Public Sector Spa Scoops Prestigious National Award

Spa London, the UK's first public sector day spa – a joint venture between charitable Social Enterprise GLL and Tower Hamlets Council – has scooped the top prize in this year’s Professional Beauty Awards 'Day Spa of the Year' category.

From a prestigious shortlist of national spas including The Sanctuary in Covent Garden and City Point Spa in Docklands, Spa London was announced as the winner at a ceremony held at the London Hilton, Park Lane on Monday, 8 March. The event was attended by hundreds of the biggest names in the beauty industry.

Based within York Hall, on the site of original Victorian Turkish Baths, spa London was launched in May 2007. The original concept was to make the day spa concept accessible to a whole new market and to groups that may otherwise never have considered visiting a spa. Spa London aims to offer a first-rate spa package at an affordable price.

Pauline Wallace, Manager of Spa London said; “We worked hard to communicate at a local level that the spa was something for all the community and to ensure that the environment was welcoming and non-intimidating.

“spa London offers a range of concessionary rates for those on benefits and senior citizens. Typically a concessionary visitor could visit the thermal facilities at the spa for three hours for as little as £6.75.”

Cllr Rofique U Ahmed, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure at Tower Hamlets Council, said: “It’s fantastic that spa London has won recognition at a national level.

“This award marks the spa’s third birthday, and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide top-quality facilities for our residents to enjoy.”

Jenni Middleton, editor of Professional Beauty magazine commented: "Our expectation was that we'd see standards drop this year. Times are tough, it's hard to keep motivated and it's even harder to get money in the till to spend on the little flourishes that set you apart. But what the mystery shoppers, my editorial team and our judges have consistently found is that the standard has been even higher this year. When the going gets tough, the tough cleanse, tone and moisturise."

Combining traditional thermal treatments with the latest modern therapies, spa London’s centrepiece is the thermal spa – based on traditional treatments dating back to the Romans and including everything from Aroma steam-rooms enriched with essence to Monsoon showers, a warm tropical downpour and cool water releasing a fine mist.

A host of beauty therapies is also available – from full body scrubs and slimming treatments to aromatherapy, Swedish or Hot Stone full body massages.