External Link/Members OnlyLong time listener, first time caller.
Thought I'd have a go here since a couple recent reviews and comments on the place seemed
interesting.
If you don't like to be seen slipping into a massage parlour this isn't the place for you, as it's a busy street and it's in the basement so you might end up walking back and forth a few times trying to find it.
The premises was clean enough, and has the air of a semi-respectable outfit, with a reception and waiting area, and a couple of treatment rooms.
I went along early last week and there was an elderly Chinese lady sweeping the steps into the shop, so I asked if they were open and was told 'come in, come in'. I'd have estimated her to be in her 50's, and would pass comment on her figure, but she was wearing a baggy grey tracksuit. I suppose I could say she wasn't obese.
Anyway, I fancied an hour and exchanged £40 for this, and was shown to a treatment room. A pleasant enough room, with a massage table in the middle, some drawers, a sink in one corner and a shower in the other. It was however the coldest place on earth, and after being instructed to remove my clothes I asked if there was any heating on. The lady switched on a small portable heater.
As I lay there, naked and cold, the lady prepared herself. This included going to the toilet, making a phone call, going back to lock the main door, lighting candles, and complaining that a previous customer had caused an argument by having a shower prior to a massage and wasn't happy that that their time in the shower was taken off that of the massage. This probably took about five to ten minutes. There was no music and although I'm not a big fan of pan pipes, sometimes it's nice to have on in the background.
The massage begun, and it was perfunctory. I wasn't asked what type I'd wanted, but hard was what I was given with a lot of elbows digging in places that made me wince. I know a proper massage is supposed to hurt a bit, but this is usually offset by some occasional relief/pleasure.
The heater got turned off after about 15 minutes, and if the room had warmed up I wasn't aware of it, although she did say that she was getting warm as massage was hard work. I said I was still a bit cold but this was ignored.
During the massage, I was asked about where I lived, where I worked etc, which I'd rather not bother with but it's hard to argue your right to silence at those points. I was also told about an ongoing problem they were having with the food place nearby and the smell of takeaway drifting into their business. The council have been involved, but I couldn't quite make out to what extent, and didn't care.
There was the odd swipe which may have hinted at something more, but nothing more happened. After some time she asked if I'd want to have a shower, which I did to warm up at least. The massage pretty much stopped straight away there.
So shower I did and as I went to grab my belongings. Took a look at the watch and there was still 15 minutes to go. I think she noticed as she said sit down and gestured to the table again. There I was pummelled some more, and after about 5 minutes got the pat on the back to say my time was up.
I offered my thanks (far too polite), said goodbye, and with a quick look up the steps to make sure I wasn't about to bump into someone I knew, I left unhappy.
I don't think I'd have minded if the massage was decent, longer, warmer or cheaper, but it wasn't any of those.
