Author Archives: Editor

US diet pill ban over heart attack and stroke risk?

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The US watchdog, the Food and Drug Administration, has yet to decide whether diet pill, Meridia, should stay on the market after a report revealed that it may cause heart attack and strokes in some individuals.

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Meridia, also known as sibutramine, was first approved in the US in 1997, but a large study released last November shows that people who took the drug had an 11% risk of cardiovascular events, while those who took a placebo had a 10% risk.

The study, called the SCOUT trial, prompted regulators to order the drug off the market in Europe. And demands for it be banned in the US are now being made.

 

Meridia: Risks vs. Benefits

Meridia has been shown to reduce weight in many patients – on average 4% more body weight below what they might lose with a placebo, an amount considered a modest benefit. About one-fifth of patients lose more. But the drug also causes increases in heart rate and blood pressure, both of which pose a danger to patients with cardiovascular disease.

Patients with known cardiovascular disease are not meant to be prescribed teh drug. But experts said they were troubled that many patients with undiagnosed disease could be at greater risk if they use the drug to lose weight.

The FDA’s own monitoring linked 14 deaths to the use of Meridia.The patients who died were in their 40s 71% were women.

Conflicting Viewpoints

The Public Citizen Health Research Group,in the US, which first petitioned FDA to ban Meridia in 2002, says the drug poses a “deadly tradeoff” between modest weight loss and the danger of heart attack and stroke.

Others say Meridia can be made safe by closely monitoring things like patients’ pulses and blood pressure readings.

Abbott, which manufactures Meridia, had pledged step up warnings and educational efforts for doctors and patients if the drug is allowed to stay on the market.

Meridia’s popularity has plummeted in recent years, particularly since the release of the Scout trial’s data in November. Only an estimated 280,000 prescriptions were filled last year in the US.

The FDA now has to decide if the clear benefits of even modest weight loss to most patients is worth a rise in cardiovascular risk in some of them. The FDA will also likely consider what vital signs doctors should monitor, and how often they should monitor them, to minimize the drug’s risks.

 

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Corrie star William Roache talks about life and hearing loss

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Elixir was at the Sound Barrier Awards last week to see Corrie favourite William Roache OBE speak about hearing loss and pay tribute to the worthy winner of the title of Specsavers ‘Sound Barrier Star’.

The event, also sponsored by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, celebrates people with some form of hearing loss who have not let their condition stand in their way.

Before introducing each of the nominees William, better known for his role as Corrie favourite Ken Barlow, said a few words about his partial hearing loss and the surprising fact that only 10% of people will ever have a hearing test, in comparison with the 80% who get their eyes tested.

The ‘Sound Barrier Star’, Roger Hewitt, from Bromley, accepted his prize with a very humorous and humbling speech. He has been deaf since the age of 6 as a result of contracting meningitis and now is an ambassador, volunteer and consultant for the cause. It certainly seems like he has never let his deafness affect his life and is an example for us all.

We caught up with William for a quick chat afterwards. He told us that he suffered some ear damage from a mortar bomb as a 21 year old in the army; his hearing came back after 3 weeks but he never realised the extent of the damage until recently. After having a hearing test he was told that he had 50% hearing loss. William confided that he has hearing aids but he doesn’t use them very often at all. He doesn’t feel like his hearing loss is a barrier in any way to his life.

William is lucky to have enjoyed enviable longevity onscreen as Ken Barlow; only Don Hastings, who plays Bob Hughes on US show ‘As The World Turns’, has dedicated a longer service to Soap-dom. William confirmed that he loves playing Ken and is very proud to still be in Corrie after all these years. It’s a long day on set – 8am to 7pm – but he hasn’t got fed up of it yet!

The evolution of Corrie into the nation’s longest running soap is something which would have surprised the creators of the programme 50 years ago: William remarked that the name of ‘soap’ was something which Coronation Street had tried to avoid for many years – having marketed themselves as a cutting-edge drama series to begin with.

We concluded that one of the refreshing things about soaps, or cutting edge drama series (!), is that they do resemble ordinary people’s lives in some way – you are allowed to get older on screen and the more senior characters become something of an institution rather than fading into the background.  

To learn more about Specsavers hearing centres, or to book a hearing test, please visit www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/

 

Get the autumn look – update your wardrobe

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Summer might be on the way out, but that doesn’t mean to say your style has to head the same way!  With the new season comes a whole new range of fabulous pieces to set you up for those chillier autumn days and evenings.

