Edinburgh's Spa in the City's Sixth Year
This weekend Edinburgh’s Spa in the City is back, for its sixth consecutive year. The concept is clearly a winner, and it’s a simple one. It’s a completely free beauty event, and this year has a fresh new format. And yes, that’s FREE!
Heading once again to St Andrew Square, on May 4 and 5, the Essential Edinburgh extravaganza will feature a new ‘Fresh as a Daisy’ theme with six of the city’s most prestigious beauty retailers – John Lewis, Jenners, Harvey Nichols, Boots, Debenhams and the Roxburghe Hotel – each taking over their own marquee in the square.
Shoppers will be offered the chance to freshen up their look with a menu of free treatments, from brands like Shu Uemura from Harvey Nichols, Liz Earle from John Lewis and Clarins in the Jenners marquee. Luxurious treatments courtesy of the spa team at the city’s Roxburghe Hotel will also be available, alongside Superdrug, Lush Spa, and Neal’s Yard Remedies.
I popped into Neal’s Yard in Edinburgh this week for a gorgeous reflexology treatment with the lovely, chatty, Morag. It was the first time in years I had had reflexology and it was just the perfect pick me up on my first Monday back at work, after a week in the sun. I still feel refreshed by the treatment, which focuses on the pressure points in your feet to help any minor issues or ailments you may have (but please don’t think that reflexology for any major health issues, you should really always see a doctor for those).
Reflexology is an ancient Eastern healing tradition based on the principle that all parts of our body are connected by energy pathways which end in the hands, feet and head. A reflexology treatment uses pressure massage on specific areas of the feet to stimulate healing in the corresponding organs, glands and structures. This releases areas of tension and helps energy to flow more freely throughout your body.
Reflexology is perfect if you aren’t perhaps a big fan of massage, or getting your clothes off for a treatment. Morag went through a full consultation, asking if I had any concerns, illnesses, was on medication, etc, before getting to work on the zones of my feet that corresponded with the parts of my body which needed attention. Reflexology is a perfect treatment to have at this event, so book in if you can!
The event is organised and funded by Essential Edinburgh, the city’s Central Business Improvement District and aims to promote the wealth of beauty and lifestyle retailers on offer in Edinburgh city centre and encourage shoppers into the area.
“We are delighted to be bringing Spa in the City back once again for its sixth year. This has proven to be a really popular event with beauty lovers in Edinburgh and we are confident that this year’s line-up will not disappoint,” says Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh. “This year, the move to have major retailers hosting their own marquee shows just how far this event has come, and how important it has become in the Edinburgh retail calendar. By having this level of involvement in the event, retailers have a prime opportunity to showcase their offerings and brands to thousands of Edinburgh shoppers.”
As well as the large marquees, a selection of smaller marquees around the Melville Monument will house brands such as Molton Brown and Kiehls, as well as jazz band Swing Supreme who will be providing entertainment.
There is some pre-booking available through the Spa in the City Facebook page, but most treatment slots, limited to one per person, are sexcured at the registration desk on teh event days from 9.30am until 4pm, ona first come, first served basis. For more information visit www.essentialedinburgh.co.uk
