Harley Young enjoys a relaxing afternoon tea and a massage at the hotel’s spa
As beautiful as winter can be at times (morning frost on blades of grass…crunchy walks through the snow with hot chocolate in hand…etcetera, etcetera), it doesn’t half wreak havoc on your skin, not to mention your mood.
If, like me, after the initial holly-jolliness of the holiday period, you’re in need of a pick-me-up to save you from those long, dark nights of never-ending January and the dreaded realisation that you’ve probably bitten off more than you can chew only five days into your New Year’s Resolutions (gulp), The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly has devised just the medicine for it.
For the budget-friendly price of £79 per person, you can treat yourself to an afternoon of indulgence with their Afternoon Tea & Spa Package, perfectly paired with plenty of relaxation in the hotel’s on-site spa where you can enjoy a complimentary 25-minute treatment as part of the package. January blues who?
Alanya and I headed over on a Wednesday afternoon, ready to get our pamper on after a fairly hectic first half of the week. We were greeted with a warm smile from the members of the spa team before being taken over to the serene and tranquil reception and lounge area where we’d be having our afternoon tea later.
After filling in a quick consultation form, we were given our robes and slippers and shown the amenities before being left to change at our leisure and head back for a bite to eat.
Beautifully presented and well stacked, the three-tier cake stand beckoned us over; freshly baked scones with rich clotted cream, plenty of finger sandwiches (without the crusts, obviously) and an array of luxury desserts from rich chocolate tortes to fruity and playful macarons, there was something to delight even the pickiest of tastebuds.
You're also given the option to add on a glass of Prosecco each for an extra £5 per person - a welcome treat if you're looking to push the boat out and make your afternoon even more special.
Once our afternoon tea had settled, we were ready for our treatments. Out of the three options given, I decided to go for the back, neck and shoulder massage whilst Alanya chose the Elemis Express Facial, but there is the option of a full body exfoliation also.
There's also the option of having your massage or facial in the twin treatment room, ideal for couples enjoying a romantic getaway or special occasion.
For the next 25 minutes we were transported to another realm; the highly-skilled therapists worked their magic and all our day-to-day stresses and worries became a distant memory.
At various intervals throughout the massage I was asked if the pressure was suitable and if there was any areas I was having trouble with. I mentioned I held a lot of tension in my shoulders from hunching over my laptop and my therapist wasted no time in working away at those knots.
The session flew by and, before we knew it, it was time to snap back to reality.
Feeling fully relaxed and rejuvenated, we headed downstairs to the sauna and steam room to make the most of our complimentary access and keep the good vibes flowing.
If you're looking for the ultimate indulgent pick-me-up, give The Spa Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly's new package a try. It's great value for money and makes for a great way to beat those mid-winter blues.
The Spa Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, 91 London Rd, Manchester M1 2PG
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