London’s wellness scene is increasingly competitive, with global operators investing heavily in urban retreats in the capital (see www.spabusiness.com/london). From the moment you step inside Surrenne, the private wellness club at the city’s latest hotel, The Emory, it’s clear a new niche combining health, luxury and playful innovation has been carved out (see p74).

Entering Surrenne at the lowest basement level, I’m struck by the inviting atmosphere where wood-clad interiors, bathed in mellow lighting, are accentuated with copper touches and cosy seating. The health cafe is approached by what seems to be a feature wall filled with bubbling blue liquid.

To my surprise, it’s a secret door which slides aside to unveil an opulent bathing hall with a 22m pool, 24k gold ceiling and mosaic walls twinkling with crystal geodes. Come evening, guests can swim by candlelight while underwater speakers create a soundtrack for their workout. Funky spa robes, striped pink pillows and slippers with bright orange accents add a fun twist.

Around the thermal pool are a sauna and an aromatherapy steamroom with a pink glass portal. The standout feature, however, is a TechnoAlpin snow shower, which provides a refreshing finale to contrast bathing cycles.

Tracy Anderson at Surrenne
An impressive circular staircase leads to a modern gym with advanced cardio equipment.

Up two floors is the temple where devotees of Tracy Anderson can go to work out. Anderson is known for having helped a range of celebrities with their physical transformations, including Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow, who became her business partner in 2008.

Marking the UK’s first studio dedicated to Anderson’s classes, the space – currently booming with music during a class – has been a major draw for members and can be heated to 95˚C with 75 per cent humidity during workouts, which has a number of benefits.

“Sweat encourages the body to release toxins and improves the skin’s elasticity and tone,” says Anderson. “The heat also keeps the muscles warm, ready to move and malleable.

“When you exercise and sweat, you’re utilising the body’s natural cooling mechanism. All it wants in return is new water. Now that’s cleansing!”

Stella McCarTney’s first facial
A pivotal step in bringing Surrenne to fruition – and defining Maybourne’s longevity and wellness brand – is aligning itself with global experts such as Anderson. On the spa side, this included an exclusive partnership with Stella by Stella McCartney, which saw Surrenne offering the world’s first facial using the fashion icon’s skincare products (see p76).

McCartney is a staunch leader in sustainable clothing and ethical fashion and this ethos is echoed in her consumer-facing beauty range based on natural formulas and refillables.

The 60-minute £220 (US$291, €260) treatment, which launched as a one-off pop-up service and has just ended, used McCartney’s beauty products, which are claimed to be 99 per cent organic and 100 per cent vegan. The ritual worked on reflex points, lymphatic drainage and deep tissue manipulation to release obstructions and promote plumpness in the skin.

“Stella is a great friend and it’s inspirational how she’s single-handedly trying to change the [fashion] industry,” says Theron.

“It was important to me that customers who really believe in sustainability had a choice at Surrenne. And we also saw that the gentle, yet still effective, organic ingredients appealed to younger customers and we get a lot of teens coming in with their mums.”

Striking spa
Surrenne’s spa and medical clinic features solar sculptures, soft pink lighting, mushroom artwork and crystals. The spa’s reception and shop retail top-end products ranging from energetically charged perfumes and VR goggles to workout gear and skincare tools. Behind this is a hyperbaric oxygen chamber suite and a diagnostics room.

Eight treatment rooms feature artwork by Damien Hirst and Helle Mardahl, including one double room with two hammam suites clad in white marble.

Attention to detail underpins all aspects, taking the notion of luxury wellness to new heights. Yet the quirky touches temper its exclusivity and invite guests to embrace a life of balance, fun and wellbeing.