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Whether you need a practical outfit to see you through work and into the evening, or an outfit for a special occasion, this season’s trends of flexible knitwear, sequins and the new staple on the highstreet, jeggings, are bound to ensure you make an impression at every opportunity.

In the following video, Fiona Holmes, fashion buyer for Gray and Osbourn shares her top tips for fashion that is stylish yet comfortable. Looking at the practicality of jeggings – which are no longer just for trendy teens – the benefits of a great jacket and how to use sequins to give your outfit some glamour, she showcases seven different fabulous outfits fit for any shape.

British Military Fitness launches the walkfit workout

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British Military Fitness, the UK’s largest outdoor fitness provider, has launched a new walkfit workout in eight London parks.

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Walkfit with British Military Fitness (BMF) is a new, fun way to get healthy outdoors in your local park. Led by BMF’s highly trained fitness instructors the class will keep you interested with constant variety, achievable challenges and personal encouragement.

 

 Retired Major  Robin Cope, Managing Director at BMFsaid: “Many people I’ve spoken to, like to go for a walk but wouldn’t necessarily do it by themselves. Our classes will ensure that the members are with like-minded people and will be encouraged to chat and socialise while they exercise.”

 

WF Image1 [640x480].JPGWalkfit classes will last for one hour and promise to increase your heart rate, use your muscles and improve your mobility. The BMF instructors will carefully guide you through the activities and exercises of the class, making sure that you work to a level which is right for you. They will encourage and motivate the participants throughout the class so they are fun and sociable and you’ll wonder where the time goes. It’s a whole new type of social fitness – feeling healthier, having fun and making friends.

 

“We recognised the need for an outdoor exercise class that appealed to a broader audience, focusing on our common goal of getting more people active. We’ve made the classes for everyone, so even if you’re returning to exercise after children, injury or illness, the low intensity class is perfect for you. It’s a totally different experience to a gym or other fitness classes and I can guarantee that you won’t be asked to drop and give me twenty!” says Robin.   

 

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Walkfit classes are fun, friendly, effective and great for meeting people in your local area. The launch will see classes starting in Battersea, Wandsworth, Dulwich, Peckham, Bushy Park, Hyde Park, Finsbury, and Cheam. To find your nearest Walkfit class or to try a FREE introductory class, visit www.walkfit.co.uk  

 

More about Walkfit

 

  • www.walkfit.co.uk
  • Walkfit is a new, fun way to get healthy outdoors in your local park, led by highly trained fitness instructors.
  • Classes are designed for all abilities and are taken by highly trained professional instructors who will carefully guide you through the activities and exercises. The class is low impact and low intensity exercise.
  • Walkfit payment options: one class a week is £30 per month, unlimited classes per week is £40 per month and session blocks of 3 and 5 classes are £8.50 each. There is also an over 60/under 21 rate and partner rate of membership. More information on prices can be found at www.walkfit.co.uk
  • Walkfit classes will run in the following locations: Battersea, Wandsworth, Dulwich, Peckham, Bushy Park, Hyde Park, Finsbury and Cheam.
  • British Military Fitness (BMF), founded in 1999 by Major Robin Cope as an alternative form of fitness training to gyms. Like Walkfit, BMF classes last one hour and are taken by serving or ex-armed forces physical training instructors. The basic principles are the same as Walkfit – motivational instructors, a sense of fun, strong group dynamic and use of the great outdoors.
  • BMF has over 17,000 members training in over 100 parks across the UK. For more information visit www.britmilfit.com

 

 

 

Raise money for men’s health charity – banish the grey!

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home_logo.gifLondon: Banish grey for a day and raise money for the UK men’s health campaigners, The Prostate Cancer Charity.

The old adage ‘you’re only as old as you feel’ might be a nice thought, but unfortunately our looks often let us down. With life sometimes becoming grey, dull and mundane, an injection of colour is just what’s needed to stop the tedium setting in. Offering just such a solution is Grey-Away Day.
 
Whereas women are very vocal about ‘refreshing’ their looks, men tend to shy away from physical self-improvement (or at least they are more bashful about it!). But all that is set to change thanks to Grey-Away Day, an initiative just for men, that will encourage men across the country to banish their grey and lead a more colourful life.
 
