Girlie Nights At The Malmaison

IT’S been a landmark year in many ways for me and my close group of friends.

It’s ten years since we first met in a crowded lecture theatre at university. It’s also nearing our 30^th birthdays. Well, not mine just yet. I’ll always be that smug year and half behind them.

Between the three of us we’ve been there and seen it all; laughing and crying with each other along the way. As our monotonous journalism history lecturer used to say of the publishing industry: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’. Little did we know Charles Dickens would also shape our ten years together.

They don’t just assume all women want is wine, chocolates and a rom-com in their room. No – the whole hotel is there to be explored and enjoyed.

Friendship is most definitely underrated this day and age and it’s not often you really take the time out to simply enjoy the company of your closest friends. It doesn’t have to be a grand or elaborate affair;  it’s the quality time spent with each other that will really enrich you.

It’s with all this in mind that we decided to try out the Malmaison’s Girlie Night package. Having been on something similar once before in a different city, I was keen to see if staying in a hotel just ten minutes from my own home made any sense.

The Malmaison’s take on what makes a good girls night in or out, is well thought out. They don’t just assume all women want is wine, chocolates and a rom-com in their room. No – the whole hotel is there to be explored and enjoyed.

To Say We Loved Our Room Would Be An Understatement

Beginning in Le Petit Spa, the three of us got to each chose a treatment from a full body exfoliation, St Tropez Tan, back scrub and back massage or file and polish with hand treatment. With summer several seasons away, two of us (myself and Kate) went for the St Tropez Tan, the other (Bev) went for a back scrub and back massage. It was a great way to start the girls’ getaway. With work out of the way, overnight bags dumped in our room and a journey around the Mal to be had, we were three very happy bunnies.

One of the best things about Le Petit Spa is the waiting area. Most spa waiting areas are relaxing; that’s a given. This one however, is somewhere between relaxing and to die for. As our treatment times were slightly staggered, it allowed us to make full use of the leather head to toe massage chairs beforehand and afterwards for the one of us who wasn’t glistening with freshly applied St Tropez. Still, the bronzed Goddess of a tan Kate and I were left with more than made up for the fact that Bev got to enjoy the chairs for longer.

The Massage Chair

We glowed all the way up to our stunning room which was kitted out with wine, munchies and enough room for ten girls to get ready, never mind three. As you can see in the image, we were elated with our luxury accommodation and that was before we’d even thought about the dinner that awaited us.

Smoak Bar & Grill is the Malmaison’s food venue. Far from the usual prim hotel brassiere, it’s bustling with energy and inspiration, all of which is reflected in the food. The Mal have combined Smoak’s popular Double Daring Acts of Dining menu with the Girlie Night package, meaning we each got to choose a starter and main course or main course and pudding plus half a bottle of wine each.

Examples of starters include crab and avocado cocktail and deep fried buffalo mozzarella sticks with red chilli jam. Mains included pan fried chicken breast, Gruyere and tomato sauce or the grilled Cajun salmon steak with stir fried peppers and bean sprouts. It was a slightly lighter option to the gigantic steaks and chips on the main menu, but with the idea being that you might venture into town to continue the night, it makes sense to not get bloated. It didn’t stop us though. We ordered extra side dishes, plus pots of tea to finish off. In fact they had a hard job getting rid of us as we nattered the night away.

Dinner In Smoak

Our Circle Club free wristbands subsequently didn’t get used, but it made us feel special knowing we could go in as VIPs should the night lead us that way. Instead, it led us to our room, cheesy pop music and more wine before we all collapsed onto the humongous fluffy beds.

The following morning it was handbags at dawn over the shower. Not because we’re a bunch of divas, but because the shower is by far the best shower any of us have been in. “It’s like a tropical rainforest” we concurred. Luckily, the Malmaison give you plenty of time to enjoy your hotel room and get ready, with check out at noon.

Leaving feeling refreshed, relaxed and all talked out, we were ready to go our separate ways again, but the memory of the Malmaison will certainly always be up there with the best of times.

Girlie Nights at the Mal start at £99 per person

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