did the job! My New Years’ Resolution is to have at least a bi-monthly massage and I will most certainly be having it at Viva Urban Spa.