The Berkeley Collaborates With British Wellness Brand For A New Holistic Pop Up

In the buzz of what is The Collins Room at The Berkeley hotel, finding zen is quite the task. Mid-afternoon, and the mood is decidedly glamorous. The fashionista-influenced Pret-a-Portea afternoon tea is underway in the room designed by Robert Angell to pay homage to British designer David Collins and there’s a distinct frisson in the air. Silver and lilac tones, glass panels and honeycomb detailing are combined with hand-painted de Gournay wallpapers and white porcelain chandeliers to give a sumptuous effect. The vibe is decidedly ‘urban-sophisticate’ at its most polished.

But, take the lift to the fourth floor, and follow the corridor to the all-white spa, and a genteel oasis, in the heart of Mayfair, will open out to you. For those in the know, the hotel’s Bamford Wellness Spa has long been the place to kick off your shoes and immerse yourself in organic and natural treatments to help shake off the stress of the city.

This month, it has cemented it holistic status further with a three-month collaboration with cult brand Moss of the Isles. The result is a line-up of body treatments that harness the power of the beauty brand’s nourishing vegan, chemical- and cruelty-free products, which are handcrafted in small batches using sustainably-sourced ingredients from across Ireland and the British Isles.

Ranging from a 60-minute ‘Warm Element’ lymphatic drainage massage and body-brush to a spoiling 90-minute ‘Moss Signature Face and Body Wellness Experience’, the treatments incorporate the healing properties of plant extracts including moss, peat, rosemary, horse chestnut, poppy seed, Scottish dulce seaweed and heather.

With its roots placed in ancient wellness practices, Moss of the Isles also captures the goodness of these raw, therapeutic ingredients found across Ireland and the British Isles. Founded by three wellness industry pioneers – Fiona Byrne, Maria Herrera and Nigel Franklyn – who have all worked with some of the world’s most spas and wellness destinations – the brand aims to tap into ancient wisdom and to lean back to a time when our bodies were “tied to the land and the tides”.

“To be authentic is one of the most important factors to us,” says Nigel Franklyn, talking about the residency at The Berkeley. “Moss of the Isles is a passion project for me, so it simply had to be authentic. We want to tell a story of a bygone time, but also tell the story of all those individuals who are still working the land – whether it be farming, foraging or harvesting – to provide us with our bounty of natural ingredients from which we create our products.”

Tapping into this unseen network of local suppliers and harvesters, the brand’s list of ingredients includes Carrageen Moss from Ireland, horse chestnut from Wales, heather from the Scottish moorlands and marigolds and dandelions from England and reads like an ancient apothecarist’s bible.

The resulting hand-crafted products are lovingly nmade using unique and powerful plant-based formulations, blended in small batches of the highest-grade aromatherapy oils and the aforementioned raw, locally sourced and therapeutic ingredients.

“Moss of the Isles was created to honour and celebrate the wild and inspiring heritage of Ireland and the British Isles,” continues Nigel. “When we first created the company, we had a vision that we would walk hand-in-hand with properties that showcased the very best of the UK and Ireland’s hospitality and wellness industry, and The Berkeley feels like a natural fit for us. We are a 100% natural, cruelty free and vegan wellness brand that harnesses earth’s most powerful elements. We aim to deliver wellness experiences that transform the skin and create moments of restorative mindfulness.”

‘Quiet Time’ is one such experience and one of the pop up’s hero treatments. It is perhaps the most unique – given that this is found in what is perhaps one of London’s most sought-after and bustling hotels. The 60-minute therapy has been designed to give guests ‘a moment’ to breathe again. Carried out in a darkened room, silence envelopes you to relieve stress and provide a space for reflection. As your senses are enveloped by the lavender, myrtle and bergamot oils, long, soothing massage strokes are used to transport you to a quieter space and what seems like an otherworldly time, a bygone world.

It’s London, but not as you know it.

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