The campaign will give men a better reason than ever to colour their hair. In the run up to Grey-Away Day (September 24th) men will be encouraged to seek sponsorship from their friends, family and work colleagues to return their hair to its natural colour, and in the process 20p from all boxes of Just For Men sold during September will be donated to The Prostate Cancer Charity, the UK’s leading charity working with people affected by the disease.
 
With over 25 million men in the UK and 28% sporting significant grey hair, it is about time men took on the challenge to look as young as they feel. With 2 million boxes of Just For Men hair colourant sold in the UK, there is already a large following, and this campaign hopes to encourage men to reach for the bottle to embrace a fresher look and reveal the person they feel they are.
 
To find out more about the campaign just for men, or to sponsor a friend or loved one, please visit <a href=”www.greyawayday.co.ukhttp://www.greyawayday.co.uk”>www.greyawayday.co.uk</a> or join us on Twitter <a href=”www.twitter.com/GreyAwayDayhttp://www.twitter.com/GreyAwayDay”>www.twitter.com/GreyAwayDay</a> and Facebook <a href=”www.facebook.com/grey-awaydayhttp://www.facebook.com/grey-awayday”>www.facebook.com/grey-awayday</a>
 
 
<b>About The Prostate Cancer Charity</b>
The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front – through research, support, information and campaigning.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.
 
36,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and one man dies of prostate cancer every hour in the UK.
 
The Charity provides the UK’s only nurse led prostate cancer helpline, helping men and their families to access support and information through its confidential helpline, 0800 074 8383. 
 

Actress Jacqueline Bisset is the new face of Avon ANEW Platinum

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New York: Avon Products, Inc. today announced a partnership with award-winning international actress, Jacqueline Bisset, who will serve as the face of the anti-ageing skincare line ANEW Platinum.

Bisset [320x200].jpgThis new skincare line for women 60+ from Avon’s pioneering ANEW line was developed to recapture the appearance of youthful contours and will debut this fall through Avon reps.

“I am excited to be working with Avon on the ANEW Platinum Collection, as it specifically addresses the needs of women with my skincare concerns,” said Jacqueline.

 

“I want a skincare product that makes my skin look as young as I feel. ANEW Platinum helps recapture the definition and tone of younger skin.”

“Jacqueline embodies everything the ANEW woman aspires to be– beauty, poise and sophistication,” says Andre Baradat, Vice President, Global Skincare Marketing, Avon. “We are thrilled to have such an amazing international beauty icon as the face of our new breakthrough ANEW Platinum line.”

The ANEW Platinum Night Cream and Serum goes on sale in November and launched in an advertising campaign featuring Jacqueline Bisset. She will also appear in the pages of the Avon brochure for ANEW Platinum.

ANEW, the pioneering anti-aging line from Avon, delivers transformative anti-aging skincare to millions of women throughout the world. With almost 2400 jars an hour¹, the line has been helping women visibly outsmart the aging process from the brand’s inception in 1992.

Bisset is the most recent star to join Avon’s roster of celebrity partners, including Fergie, Courteney Cox, Patrick Dempsey, Salma Hayek, Reese Witherspoon and Derek Jeter.

Find out morea bout Avon ANEW in this video

About Jacqueline Bisset
Serving as the spokesperson for ANEW Platinum, actress Jacqueline Bisset has brought her stunning looks and tremendous talent to over 50 films. Born in Weybridge, England, the highly regarded actress has garnered prestigious awards throughout the world.

About Avon Products, Inc.
Avon, is a leading global beauty company, with over $10 billion in annual revenue. As the world’s largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in more than 100 countries through 6.2 million independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon’s product line includes beauty products, as well as fashion and home products, and features such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, ANEW, Skin-So-Soft, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, and mark. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avoncompany.com.

Not just celebrities get Hepatitis C – new campaign launches

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A campaign for testing for the killer liver disease hepatitis C in UK pharmacies is launched today.

Everyone seems to know that Pamela Anderson has Hep C – they even know that Keith Richards, Anthony Kiedis and Marianne Faithful suffer from the disease and Body Shop founder – Anita Roddick was also diagnosed.

But research suggests that over half a million people in the UK could be living with hepatitis B or C without knowing it. In response, the Hepatitis C Trust is calling on health services to introduce testing in pharmacies to ensure the early diagnosis of the disease which could save thousands of lives each year.

