I read today that The Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden is to close after 37 years and felt a tinge of sadness. The Sanctuary was my introduction to the wonderful, relaxing, self indulgent & completely hedonistic world of the spa. I cannot remember specifically the reason for the first visit but I do remember turning up very nervous as I was conscious that The Sanctuary was the place where the infamous orgy scene in The Stud (with our very own Joan Collins) was filmed ... and it took a while for me to be able to relax enough to get on the (also infamous) swing & enjoy the experience (despite the fact in the real world it was women only). And I made at least 5 more visits, including one for a hen do & one as I desperately needed to escape particularly noisy neighbours I had at the time & enjoy proper peace & quiet. It was stonkingly good value too - if I remember rightly it was about £35 for the day with treatments on top obviously, but that entry fee included all the wet areas (pool with swing, lap pool, sauna, steam etc.) and lounging about in a fluffy dressing gown reading magazines!
I have since been to 100's of amazing spas across the world - and even persuaded FSHubby to join me on one occasion! - and have had both great & dreadful experiences. I have been wrapped in seaweed & played whale song whilst someone gently mopped my brow in Florida; I have lain giggling with a friend in Thailand whilst our faces were carefully plied with vanilla & coffee unctions which when removed resulted in us both looking at least 10 years younger; I have had cooling herbal potions applied to (silly) sunburn in Sydney; I had the BEST pedicure EVER in a hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg and I have had massages so soporific I have had to be woken from them!
And by contrast I have been unceremoniously scrubbed with sea salt & literally hosed down as I lay naked & shivering on a marble slab & had to stop someone virtually ripping the skin off my legs as they got over enthusiastic with a very abrasive scrub.
Ah the spa - this FauxSurreyHousewife would not be the same without them - fond memories of The Sanctuary - where will stressed Lady Londoners go now?
