Step into the luxurious surroundings of the Crowne Plaza's new spa

Working in the city, I often find that there are just not enough hours in the day for a bit of rest and relaxation. So when I was invited to go and look round the new Urban Escape spa at Nottingham's Crowne Plaza Hotel, I jumped at the chance. Urban Escape, which is the only one of its kind in the city, is the result of a £1.3m refurbishment programme which took 11 months to complete. Inside, the elegantly-decorated spa is a real oasis away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The mural of a white, sandy beach immediately whisked me away to a desert island, while the aqua-blue pool looked incredibly inviting after a long day in the office. As well as the pool, visitors can also enjoy a dip in the Jacuzzi, let their troubles melt away in the steam room or burn off some calories at the state-of-the-art gymnasium. There is also a relaxation room if you simply want to unwind as well as four treatment rooms where you can sit back and be pampered by one of the Urban Rooms therapists. David Clements, who is the General Manager of the Crowne Plaza, told me that the idea behind Urban Escape was to create a luxurious spa right in the heart of the city. “We wanted to create wow factor at the hotel and I am confident that we have delivered on this with the creation of a spa that ticks all the right boxes,” he said. “After considerable research, we felt that there was a gap in the market and by introducing an indulgent spa to the city centre this would give us a two-pronged approach to attracting custom. The move has allowed us to capitalise on our position as a leading hotelier that now offers a unique selling point for our guests but that also has a unique offering for a loyal local market with our range of membership packages.” The spa is open to both residents of the Crowne Plaza and non-residents – and both can take advantage of FREE car parking while using the facilities. For further information on the hotel, which is part of QMH UK Limited, visit the website or call (0115) 936 9901.