Hear Lesley’s story in our video below:

PILOT SCHEME REVEALS 1 IN 6 PEOPLE TEST POSITIVE FOR HEPATITIS C

 • Over 500,000 people are living with undiagnosed helpatitis B or C leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death

 • People are unaware that taking part in contact sports, sharing toothbrushes and razers can lead to contracting the disease

• After successful pilot pharmacy testing scheme, the Hepatitis C Trust calls for high street testing

Have you ever felt under the weather but the doctor has been unable to diagnose what is wrong with you?

Have you ever shared your partner’s toothbrush or borrowed your friend’s razor?

It is possible that you could be suffering from a disease which is often not tested for… There are estimated to be over half a million people in the UK living with hepatitis B or C without knowing it. The Hepatitis C Trust is calling on health services to introduce testing in pharmacies to ensure the early diagnosis of the disease which could save thousands of lives each year.

WHAT IS HEPATITIS C?

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that predominantly infects the cells of the liver. If left untreated, the virus can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. There is no vaccine but early treatment can successfully clear the virus in around half of patients and ongoing infection can be managed. The Health Protection Agency estimate that there are around 250,000 hepatitis C positive people in the UK although some estimates put this number as high as 466,000. Only around 70,000 people in England and Wales have been diagnosed.

WHAT IS HEPATITIS B?

Hepatitis B can be transmitted through blood and some body fluid contact and is sexually transmitted. A vaccine for hepatitis B is available and treatment is available which can manage but not clear the virus. The Health Protection Agency estimate that there are 180,000 people living with hepatitis B in the UK but The Hepatitis B Foundation estimates this figure is actually 320,000 due to recent immigration trends.

HOW DO YOU GET HEPATITIS B or C?

• Regularly shared razors or toothbrushes (with a person who is known to have hepatitis B or C or may have been at risk)

 • Contact sports, fights and a human bite (where they may have come in contact with another person’s blood)

• Tattoos / piercings/ Acupuncture (in unregistered premises or with possibly unsterile equipment or with needles that were not new)

 • Unprotected sex – hepatitis B (not C) • Current sniffing cocaine / past sniffing cocaine (sharing pipes, notes or straws with a person who is known to have hepatitis B or C or may have been at risk)

• Receiving a blood transfusion / blood products / organ transplantation prior to 1991

• Current IV drug use / past IV drug use (including steroids, even once and sharing any injecting equipment)

PILOT HEPATITIS TESTING PROJECT

Last year a viral hepatitis testing pilot project in 19 pharmacies across the country found a hepatitis B or C positive patient in every 6 tests conducted. 19 pharmacies in 5 Primary Care Trust (PCT) areas offered free, on-demand hepatitis B and C dried blood spot tests to clients who had been at risk of contracting viral hepatitis as part of a 3-month pilot project organised by The Hepatitis C Trust. Pharmacists displayed posters and gave clients a leaflet about risk factors to read to filter out the ‘worried well’.

If a client had been at risk they were offered a test which involved pre-test counselling in a private room or area followed by a dried blood spot test. About The Hepatitis C Trust: The Hepatitis C Trust is the national UK charity for hepatitis C. It provides information, support and representation for all those affected by this disease. Started by patients, the majority of its governing Board of Trustees are patients and all of its staff, paid and voluntary, are patients.

PILOT TESTING

The PCTs involved in the study were: City & Hackney PCT, the Isle of Wight PCT, Nottinghamshire Country PCT, Sandwell PCT and Tameside & Glossop PCT. Across the pharmacies a total of 234 tests were conducted, diagnosing 35 people with hepatitis C and 4 people with hepatitis B. This is a significantly higher rate than tests conducted in GPs surgeries, where on average one in 25, as opposed to 1 in 7, identify a person with hepatitis C. Celebrities who have been diagnosed with hepatitis C: Dame Anita Roddick, Pamela Anderson, Keith Richards, Anthony Kiedis, Marianne Faithfull, Natalie Cole.

How Leslie Jenkins, 51, from Bradford caught hepatitis C

Lesley contracted hepatitis C though a blood transfusion when her son was born, 23 years ago. She was given several pints of blood during a difficult labour. About five years ago she started to feel generally unwell and was very tired all the time. For years she would regularly see her GP but all routine tests came back negative. At one visit she saw a locum GP who diagnosed depression without even looking at her file or asking questions. In 2007, Lesley heard about Anita Roddick’s case and started to research hepatitis C herself. She found that she had many of the symptoms and so went back to her GP and specifically requested a hepatitis C test. She was positive. She says she was ‘staggered’ by the lack of knowledge her GP had about the virus. Lesley completed treatment for the virus last year and initially cleared it but it then returned. She recently completed a new course of treatment through a new trial in London. Lesley is campaigning to improve desperately-needed awareness amongst health professionals and for the virus to be taken more seriously by the Department of Health. She recently started working for The Hepatitis C Trust to coordinate volunteers around the country raise awareness amongst GPs about the virus.

