Spa review: Double Up Spa Day at The Spa at The Midland, Manchester

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Adam Lowe is an award-winning author, editor and publisher from Leeds, now based in Manchester. He runs Dog Horn Publishing and is Director and Writing Coordinator for Young Enigma, a writer development programme for LGBT young people. He sometimes performs as Beyonce Holes.

Rasul experience

I’ve experienced a rasul treatment only once before – and there it was slightly different (relying on buckets of hot water to apply the thermal element, rather than the thermal showers used here). At The Spa at The Midland, the experience is geared towards privacy for two people. Once you have access to the space, you will be alone to treat your skin to algae and mud, before using the thermal jets to wash it all away. Because you’re left alone, it makes it a great opportunity to unwind and get some quality time together – even if you’re both just sat in silence, as we were, enjoying the relaxing process.

The combination of steam, therapeutic muds, showers and relaxation works as an alternative to the usual massages and facials, if you so choose, but also works well as a way to cleanse and detox before your spa journey.

Treatment of your choice

As part of the package, you get a 55-minute treatment of your choice. I chose a hot stones massage while my partner went for a deep muscle massage. The therapists were superb. We were given the option of taking our treatments in the same room or in different rooms – it’s a nice idea to get massages side-by-side if you go with your significant other.

I was so relaxed, I almost drifted off. I offer suffer with tightness of muscles and clicking joints – especially during the cold. After warming my body, my therapist was able to unwork the tight knots, and the twinges I often feel in my joints just disappeared.

Meanwhile, my partner went in wanting to soothe tired muscles (he works as a gardener). He regularly gets knots in his back and shoulders, and so he required some hands-on attention to help him relax. He reported a massive difference, feeling much more limber and loose as a result.

Lunch

As we were hoping to detox and I’d just restarted my diet, we opted for the light lunch option instead of afternoon tea (although I had serious food envy from the others who had the afternoon tea). We had a bowl of soup each, a small sandwich, fish and salad to round out the selection – there are healthy options, sandwich selections and more filling options for those with bigger appetites.

The lunch was a nice way to break up the day, and the food was great. It was simple and tasty, but packed with nutrients and flavour. That glass of champagne, though technically tainting our detox efforts, was a lovely way to round out the day, too.

Relaxation

The relaxation suite has secluded rooms with sliding doors, shaded beds, hanging chairs and pod chairs to help you shut out the world. You can read a book, flick through a magazine, or just meditate in peace. There’s a lovely selection of refreshing teas and naturally flavoured water to keep you going. We could have spent all day here, although we had dinner arrangements so left about 3pm (we’d arrived at 11am).

The verdict

The location of The Spa at The Midland is always going to make it appealing. But its gorgeous decor, peaceful relaxation zones and well equipped thermal suite makes it a place you really do want to come back to. At 55 minutes, the treatments were substantial, and allowed us to fit in a range of experiences throughout our visit.

This package is great if you have a whole day (or even just a few hours) to unwind and enjoy all the facilities. The entire package can be done in three hours, or you can stay longer and make the most of it. You don’t need to go far to recharge – and what’s more, now you can try a little bit of everything and share it with a loved one, without breaking the bank. A wonderful offering from The Spa at The Midland!