I booked myself in to have the Java body wrap which provides firming and slimming results…read more When I got there, they measured my body taking note of my current body size. Then I had to put on some very attractive paper pants before the lady started to wrap me up using lots of bandages that had been soaked in what can only be described as a clay like substance. They were left on for around 60 minutes whilst I was left to lay on the bed and relax. Afterwards I was measured again and I had lost a combined total of 5 inches from different parts of my body. Very impressive.

Beth is the most amazing massage therapist. She has helped me with back, neck, and shoulder issues,…read morewhich are aggravated by my hours behind a computer. The spa itself has been refurbished, and there are now some amazing new treatments rooms (including a double room for couples/friends). This is a dry spa so there are no wet rooms/sauna etc. It is a restful, peaceful place to visit, and has a lovely team there. Worth signing up to their newsletter online so that you get sent a discount code for your first treatment.

Vibro is the only gym I've ever stuck to. Results in a matter of weeks and a friendly place to work…read moreout. Massages are fantastic too.

Once in a while everyone needs a break, and at the end of a particularly stressful week of work i…read moretook Friday afternoon off for some me time. Having had Vibro suite recommended to me by a friend I decided to check out the spa and am very glad I did. They have a fantastic range of treatments and are able to accommodate you if you want a 30 minute lunch time treat or like me an entire afternoon of relaxation. In an attempt to relax I opted for a "Deep Tissue Massage" and a "Bespoke You Facial" both were 1 hour treatments. The welcome was fantastic and I immediately felt at ease and was offered a range of drinks, the initial massage was carried out very well and actually did work to release some of the tension I felt. This was followed by a 10 minute break where I was allowed to sit relax and offered another drink. The Facial consisted of a 15 minute consultation asking about my skin type and normal routine. This was followed by a full 1 hour facial which I think was done very well. Unlike many other spas I wasn't pressured into buying any products or booking a follow up, the staff were fantastic and both treatments were great value for money. I would definitely recommend Vibro Suite.

Whilst I realise this is a review for a big chain, I really think this one needs to be shouted…read moreabout! Context: I am a fat girl. I don't want to be a fat girl any more. I have been a member of a number of gyms in the past, and for many many reasons hated it and quit. I was determined this time to find one that would work for me. Enter Bannatyne's Brindley Place: The bizarre decor immediately appealed. The pool is dimly lit, so I don't feel super self conscious about my bits being on show, and the gym itself is never rammed full of people so I never feel I'm being looked at. The muscly oiled men keep to themselves in a separate area with free weights which also helps me feel less anxious about visiting. But the real reason this place is awesome is because of two very specific people: 1) Steve Northam - he inducted me into the gym, he puts up with my whinging and my craziness over any kind of exertion, and at times he can be a little bit strange too (he does competitive fencing! Amazing, right?!) but above all he encourages me to keep at it. And it seems to be working. 2) Lee - a personal trainer who runs the spinning class on Thursday mornings and Sunday evenings. He warms us up to COUNTING CROWS (yes, I know, it shouldn't make sense but IT DOES!) and continues the sessions mixing Lady Gaga and Alanis Morrissette and Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon and on the rare occasion we manage to twist his arm to turn on the disco lights, it's like doing a bike ride at Snobs. And I've discovered I LOVE it. So. Indie / metal spinning, and crazy helpful instructors? On that note I'm IN. (ahhh cheesy ending, I know, but I couldn't resist :)

I booked this spa day through the wanada site which included use of all the health club facilities…read morea facial and a free take home product! A great way to spend a Saturday with a friend :-) Arriving at 10:30 I was determined to make use of all the facilities, and that's exactly what we did. My friend and I were shown around the health club - free water machine,changing rooms, swimming pool, steam room, jacuzzi and sauna. We spent spent our time relaxing on the loungers reading magazines and generally just chillaxing using the jacuzzi and steam and sauna rooms. The changing room facilities are great complete with the usual showers, toliets, lockers (don't forget a £1 coin!) drier for swimming costumes and hairdryers. You can also bring in your own hair straighteners to plug in. We each had a facial in the spa whereby they used a range of Elemis products on our skin which resulted in super soft skin. The spa staff were friendly and professional and I must say I felt very relaxed after my treatment as it included a head massage too. I will defintely returning for another spa day.

On my birthday, I was treated to a full body wrap. I had mentioned before about how much I loved my…read morefirst wrap so I was happy when I was given another one as the majority of women lose between 2-8 inches from around their body straight after the treatment! Perfect pick me up for anyone wanting to feel a bit slimmer. When I got there, they measured my body taking note of my current body size and started to wrap me up using bandages soaked in what can only be described as clay like substance. They were left on for around 60 minutes whilst I was left to lie on the bed and relax. Although the inch loss isn't permanent but a good start to a healthy diet, when I was measured I had lost 6 inches from different parts of my body. Great treatment if you want to feel extra special.

Firstly what a beautfiul place, with such a relaxing atmostphere!…read more It was the first time we had been to Lily may and we were very pleasantly suprised! Between us we had a massage and a body scrub and we would both fully recommend them to all. Overall a beautiful place, welcoming staff and heavenly treatments that have left us both feeling very relaxed!

