The Dorchester Spa - London

Following a £3.2 million refurbishment and expansion programme, The Dorchester Spa is perhaps the most indulgent, luxurious destination spa in London. Situated on Park Lane within The Dorchester Collection’s flagship hotel, it features nine treatment rooms, a fitness studio, a manicure and pedicure suite, a hairdressing salon and gentlemen’s barber. The project has been overseen by Martin Hulbert of Fox Linton Associates, who has designed a series of spaces that exude the glamour of Art Deco combined with a contemporary edge.

In the absence of a traditional reception desk, guests are ushered through a darkened passageway to a seating area with a backdrop of white-gold mirrored screens. The focal point is a Fox Linton-designed hanging sculpture comprising 72,000 South Pacific white pearls. The ivory palette continues throughout with accents of deep blue, complemented by sumptuous velvet, silk, leather and satin.

Central to the spa, and available for private hire, is the deep relaxation room with a choice of bespoke daybeds, highback chairs, sofas and footstools upholstered by the likes of Zoffany, Sahco, GP&J Baker, Abbott & Boyd, and John Boyd. Matching deep blue sheer silk drapes are supplied by JAB Anstoetz.

The nine treatment rooms, including two double suites, feature heated treatment beds and a piece of freestanding furniture specially designed for the space. All rooms have been soundproofed as part of the refurbishment and ceilings fitted with decorative glass that naturally changes colour with movement.

Even the dressing rooms exude an air of glamour, thanks to the addition of experience showers, state-of-the-art aromatic steam rooms lined with white glass mosaics, mood lighting, and full height lockers finished in hand-produced shell lacquer. The ladies dressing room also includes dressing tables of rose-mirrored glass.

The manicure and pedicure suite features glass walls containing rows of thousands of nail varnish bottles in a colourful, creative display, whilst the hairdressing salon with stylist Royston Blythe features a chandelier comprising 100 pairs of hairdressers’ scissors.

Four skincare product partners have been appointed by the spa to enhance its therapies, facials, massages, and body treatments including Vaishaly, Carol Joy London, Kerstin Florian (offered for the first time in a London spa), and Aromatherapy Associates.

In addition, The Dorchester has partnered with Technogym for the launch of its new fitness studio and is the first in the UK to feature the Kinesis One piece of equipment that allows for 200 resistance-based exercises from a single stand-alone station. All the Technogym equipment features touchscreen Wellness TV to motivate users, and DVD and iPod integration.

And finally, to counteract the effects of this health and fitness kick, The Dorchester has its own ‘Spatisserie’ serving light lunches and afternoon tea with bite size cakes, biscuits and pastries, savoury nibbles, and champagne and spa cocktails – all reflecting the ethos that ‘a little of what you love is good for you’, of course. The intimate space, again designed by Fox Linton Associates comprises mirrors with silver metal frames and a large centre table topped with handmade cakes and chocolates. Dining chairs, stools and daybeds are upholstered in an assortment of silks, mohair and leather in corals, lilac and ivory by Fox Linton, The Odd Chair Company, and Peter Dudgeon. All cabinetwork was created by Decca Furniture, with Utopia Contracts providing the sanitaryware specification, from the treatment rooms to the Spa and Experience showers.

The end result is an Art Deco gem entirely in keeping with The Dorchester’s rich heritage, and a spa quite unlike any other.

The Dorchester Spa
Park Lane London, W1K 1QA, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7319 7109
Web: www.thedorchester.com

Facilities 9 treatment rooms, Manicure and pedicure suite, Hairdressing salon and barbers, Technogym fitness studio
Dining Spatisserie restaurant