Spa Canada Magazine

Written by: James Knight

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You cannot buy style and vision, you either have it or you don't, it is that close, you don't have to be a large spa or a
five-star hotel, but it happens the Sofitel in Waterloo Place in London, does have both, a five-star hotel with a spa and spa
reception could easily be an illusion of design and creative architecture, it is a picture which dazzles your eyes.

Arriving at reception of the Sofitel London St James instead of being greeted good afternoon Mr. Knight, it was Bonjour James, the hotel is in London. The group is based out of Paris, the hotel brings French sophistication and style to Central London. Many of the staff are from France, and do speak French in the hotel, it most certainly is a great advantage for guests from the Province of Quebec, France and Switzerland, a plus  novel idea for London.
 
It was very busy with business people and tourists alike booking into the hotel, it is a hotel that caters for both groups of
travellers. The convenience of the hotel makes it an ideal location for the following sights of London, Piccadilly Circus, Royal Academy of Arts, Trafalgar Square, St. James Park, Buckingham Palace and Regent's Street, also the world-famous Jermyn Street, where niche shops can be found. From bespoke clothing to unusual cheese shops, shops which have been trading from the eighteenth century.

The Sofitel London St James hotel is located at the end of Waterloo Place, adjoining Pall Mall, the area is stepped in history. Over from The Mall, from the hotel, is where Carlton House use to be, it was the mansion of Prince Regent for several decades from 1783. There is nothing left standing now of the great house, Carlton House Terrace, with it's fine buildings now replaces the House. The House was why John Nash the world-
famous architect created the ceremonial route from St. James's to Regent's Park via Regent Street, Portland Place and Park Square. The house was re-built by Henry Holland between 1783 and 1796,
completed in 1802. Carlton House was a spacious opulent residence, which would have not been out of place in many cities of Europe as a palace, however when the Prince Regent became King George IV in 1820 he deemed that his own residence was not required.

Carlton House was demolished in 1825 and replaced with the grand Buckingham Palace where the Royal family live today, with many of the treasures brought from Carlton House to Buckingham Palace. A great loss to London, from the Sofitel London St James you can see the white stuccoed terraces of Carlton Terrace which are  most impressive.
 
A KING'S BANK

The original building was designed by E. Keynes in association with Durward  Brown, top designers of their day, it was completed in 1923 to house the
headquarters of Cox and Company and later became Cox's and King's bank, in years to follow taken over by Lloyds Bank.
 
The building is 125,000 sq. ft. Grade II listed building, is owned by The Crown Estates, one of the largest land owners in London, the great French interior designer Pierre Yves Rochon has created a contemporary style for the present neo-classical theme of the building, while highlighting and respecting the strong roots of British culture.

Many buildings are difficult to convert, behind reception is the image of the vault of the old bank, change that allows a bank vault now to be a important part of the French presence is everywhere SUBTLE and yet DISTINCTIVE are a key elements of the design.

At the entrance there is a 3 metre high engraved glass wall, which recounts the history of the building, with a few lines inscribed by calligrapher Claude Mediavilla one of the outstanding masters in his field. Claude Mediavilla was born in the South of France into a family which originated from Spain, he became a teacher at the Fine Art School Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris in France in 1976. He has a worldwide reputation, received the Prix Charles Peignot in 1987. Richard Cox's the founder of the bank was a very keen patron of the arts, this is visible today, the building has had close association with the arts.
 
The lobby captures the very English decor with French elegance, the lobby is overlooked by a circulate mezzanine floor, where a pianist plays in the evening, large windows adorn with off-white beige and green blinds and black and white marble floors. The leather panelling and dark green marble of the reception desk dominates one end of the lobby, it's classic style contrasting with a two-metre high glass chrome clock. Reception area has a kaleidoscope of colors, from the beautiful greens of vases to the multi-color carpets.
 
The Rose Lounge sets a feminine tone with it's cream and pink color scheme, creating a fresh ambience complement by stunning displays of fresh flowers and the sound of harpist, can be heard playing soft music, afternoon tea is also served in the lounge.
 
UP-TO-DATE ART
DECO DESIGN

The hotel has 184 rooms, all with natural color schemes of greens, browns and greys, the thick wool carpets are in matching colors, beautiful velvet curtains, flannel and tartan plaids, was also designed by Pierre Yves Rochon, with black and white prints of Paris and London, which may be called Art Deco.
 
