Titanic Spa, Huddersfield: Decleor Intensive Energy Facial
Zane Henry is initiated into the world of spas
Spas, while not exactly scary, can be intimidating to men like me. Men uninitiated in the protocol of these lavender-scented sanctums and conditioned to believe that pampering isn't a male prerogative. Titanic Spa — located in a former cotton mill in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire — stood firm and foreboding against the flinty winter's day, and propped up my fragile masculinity with its reassuring stolidness.
My fiancee and I were ushered in friendly and efficient fashion from the bustling reception area through narrow, dormitory-style corridors to our loft-like room, where we dove into robes and slippers before heading downstairs for our treatments.
Men like me — manly men, I mean — like manly words. Words like ‘intensive' and ‘energy', that we can roll around in our manly heads while getting our faces coddled. The Decleor Intensive Energy Facial was perfect.
My therapist, Rachel, started with a Decleor Essential cleaner and toner combination. Then came the invigorating Phytopeel Exfoliating Cream. Some other things happened after but I fell asleep so I don't really know. I checked with Rachel after and found out that Men's Aromessense Cream, Men's Eye Cream and Energising Skin Fluid were all applied to my skin while I was drooling. The upshot was I woke up with my face feeling like the inside of a Labrador puppy's ear.
In my defence, the facial immediately followed a couple's Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy, which consisted of a gentle body brushing, followed by a hot stone massage with delicious Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil. We floated out of the room on a sweet-smelling cloud, clutching chocolates and bubbly.
Much fun was had with the Titanic Heat and Ice Experiences, which is exactly what it sounds like: a circuit of alternating hot and cold experiences, designed to relax and invigorate. We baked in the traditional sauna, then dunked ourselves in the plunge pool; breathed deep in the Herbal Infusion room before rubbing crushed ice into each other's steaming skin in the Ice Room; and swept away the perspiration from the Crystal Steam Bath with an ice bucket.
The hot/cold experience didn't stop there. A door leading off from the swimming pool area took us outside, where we stuck our tongues out at the night sky's failed attempts at snow as we kicked back in the steaming whirlpool bath.
Meals were average, but in the kitchen's defence, we did ask for vegan options. The highlight was a spicy lentil-stuffed pepper drizzled with a tamarind sauce. It's a shame we were too exhausted from all the relaxing to drain the gleaming Bar 1911, as it was the best-looking room in the building — bright and tastefully decorated in an arboreal theme. It was a pity after all this that breakfast next day was a bog-standard basket of cereal, fruit and cardboard croissants.
We left the next morning, and looked back at the sun winking behind the old mill's chimneys. I felt pampered. In a manly way.
Essentials
Spa Breaks from £129.00 per person including:
– Overnight Accommodation in a Serviced Apartment
– Leisure Club
– Titanic Spa Heat & Ice Experience
– 15m Salt Regulated swimming pool with Hydrozone and underwater music
– Continental Breakfast in your Apartment
– Light Lunch
– 2 Course Evening Meal
