Don’t be deterred by the odd name of the spa at Oddfellows on the Park, in Cheadle. Miss Piggy would approve.
As I stepped into the pretty reception area of the spa at Oddfellows on the Park I asked ‘Why is it called The Pigsty?’ You would, wouldn’t you?
Therapist Gemma told me that when Oddfellows bought the dilapidated Victorian hall in Bruntwood Park, a couple of years ago, it resembled a pigsty.
But after a huge renovation project the area that is now the Pigsty - indeed the whole of the hotel - is now transformed into an ideal retreat for a little rest and relaxation.
Bruntwood Hall, set in an attractive leafy park in suburban Cheadle, has a rich history dating back to 1861. I won’t go into too much detail because we told its story in our April issue when my colleague Janet Reeder reviewed the restaurant, the Galloping Major. The main reason for my visit was to sample the Pigsty.
That expert in all things feminine and beautiful, Miss Piggy, would surely approve of this small but perfectly formed salon. Isn’t that painting on the wall a portrait of the Muppets’ femme fatale? Gemma agrees the pig lady does look similar to the porcine celebrity, but no, she’s a one-off and she’s called Nancy.
The piggy paintings are a charming, quirky touch and just right for this boutique hotel which strives to be individual without looking contrived. I could wax lyrical about the splendour of the hotel interior: remnants of the past have been beautifully restored, particularly in the hallway and the Galloping Major. But the Spa review is what we’re here for...
My first treatment was almost an hour of solitary confinement in a kind of vertical mud bath. Most users of the mud room (£50 for one, £80 for two) are couples - you daub the face and body in skin-caring mud and then relax in the warm, steamy environment. It was nice to be alone.
But then the best bits. Gemma led me to a treatment room and underneath another cute portrait of Nancy I truly relaxed while Gemma worked a bit of magic with a Vitality Massage (£40 for 30 minutes) and the Glowing Radiance Facial (£40 for 30 minutes). She used quality Ila products - recently introduced at the spa at the Lanesborough Hotel in Knightsbridge, no less - a skincare brand with only natural plant and mineral ingredients.
It was a soothing, yet revitalising experience and Gemma’s massage technique, in particular, is worthy of special mention. The only problem: I was so relaxed it was hard to function for the rest of the afternoon. Oddfellows on the Park is attracting guests from far and wide. Cheadle residents are lucky to have this on their doorstep.
www.oddfellowsonthepark.com/pigsty 0161 697 3066
