Spas We Love: The Organic Pharmacy's new Chelsea flagship
We remember with crystal clarity visiting Margo Marrone in her just-opened, very first The Organic Pharmacy location, on the bend of the King's Road at World's End, where everything was decanted into brown apothecary bottles, the labels applied by hand.
To paraphrase a famous vintage ad, 'Baby, look at it now!' Because The Organic Pharmacy has a new spa and boutique just beside Peter Jones, at the posh end of King's Road – and it's gorgeous.
And as Margo herself explains, her dream-come-true flagship is all about health, wellness and healing; whether it's through skin care, supplements, a detox, or treatments, the goal is always the same: to get someone feeling better.’
Jo was invited recently to scope out the boutique, and also enjoy a treatment – in this case, an innovative Red Light Treatment – as well as to enjoy a chin-wag/catch-up with Margo, and meet her sparky daughter Roxy, who's in charge of events).
Decorated in super-clean white and Organic Pharmacy's signature turquoise livery, with a tongue-in-cheek print on the wall, comfy sofas and lots of airy space to browsing – aided by some very knowledgeable and welcoming staff, if you need help (and it's a big range, now!), it feels really inviting. But of course, a spa is only as good as its treatments...
... And we are pleased to say: this ticked all our boxes. There's a full spa menu, but in this case the treatment isn't hands-on: you are ushered into a pristine room with what appears to be a good old-fashioned sunbed. After stripping off, you lie on the bed, pull down the lid and red light starts blasting out. Weirdly, unlike a sunbed (and no, we haven't been on one for decades), you can keep your eyes open – as Margo explains, the red light can stimulate the brain. And really, energising is the point of this treatment.
As they put it, this is 'science not magic.' The cutting-edge light therapy device treats the entire body, top to toe, red and near-infrared light (and safer to quote, here): 'to stimulate by catalysing natural cellular processes and increasing blood flow.' It's good for treating injuries, relaxing muscles, aiding recovery from exercise, as well as fighting ageing and rejuvenating 'the whole body.' In Jo's case, she needed a bit of a reboot after COVID, which had left her energy levels annoyingly low at times – and she certainly left The Organic Pharmacy's treatment rooms with a renewed spring in her step.
The whole experience lasts less than half an hour, making it brilliant for the busy (that’s Jo!) – or of course you can simply bolt it onto a more conventional massage treatment or facial, we suggest.
We will be back to try those, for sure. Smiling at what a long, long way The Organic Pharmacy has come – but still with those same values: natural, holistic, but pampering, too.
Red Light Treatment/£85 for 30 minutes
The Organic Pharmacy, 43 Cadogan Gardens, London SW3 2TB/07497-174377
For appointments click here
