The Retreat Beauty Rooms & Nail Bar at Jarrolds (951 reviews)

Comment

I had 3 treatments - massage, facial and pedicure. The facial and pedicure were good. But the massage was not. I specifically requested a deep tissue/swedish massage and specifically asked for a proper swedish/ deep tissue massage and to place firm pressure on my upper back/ shoulders .arms. The therapist seemed to have understood and agreed , but when the treatment proceeded all the therapist was doing was rubbing oil into my skin. There was no firm massage, no pressure applied, just simply rubbing oil into the skin. It was the most disappointing massage I have ever had ! A real waste of my money and time. I work full time and was really looking forward to a nice massage experience, I feel like my massage time and money was wasted. On my bill I can see its described as a 'aroma therapy' but I specifically asked when booking that I was after a proper massage with firm pressure , not aroma therapy. And even in person I specially requested a firm pressure one, but it seems all my requests were completely ignored. Will not come again and do not recommend. Please train your therapists with proper massage skills and if you only do aroma therapy - pls do not give the impression that you can do a deep tissue massage that your therapists are clearly not trained for it. I would rather have been told upfront that you do not do deep tissue/swedish/ firm massage and only do aroma therapy, in which case I would not have booked this 'massage' appointment, because I didn't get a massage, I got oil rubbed into my skin.

Comment

Unfortunately I had another disappointment about the way nails are done in the UK. I booked at Jarrolds because I wanted a professional gel manicure, but the product used (OPI) doesn’t feel like gel at all. My nails feel soft and not protected. Moreover, I am used from abroad to have nail repaired in case one is broken or shorter than the others, but this service is not provided at Jarrolds. As per picture, my index finger looks funny now because no reparations whatsoever has been done. I had to shorten all the other nails to match this one in order to look tidy (the nail technician didn’t suggest this at first place, I had to ask to cut the other nails because in my opinion it wouldn’t have looked nice to have one finger short and all the others long). I love long nails and I normally wear them long. I felt very disappointed as I was expecting to get the broken nail repaired. Also, the surface of the nail gel looks bumpy in the backlight, and not smooth in the surface. The nail technician was meticulous, yet the cuticles hasn’t been treated properly and the final result is not up to my standards. Also, the fact that I had to have the old gel removed elsewhere because at Jarrolds they don’t treat other gel than the one they apply brought me several troubles. In conclusion, I found this service demanding towards the customer and not qualitatively high enough.

Comment

This was the first time I had visited the Retreat. I arrived on time but it was not clear where I would register/check in. Not seeing what I found out later was the desk I did see a door above which was signage referring to the Retreat. I went through the door and down the staircase. After sitting on one of the two chairs for a few minutes a client and therapist came down the stairs. After the therapist understood why I was sitting there she went back upstairs to notify her colleague that I had arrived. On her return she apologised and said my therapist was now aware that I had arrived but would be down directly. At ten minutes after my appointment time my therapist appeared and I had my treatment. It was explained to me that there had been a desk in front of the entrance to the Retreat but that day it had been relocated. I later found out it is now opposite the entrance door to the Retreat. As you can imaging I found this initial experience of visiting the Retreat impacted on the my visit. I am not sure I would return.

Comment

I book facials the same reason why I book a massage - to relax. I know you have to observe Health and Safety, but I find it quite annoying to have to fill out a form on the ipad and to be warned about side effects and aske what I am hoping to gain from it are not an enjoyable part of the experience. Is it even necessary? Will the service I receive be any different based on the answer I give? I was feeling quite stressed out and tired so didn't really want to search for my glasses in my handbag to fill out your form.

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First of all, a very different experience in just one visit. Great waxing treatment. A good attention to detail. She was great. Regarding the eyebrows appointment, I'm disappointed. When I arrived home I had to take some hair that it was left at the top. No worth the money.

Comment

Booked soak off and gel where price list says £28. When came to pay I had to pay £35.50 as was advised had to pay more as had not had my nails done with you before. Disappointed as did not state on price this/website. Otherwise nice experience.