Artificial sweetner link to premature births?

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sweetners.jpgArtificial sweetners may be linked to a higher risk of premature births, new research suggests.

The findings followed research carried out on almost 60,000 pregnant women in Denmark found that those who drank artificially sweetened soft drinks, whether fizzy or still, were more likely to give birth early.

It was found that those who drank one serving per day of artificially sweetened fizzy drink were 38 per cent more likely to give birth before 37 weeks gestation and those who consumed four servings a day were 78 per cent more likely to have their baby prematurely.

It is thought the artificial sweeteners are broken down in the body into chemicals which may change the womb, the researchers said.

Dr Shelley McGuire, spokesman for the American Society of Nutrition, said: “These findings may be really important in terms of preventing premature births, especially those that are medically induced by a woman’s health care provider.

“Certainly, until more experimental work is done, this study suggests that pregnant women should steer clear of artificially sweetened drinks. Quite frankly, pregnant women should be focusing more on nutrient-rich drinks anyway, like milk and fruit juices. And don’t forget the water.”

The study conducted by Thorahallur Halldorsson, of the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, did not examine which artificial sweeteners were contained in the drinks.

The effect was limited to women whose birth was deliberately induced early suggesting the drinks do not trigger premature labour but rather cause changes in the body that mean an early birth is necessary.

It was suggested that this could due to a rise in blood pressure or development of diabetes but the researchers ruled this out.

Dr Halldorsson wrote in the research paper: “In conclusion, our findings suggest that the daily intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks may be associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery.

“The relative consistency of our findings for carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks and the absence of an association for sugar-sweetened soft drinks suggest that the content of artificial sweeteners might be the causal factor.

“However, the replication of our findings in another experimental setting is warranted.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Grey hair is No 1 looks worry for men

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greyhair1.jpgLondon: Hair colour is the number one appearance concern for men today, according to a new UK study.

Research from Mintel reveals as many as one in two British men are worried about graying hair, with the largest concern coming from those aged over 45.

Vivienne Rudd, head of beauty research at Mintel, said the research said many men are “unhappy with their new found gravitas and the research has discovered men have become less content with their appearance after the age of 45.

“Whilst men are expected to work into an older age, they will find themselves competing with younger colleagues’, and she believes older people may feel the need to maintain their appearance.

The research which examined the performance of male grooming products shows there has been a slight increase in sales since 2008, and haircare shows the most significant growth with an estimated sales value of £68m in the UK in 2010.

The growing concern over appearance may lead to a future boost to the male grooming market according to Rudd, and L’Oreal has also reported a positive start for its Excell 5 Brush-in Men’s Hair Colourant in 2010 thus far.

However, whilst there is increased concern over appearance amongst middle-aged men, there is still a lack of interest in grooming products. Whilst young men are valuable to the market, middle aged men adopt a ‘quick-fix’ approach.

Another recent study shows that – men in general are more likely to purchase a product projecting a ‘no-nonsense’ image, with multi use and combination products also likely to be more popular.

Whilst the men’s concern over hair colour seems apparent in the UK, the rest of Europe does not share this worry. France, Germany and the UK continue to dominate the market in terms of hair products (according to Mintel GNPD), however of all the new hair colourants introduced exclusively for men last year, all were launched in the UK.

Mintel studies show that whilst men are not necessarily uninterested in the results of male grooming products, they are hesitant to purchase and use them. Three quarters of all men in the UK are unengaged with toiletries and grooming products, whilst over half of those are aged 45-54.

Other results from the study revealed hair loss and thinning are the second largest concerns for men, followed by unwanted hair. Being overweight, and oral hygiene make up the biggest concerns, although Mintel was keen to highlight skin care as a growing concern. Its study found that seven in ten men worry about some aspect of their skin whilst a third of men regularly use face creams and lotions.

Research from Mintel reveals as many as one in two British men are worried about greying hair, with the largest concern coming from those aged over 45.

