An opportunity to relive Roman Britain, or at least the best bits, is one not to be missed, writes Intan Maizura Ahmad Kamal
There’s no better time to be in Jane Austen country than now. The Unesco World Heritage City of Bath, England, a city shaped over centuries by the Romans, warrior kings and merchants, and the place where the famed novelist Austen resided between 1801 and 1806, is bathed in glorious summer sunshine, despite autumn having already crept in.
Enjoying my late afternoon coffee al fresco after some time spent traipsing Bath’s cobbled streets, the sun’s comforting warmth caressing my bare back, my eyes devour hungrily the architectural splendours that make up the built canvas of this bustling honey-stoned Georgian city. Hogging the skyline ahead of me is the impressive medieval structure of the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, also known as Bath Abbey, founded in 1499.
“Ping, ping, ping,” the incessant beeping from my handphone, signalling a series of incoming messages slice into my reverie. “Be back in good time at the hotel for your spa session ya?” the message reads. Damn. I’d forgotten the time in my haze over history.
I’m here in Bath for the official opening of the Gainsborough Bath Spa, YTL’s first Classic Hotel in the UK. Awarded a Leading Hotel Of The World status, the elegant hotel with its Georgian and Victorian facades, was originally built in the 1800s and occupies two Grade II Listed building. Named after the artist, Sir Thomas Gainsborough, the hotel is centred on the Spa Village Bath and is the only hotel in the UK to have the exclusive privilege of having access to natural thermal, mineral-rich waters.
With YTL’s Spa Village brand being synonymous with great spa offerings and it’s recent proud achievement of being awarded “Spa Treatment of the Year” at the AsiaSpa Awards in Hong Kong for its spa village at the Gaya Island Resort in Sabah, I’m excited to see how the brand will stay true to its philosophy of honouring the wellness traditions of the locale, in this case, in a city with a 2,000 year legacy of being a leisure and wellness destination, while still being able to weave in the Malaysian interpretations.
ROMAN TRADITIONS
When the Romans advanced west into England thousands of years ago, they crossed the River Avon. It was near here that they unearthed a hot water spring that brought forth to the surface more than a million litres of hot water daily. The Romans subsequently built a reservoir to control the flow of water, in addition to baths and a temple.
The town of Bath, as we know it today, soon grew around this complex. For the Romans, the springs were sacred and they would throw valuable items into it believing that such action would please the gods. Over time, the waters at Bath also gained a reputation of being able to heal all ills. And it was because of this that many converged on the city from all over the Roman Empire to take its waters.
The Spa Village Bath, encompassing a space of 1,300 sq metre and spreading over two floors, was designed with Bath’s Roman legacy in mind, shares YTL’s spa consultant Sylvia Sepielli. Whilst it dips into the concept of the original Roman Bath springs, the Spa Village goes one step further by offering a contemporary perspective on the city’s thermal water heritage.
The soft spoken Sepielli, a spa industry veteran back in her hometown of the US, shares that she was fortunate to have had the chance to gain access into the Bath Council’s archives for her research during the conceptualisation stages.
Having immersed herself into Bath’s rich history, it was time for execution. The biggest challenge, concedes Sepielli, was to ensure that the end product would be truly authentic. And not just in the experience alone. “One of the things we did was to bring in someone from the nearby Royal National Hospital whose specialty is medical hydrology and get her to train all our staff so they could have better knowledge of minerals, water, properties and benefits and so on.”
The Spa Village Bath offers an experience that’s unique, says Sepielli. Some features that have been incorporated really do hark back to ancient Roman traditions. Take the Bath House Circuit for example, a ritualised self-guided bathing circuit that guests are encouraged to undergo prior to their spa treatment.
The Romans never viewed bathing as a straightforward chore. According to historylearningsite.co.uk, the large complex such as the one in Bath didn’t just have one bath. Visitors would go from a cold bath (frigidarium), a warm bath (the tepidarium) and a hot bath (the caldarium), spending some time in each one before leaving.
And that’s pretty much what the Bath House Circuit experience loosely offers guests as they dip into two natural thermal pools of varying temperatures, sweat it out in the traditional and infrared saunas, and the steam room before chilling in an ice alcove before heading for the central thermal pool.
PAMPERING EXPERIENCE
“Come and sit here and select your oil, ma’am,” coaxes the handsome Englishman behind the counter of the aroma bar as I enter the Spa Village Bath and slide into one of the comfy chairs in front of him. I’m required to choose a single oil from a selection offered so he can create a personalised concoction. The mix would comprise the chosen essential oil mixed with sea salt and put inside a pouch that I can take with me when I start the spa circuit. “Inhale the scent when you’re in the infrared room, ma’am,” reminds the chap, as I prepare to enter the changing room and get myself kitted out for the bath house experience.
Stately Romanesque columns greet my sight as I gingerly make my way into the bath house proper, swimming costume under my plush bath robe. In the centre, bathed under natural light filtering in from the spectacular four-storey glass atrium, is the main thermal pool. A sense of serenity permeates the elegant space, with only the sounds of softly gushing water coming from inside the central pool slicing the tranquility.
An attendant approaches to remind me about going through the Bath House Circuit first before plunging into the inviting pool. Opps, I’d forgotten about that. It’s only then that I notice the different rooms that line one side of the bath house, each one offering some sort of healing treatment through different means.
The Bath House circuit begins with a dip in one of the two thermal pools to warm the body. There’s a choice of temperatures to choose from depending on one’s preference.
Next is the Cool Lymphatic Hose session, where you hose down the body with cool water for at least 5 to 10 minutes.
Following this is the Infrared or Dry Sauna. You can opt for one or the other depending on your preference. I choose to sweat it out in the former, but for one who can never sit still long enough, find the 10-minute or so time spent in the heat-filled wooden room a little tortuous. With nothing to do, inhaling deeply into my aroma blend pouch every so often became my single source of solace.
With relief, I open the rustic wooden door of the sauna when the time was up only to be accosted by a blast of cold from the outside. Peering at my self-guide circuit menu that contains the order that one should enjoy the circuit, I spot the words: Ice Alcove.
Now that piques my interest.
The Lavender Ice Alcove, where one is recommended to spend at least 3 to 5 minutes is a funky ice cavern complete with mosaic walls and a scary lion’s head in the centre that reminds me of Medusa (for reasons I know not). Here, one is invited to scoop handfuls of crushed lavender ice from the bowl and rub the entire body with it to cool it down.
I recall Sepielli telling me that there are therapeutic benefits of going from hot to cold. Seems the Soviets had tapped into this concept way back when for the recuperation process of its athletes. For us lesser mortals, the combination of cool and hot helps towards opening and closing the pores. As Sepielli pointed out during our chat earlier in the day, the whole idea is to train the body to be responsive.
Before plunging into the central pool, try the specially-prepared spiced chocolate drink. Back in Georgian England, this concoction of cocoa, cardamon, cinnamon and other spices, was a drink enjoyed by the more affluent in society as they basked in the sounds of the music of the time.
Concluding the circuit, is the invitation to float at your own leisure. Relieve tired muscles with the neck jets in the main atrium pool; or soothe the nerves with the calming bubbles. The experience of just floating in the natural thermal waters of Bath as you look up to the sky above you is truly a magical one. Having undergone the preliminary water-based pampering, I almost feel like an Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. And I haven’t even started on the spa treatments yet!
Details at www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk.
Spa treatments available at the Spa Village Baths include:
. Thermal Water Range
. Organic Range
. Traditional Spa Village Classics
. Aquatic Body Therapy
. Massages
. The Wonder of Wellness Specialities
. Private yoga, couples and personalised sessions