My first ever trip to get my nails done and have a facial was with Agadir Spa. Despite it being…read morevery local to me, I hadn't even heard of this little Turkish/Moroccan Spa in the Big Peg complex. It wasn't until I was having a mooch on one of the various voucher sites that I spotted it and thought I would give it a go before I was due to go on a business trip. First off, they can be a bit of a nightmare to get hold of. I ended up emailing and calling several times before I was able to confirm my appointment, but no harm done; I got there eventually. I would recommend using the mobile number which is on their website if you are having problems using the landline. From the outside, it isn't anything special. Saying that, the Big Peg Complex isn't particularly posh - so this was totally fine. Inside is a little warren of different rooms for different treatment purposes. Once I had gotten in and been given a warm welcome, I was guided to their reception room. This was jauntily decorated in the Moroccan Style with colourful blankets, decorations and adornments and knick-knacks put carefully around the room. I was seen to within minutes of this and led to a second, bigger room for my manicure. The owner of Agadir was so friendly and chatty that we were laughing within minutes of me sitting down. My hands were washed, cuticles sculpted, fingers massaged and nails filed to perfection. I was a little disappointed as I assumed I would be getting polish (rather than a clear protector), but regardless of this my nails now look a lot better than before. The facial was really lovely! The products used are all natural and smell amazing. I laid down and let the therapist do her thing in scrubbing and massaging away the impurities in my skin. Once the mud mask was applied I was left a reasonable amount of time to let it dry and relax. I was given some gorgeous fragrant turkish tea and biscuits in between treatments too, which added to the relaxing atmosphere and pampering. As an extra, I ended up getting my eyebrows done too. This was done via a combination of threading, plucking and sculpting (and they now look great) for £6. I would give it 3.5 if I could (mainly due to not having nail varnish), but it's worth a visit just for the friendly staff, attentive service and delicious tea.

I had a very bad experience here. I would rate zero stars so as not to recommend at all but it's…read morenot possible. I found the service terrible. I had to wait an hour to be seen, I paid for 60 minute treatment and only received 35 minutes. The treatment was rushed, was harsh and unhygienic. I came out with spots and rashes as a result and ended up having to use a steroid cream and antihistamines for days after. The sponges and brushes etc are not sterilised. The place does not give a relaxing ambience at all. Shame really. The lady was not very talkative and I found her giving her male clients a lot more attention on the day. While I was left alone for long periods of time. I hated the experience and certainly will not be going again. I was very disappointed.

My understanding of" halal" was that it referred to how animals are slaughtered before reaching the…read morebutchers. So when I came across Pure Halal Beauty, I was somewhat confused. What do beauty cosmetics have to do with halal? Well, it turns out that the salon provides make-up that does not conflict with Islamic practises. Although the concept of make-up seems to clash with the ideas behind the faith - but I digress! The salon is very compact but bursting with cosmetics that are aimed for Asian skin tones. Although they're not just limited to these so they have fewer colours in lighter or darker shades. It's an interesting concept, which I'm sure would attract a lot of clientele. Only I wasn't overly impressed with the colours, despite their focus on skin-caring properties and policy of no animal testing.

I did something in January I never thought I would do.... I joined a gym. I did a lot of research…read morefirst, as I wanted a place which I wasn't locked into a 12 month contract, had a pool, had classes I would do (and enjoy) and would be the cheapest option; Bannatynes won hands down. Located just off Corporation Street, it's got several bus stops around it and is a 3 - 5 minutes walk from either Snow Hill or New Street train station. I will warn you, the exterior (as you can see from the photo) isn't glamourous. If you want a place for posing and taking "gym selfies", you may want to look elsewhere. Once you are a member, rather than carrying around another pesky card - you get a pin number to enter. This is just put into the turnstile by the reception desk and Voila! You're in. As a side note, once I had decided to join - I was a member in 10 minutes and had full access immediately. Something to note if you're feeling determined! There are separate male and female changing and shower facilities downstairs and then stairs to the pool/steam/sauna area or you can grab lift to get up to the gym. The lockers are padlock operated and you have to take your own (or buy one from them). I am yet to try the actual gym equipment or classes, but all of the classes seem to be done over a range of days and times to suit even the most busy schedule. I am loving the hydrotherapy pool (perfect for post swim achey limbs) and the Sauna. The gym also has a "Bannatynes Spa". Not recommended for a "spa day" (the actual area is very nice), but you wouldn't want to head to the pool for a relaxing time as it's full of people swimming for fitness. I had my first ever massage today by a lovely lady called Steph. As a new member of the gym, I had 50% off - making a 45 minute Swedish massage experience £18. They do offers regularly, so if you are a spa person, wotrth giving it a go. All in all - there are things that could be improved. But for £29 a month - it pretty much does everything I would want a gym to do!

This place is the reason I can eat out as much as I do.....so obviously, I am a big fan…read more High-end gym equipment, a good range of classes and a fantastic swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi, make this, in my opinion, one of the best fitness centres in Birmingham. At £40 per month it is slightly more expensive than a lot of gym memberships in the city, but I think its good value given the amount you get for that. My biggest recommendation are the spin classes, they are tough but you definitely feel like you have had a good workout after one of those! A few sessions here a week....and another guilt-free weekend.....perfect.