Vivienne Rudd, head of beauty research at Mintel, said the research said many men are “unhappy with their new found gravitas and the research has discovered men have become less content with their appearance after the age of 45.

“Whilst men are expected to work into an older age, they will find themselves competing with younger colleagues’, and she believes older people may feel the need to maintain their appearance.

The research which examined the performance of male grooming products shows there has been a slight increase in sales since 2008, and haircare shows the most significant growth with an estimated sales value of £68m in the UK in 2010.

The growing concern over appearance may lead to a future boost to the male grooming market according to Rudd, and L’Oreal has also reported a positive start for its Excell 5 Brush-in Men’s Hair Colourant this year.

However, whilst there is increased concern over appearance amongst middle-aged men, there is still a lack of interest in grooming products. Whilst young men are valuable to the market, middle aged men adopt a ‘quick-fix’ approach.

Another recent study shows that – men in general are more likely to purchase a product projecting a ‘no-nonsense’ image, with multi use and combination products also likely to be more popular.

Whilst the men’s concern over hair colour seems apparent in the UK, the rest of Europe does not share this worry. France, Germany and the UK continue to dominate the market in terms of hair products (according to Mintel GNPD), however of all the new hair colourants introduced exclusively for men last year, all were launched in the UK.

Mintel studies show that whilst men are not necessarily uninterested in the results of male grooming products, they are hesitant to purchase and use them. Three quarters of all men in the UK are unengaged with toiletries and grooming products, whilst over half of those are aged 45-54.

Other results from the study revealed hair loss and thinning are the second largest concerns for men, followed by unwanted hair. Being overweight, and oral hygiene make up the biggest concerns, although Mintel was keen to highlight skin care as a growing concern. Its study found that seven in ten men worry about some aspect of their skin whilst a third of men regularly use face creams and lotions.

Cowshed Spa at Babington House, Somerset

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Cowshed Spa at Babington House

 

Cowshed.jpgThe Cowshed has a gym, sauna and steam rooms, indoor and outdoor pools and treatment rooms. It is in the grounds of Babington House, a country house hotel in a Georgian building. Treatments range from massages, facials and alternative therapies. Gourmet food.

Cowshed Spa at Babington House
Nr Frome, Somerset
T: +44 (0)1373 812266
www.babingtonhouse.co.uk

Bath House at the Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath

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Bath House at the Royal Crescent Hotel

 

Bath House.jpgSet in a world-famous spa town, the Bath House has steam and sauna, cool and tepid plunge pools, warm pool, complementary therapies, beauty tratments and a gym. Treatments include wraps, facials, exfoliation, acupressure and reflexology. The hotel restaurant is modern British with Mediterranean.

Bath House at The Royal Crescent Hotel
16 Royal Crescent
Bath BA1 2LS
T: +44 (0)1225 823 333
www.royalcrescent.co.uk

Champneys Health Resort Tring Hertfordshire

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Champneys Health Resort Tring

champneys-spaTring.jpgA private mansion set in Parkland, Champneys, has a vast array of treatments, as well as dietary advice and fitness programmes. Treatments range from Clarins facials, to alternative therapies such as reiki and watsu and osteopathy. There is also a range of Ayurvedic treatments. The restaurant serves gourmet healthy food.

Champneys Health Resort
Wiggington
Tring
Hertfordshire HP23 6HY
T: +44 (0)1442 291 000
www.champneys.com

Cowley Manor – Cheltenham

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Cowley Manor

Cowley.jpgCowley Manor is a 30-bedroom Italinate mansion .
www.cowleymanor.com

Cowley Manor Cowley, Near Cheltenham Gloucestershire, GL53 9NL T: +44 (0) 1242 870 900. Fax: +44 (0) 1242 870 901 Email: stay@cowleymanor.com 

Spa at Renaissance London Chancery Court Hotel London

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Spa at Renaissance London Chancery Court Hotel London

 

chancery_spa.jpgAn E’Spa spa specialising in Shirodhara, a hot oil treatment, also massage, body wraps and facials.

Spa at Renaissance London Chancery Court Hotel
The Renaissance London Chancery Court Hotel
252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
T: +44(0)20 7829 7058
www.renaissancehotels.com/loncc

Spa at the Mandarin Oriental London

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Spa at the Mandarin Oriental

 

MandarinOriental.jpgThis spa uses E’Spa treatments in a peaceful oriental atmosphere. Treatments are a mix of East and West and include massage and water therapies. There is a mineral water plunge pool.