All the usual high-tech facilities are available with flat-screen TV's and Wi Fi access. The Prestige Suites and Junior Suites are spread across each floor with impressive views of Waterloo Place and Pall Mall consisting of a lounge or a sitting room. Inspired by the statue of Edward VII on Waterloo Place, the French designer Christophe Daudré redesigned the Royal Suite, giving a new vision of modernity while keeping the classic architectural frame.In the bedrooms there is the most original wall-paper with watches and clocks, it really is very eye catching and takes the time away, produced by Stockline in London, they produce very distinctive wall papers for many hotels and businesses.
 

To give a feel of continuity between the reception rooms and the bedrooms, the fabrics have been chosen within one range of colors that creates a very intimate atmosphere. It is a fusion of French modernism and British old world elegance, where two designs collide to bring Anglo-European presence.

The conference and meeting rooms are named after distinguished districts of
London, the rooms have natural light feel, there is a beautiful decorative chandelier.
 
LONDON IS GRACED BY
HISTORIC STYLE AND NOW BY FRENCH ELEGANCE
 
Sofitel London St James was chosen to have the first Sofitel So Spa in the group, a great honour, most certainly is impressive.
 
In reception of the spa is a French parterre style garden, guarded by a large topiary French poodle, which looks so real, it brings the City of Paris to London, of lady's walking on a warm evening with their French poodles in Paris. The color scheme is of brown, ochre and green tones, reinforced with a welcoming relaxing atmosphere.

The spa area is 392 square meters over three floors, an oak staircase has been kept from the original bank, rose-coloured marble walls, plaster ceilings with intricate detailed decorative mouldings and Corinthian style marble columns.
 
The brand used in Cinq Mondes, also Carita, has been established as an international pioneer of skin care spa brands, Jean Louis Poiroux the creator of the brand, says: "he loves sharing the pleasure of his passion of the spa, with high-quality treatments", based in France his products are what we call caring products, offers an experience with his product range of relaxation and a feel of confidence.

The spa menu is very diverse, there is the Classics Re-balancing Jet Lag Pack over 60 or 90 minutes, depending how bad your jet lag is, which stimulates energy levels and cleanse the body after travel. Start with an invigorating body busting to boost your circulation and reduce fatigue, followed by a massage to relieve the body of sluggishness of the body, I feel I need that after being on the Tube in London on my daily journey into town.
 
Youthfulness Ko Bi Do Ritual, 60 or 90 minutes, compete and specific anti-wrinkle care focused on the most fragile areas of the face, eyes, forehead and lips, using Japanese ancestral ritual techniques in Ko Bi Do combined with reflexology of total relaxation.

There are Traditional Oriental Massage and Ayurvedic Massage.

I sampled the Gentleman's Escape, created only for men, this spa experience is tailored to your needs, I felt great through the pampering, you feel so good and you look good, full course menu, including scalp, face, neck massage and deep tissue body massage, gave me a great feel good factor.
 
There is also De Luxe Oriental Menu, enjoy a complete Hamman experience, combing the traditional Hamman Scrub with Savon Noir Beidi, Creme de Rassol Wrap and a relaxing North African massage.
 
They are all great and give you a uplift after the treatments.
 
When you pass through the greeting area, there is most certainly an impressive double-height space which reveals the original banking hall. There is a tea Bar and retail boutique and there is three manicure stations.
There is a table that would grace a castle banqueting area, where the products cases are around the edges.
 
The spa has won many awards in a short space of time. Conde Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence for the Most Excellent Spa in UK & Ireland, November 2009, Conde Nast Traveller readers spa awards for UK’s leading hotel spa, February 2011.

It is most certainly a cultural journey of design, architecture and original treatments, it is a combination of all three, a  total relaxation in Central London, it brings harmony of all the elements together for a blissful treatment.

A new addition to the Sofitel Hotel is the Balcon, offering French-British cuisine, the menu has been created by Head Chef Vincent Menager. His previous experience includes working under Albert Roux in Paris.

The area of the restaurant will combine the space of a brasserie, the St. James Bar, a charcuterie bar, a Champagne Balcony and tasting table, with both classic French and British cooking styles and ingredients. The Balcon will offer breakfast, morning tea and savories, lunch, French and English afternoon tea. Champagne and cocktails, charcuterie dinner and late night dining.
 
The St. James's Bar will take inspiration from Coco Chanel's 1920’s Paris apartment. In my opinion a great place to capture the French style and excellence.

To my mind it is an intellectual beauty for guests that makes the Sofitel London St James so different it is also using space as vehicle of creativeness to meet the modern-day travellers needs and desires. Which can be hard to achieve in a city hotel and spa, the fashion of the French and British luxury together.