Titanic Spa, Huddersfield

Situated just outside Huddersfield on the A62 towards Oldham, the Titanic Spa claims to be the leading spa in Yorkshire.

Housed in an old textile mill that has been tastefully restored, the spa is situated on the ground floor with the accommodation that can be booked for overnight stays being on the upper floors. The other apartments are lived in all year round which gives the place a real lived in feeling. Most of the accommodation looks over the River Colne and the tranquil setting fits in well with the ambience of the spa.

It is certainly a popular place with Titanic Day Spa packages being a good present for someone who likes a bit of pampering. Arriving at reception the queue (of mostly women) were dealt with swiftly and efficiently in a professional and friendly manner.

You are given a pair of slippers and a brown dressing gown to use during your stay (you get to keep the slippers upon departure otherwise they throw them away) and asked if this is your first visit to the spa. A guided tour of the facilities is offered to first timers.

A schedule is then given of your day including any treatments if you have booked them in advance. These tend to get booked up early on so it is a good idea to book these a few days before your arrival.

Complimentary tea, coffee and orange juice is offered just after reception until 11.30. The juice was fine although the tea and coffee could have been hotter and stronger on both accounts, even after it was freshly brought out. Get the Yorkshire tea bags out I say!

With 2 female changing rooms and one male changing room you can tell who their clientele is.

The heart of the complex is the Titanic Heat and Ice Experience which is included in the Day Experience package, which also includes a one course light lunch excluding drinks in the bistro.

Basically the Heat and Ice Experience is a twist on the old sauna, although the 'experience' includes a Herbal Infusion Room, Aromatherapy Room, Crystal Steam Bath, Sauna Cabin, Foot Baths, Ice Room and Plunge Pool. You can chill out afterwards in the Rest and Relaxation Room or the sunken hot tub outside on the terrace.

There is also a gym and a 15m salt regulated swimming pool. I found the Heat and Ice Experience to be excellent, although if you suffer from asthma or have breathing problems then this is not the experience for you.

There are plenty of cool water drinking facilities situated throughout the floor and bowls of apples seem to appear at regular spots. My lunch of a caesar smoked chicken salad was large and tasty, I didn't need anything heavy after the Heat and Ice Experience.

Treatments can be booked separately, I chose a Deep Tissue Massage, the 55 minute massage soon got rid of the knots across the top of my back and the essential oils were very soothing, it was one of the best massages I have had in a spa.

You are free to use the other facilities as many times as you wish during your day visit, with an arrival time of 8.30am to 9.30am and a departure time of 6.00pm. The age group visiting at the weekend seemed to be mainly women aged 25 to 50 although I am told that through the week they get a wider range of age group visiting.

A new bar has just been added too, the 1911 (the year the Titanic was built) which serves drinks and cocktails in a relaxed environment.

At the end of my day visit I felt relaxed, refreshed and invigorated. A great escape from the pressures of the modern world.

For more information:
www.titanicspa.com
Telephone: 01484 843544