Spa at the Mandarin Oriental
66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
T: +44 (0)20 7235 2000
www.mandarin-oriental.com

Elemis Day Spa – London

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Elemis Day Spa

ElemisLondon.jpgIn a mews in the centre of London’s West End, the Elemis Spa offers a huge range of therapies from across the world, Polynesia, Tibet, Bali, Japan, Morocco and Thailand. These range from facials to wraps and massage.

Contact
Elemis Day Spa
2-3 Lancashire Court, London W1S 1EX
T: +44 (0)20
www.elemis.com

Dorchester Spa – London

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The Dorchester Spa

 

DorchesterSpa.jpgThe opulent spa is in the basement of this traditional London hotel. There are saunas and steam rooms and treatments include the best of E’Spa, Eve Lom, Jurlique and Thalgo. The menus of the hotel are available but they are not necessarily low-calorie.

Dorchester Spa
Dorchester Hotel
Park Lane
London W1A 2HJ
T: +44(0)20 7629 8888
www.dorchesterhotel.com

Berkeley Health Club & Spa

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Berkeley Health Club & Spa

 

Berkeley Health Club.jpgThe Christian Dior Spa is on the top floor of the hotel with spectacular views of London. It has one of London’s only roof-top pools.Treatments use Dior products as well as other special treatments such as stone therapy. It also has a state of the art gym

Contact
Berkeley Health Club & Spa
The Berkeley Hotel
Wilton Place
SW1X 7RL
T: +44 (0)20 7235 6000
www.savoy-group.co.uk

Champneys Springs Health Farm – Leicestershire

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Champneys Springs Health Farm

 

champneys-springs-interior.jpg Contact ChampneysSprings Health Farm Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire LE65 1TG T:+44 (0)1530 273 873 www.springshealthfarm.co.uk

Ragdale Hall Health Hydro & Thermal Spa

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Ragdale Hall

 

 

Ragdale.jpgRagdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa
Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire LE14 3PB
T: +44 (0)1664 434831
www.ragdalehall.co.uk

Utopia Health & Leisure Spa, Kent

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Utopia Health & Leisure Spa


UtopiaSpa.jpgContact

Utopia Health and Leisure Spa
Rowhill Grange Hotel & Spa
Wilmington, Kent DA2 7QH
T: +44 (0)1322 615 136
www.rowhillrange.com

The Grove, near Watford, Hertfordshire

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The Grove

 

 

TheGrove.jpgSet in a vast estate, the main hotel is like a set from the TV programme Footballers’ Wives. Extravangant and decadent the bedrooms range in price from £260 to £1,000 with choices of four posters with black feathers and black velvet and other fantasy decor.

There are beautiful grounds to walk around including one of the largest walled gardens in the country with a beautiful conservatory.

There are three restaurants to choose from including The Stables which serves food all day and the Glasshouse where you can see chefs prepare your food.

The Sequoia Spa is one of the most impressive in the UK. Even the changing room has a huge beautiful cream leather lounger. Guests can also wait for their treatments by candle-light. As well as traditional treatments, personalised Ayurvedic pampering is also available.

The Grove is also overflowing with celebrities, including footballers – it has a full sized football and rugby pitch. There is also an 18-hole championship course where your golf clubs are cleaned for you before and after you play.

Contact:

The Grove
Chandlers Cross, Hertfordshire WD3 4TG

T: +44 (0)1923 807807

 www.thegrove.co.uk

 

Champneys Forestmere – Hampshire

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Champneys Forestmere

champneys-forest-mere.jpg A health farm in woodland next to a lake, Forestmere, has a gym with trainers and indoor and outdoor pools. Treatments – a vast range from wraps, to mud, thalassotherapy, facials, massage and alternative therapies.

Contact
Forestmere Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7JQ T: +44 (0)1428 726 000

www.champneys.com

Chewton Glen – Hampshire

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Chewton Glen

 

ChewtonGlenspa-pool.jpgA privately-owned five star hotel on the edge of the New Forest, the spa has a range of the latest treatments, as well as tennis, a gym and an indoor pool. Treatments use Clarins, Guinot and E’Spa and there is also yoga and massage.

Contact

Chewton Glen
New Milton, Hampshire BH25 6QS
T:+44 (0)1425 275 341

www.chewtonglen.com