Review: Filiz Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa, Kingston Upon Thames

Last week I dropped into the Filiz Aveda Lifestyle Spa, located at Bentalls department store in Kingston, my nearest decent-shopping town on the south-west London / Surrey borders.  After a lovely day of floating around doing some light shopping and lunching in celebration of my birthday, I was hoping that a indulgent Aveda facial would relaxing finish to my day.

The Filiz spa is absolutely beautiful - the photo on the left shows the waiting area, which consists of a comfy sofa set in a sunken area bordered with softly glowing lighting.  The overall vibe is mood-lit, deeply tranquil, and very exclusive feeling; quite a feat when you remember that you're actually on the top floor of a department store, opposite the toy section.  I'd booked myself in for an Elemental Nature facial, which was rather expensive at £75 for an hour.  I was assured that while the facial treatment itself was an hour long, the usual consultation and form filling bit incorporated a foot soak and scrub, which took the total pampering time up to an hour and a quarter.




Unfortunately, things got off to a bad start when I was left in the waiting area for about half an hour prior to my treatment beginning, having arrived about ten minutes early.  As I sat, awaiting the arrival of my therapist, I found that the tranquil atmosphere was quite frequently disrupted.  A good spa is a good spa because of the little touches that enhance your experience; at Filiz, the staff moved around the area noisily, wrenching doors open and letting them bang shut behind them, not only punctuating the quiet with bangs, but allowing the noise from the shop floor to filter through into the spa.

My therapist eventually arrived fifteen minutes after the treatment was supposed to begin.  Although apologetic, she rushed me into the treatment room and through the foot soak / consultation.  When she began the facial, I was surprised that no music was played - everything was conducted in silence.  I've never really thought about the role of music in a treatment; it's usually simply a background thing.  Not having any music though was very disconcerting; all I could hear were the squishing noises of creams and oils being massaged into my face.  The strangeness of the senses continued as I realised that my therapist had eaten something very heavy on onions for lunch.  Not particularly relaxing.

As the facial continued I eventually relaxed more and did nod off as I usually do during a good facial.  Afterwards, the therapist explained what products she'd used, highlighting the ones whose scent really stood out during the treatment, and I was left to wake up properly and get dressed in my own time.  As I left the spa, my face felt perfectly clean, moisturised but not coated with heavy product.  Outside of the spa, I checked my watch.  I'd been in the therapy room for a total of an hour, including the foot soak and scrub, despite having been assured that the facial was an hour on its own.

Overall, I wasn't particularly impressed with Filiz spa.  While both the luxe decor and the treatment itself were lovely, and my skin did indeed glow for several days afterwards, the little touches that make a spa visit so truly relaxing were not there.  Instead of feeling tranquil and pampered, I left feeling slightly cheated.  I won't be going back.