We head to Huddersfield to speak to the driving force behind the eco-friendly Titanic Spa, Warrick Burton
When Titanic Spa opened in 2005, how did you want to be different?
Back in 2005, sustainability wasn’t as topical as it is now, and it was simply just a passion that we had. Now, lots of businesses are feeling the pressure to be greener, and we’re lucky that we were ahead of the curve in that sense. Building the UK’s first eco spa wasn’t in a bid to be different, it was just something we were all passionate about and wanted to build on.
A textiles mill is an interesting setting for a spa. Why is the building perfect?
Yes! The spa started life as an Edwardian textile mill called Titanic Mill, named so after being launched the same year as RMS Titanic in 1911. The mill was redeveloped into Titanic Spa in 2005, and set new standards in eco builds. The building is ideal for our spa because not only does it draw on the historical roots from the area, but it also meant we were able to ‘recycle’ such a beautiful building. Its positioning on the river also makes it ideal as water is at the heart of ‘spa’, and this means we have our very own natural water source. Found 100m below the Spa, this was the original water source when the building was working as a mill. Today it provides fresh drinking water and bathing water for our plunge pool, salt regulated swimming pool, showers and ice experience. For an industry that uses lots of energy and water, we knew we’d have to put lots in place to make sure it wasn’t detrimental to the environment.
What else do you love about your setting?
I love that we are just on a canal, and the surrounding Pennines are a big draw for us as our ethos is all about giving back to nature, so we’re lucky to have so much of it on our doorstep. We’re situated right next to the River Colne and we’re a great place to stop over and recover after some brisk walking in the Pennines.
Were you ahead of the game when it came to sustainability?
I’ve been with Titanic Spa from the very beginning of the project and was instrumental in the development of the build, to ensure it went above and beyond to meet its eco credentials. Whether it was making the decision on the solar panels to power the old Edwardian Mill, digging down to a bore hole to provide the spa with its very own natural water source, or simply choosing the finer touches of food suppliers and what vegetable ink to use in marketing materials, I was a key part of the team and did extensive research into every step.
Why is sustainability important to you?
In an industry which has the potential to be quite damaging to the environment, we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to make it as eco friendly as possible, without sacrificing the guests’ experience, so continually researching new innovations is vital in upholding our reputation. For example, as a business that has high laundry turn around, we use an OTEX laundry system which is leading in energy efficiency and extremely powerful at cleaning too. This not only washes on a cool temperature, but also delivers continuous ozonated water which leaves our linen 100% disinfected. It also means we have no unnecessary transport to and from laundry services. This means our guests get the crisp, high standard of cleanliness they would expect at a spa, without any detriment to the environment.
What can you tell us about your collaboration with Born Free?
It has been an honour to work with the Born Free Foundation this year with our ‘Spa for our Planet’ campaign. Born Free is a charity that works to help endangered animals, as well as environmental conservation. It is more vital than ever to give back and take action when it comes to protecting wildlife and creating a more sustainable planet. We hope that we’ve helped to raise awareness of the animals in need, and through the ‘Spa for our Planet’ campaign, Titanic Spa have helped to raise funds to protect orangutans, moon bears and lions of Africa. It has been a really popular collaboration with our guests.
How would you sum up the spa experience you offer?
We like to say that Titanic Spa offers a welcoming, guilt free, luxury experience, where the focus is placed an equal amount on the environment as it is our guests.
Are there any elements you are particularly proud of?
I’m really proud of our team and how they make their guests feel happy and welcome. In terms of our facilities, I’m delighted with our Titanic Heat and Ice Experience as it has something for everyone. Based on the ritual of bathing where the body is heated and then cooled by a series of experiences, the Titanic Heat and Ice Experience area guides your body through a sensory journey with the ultimate aim of inducing deep relaxation. I also love our Rasul Private Mud Chamber, a treatment inspired by ancient Egyptian bathing that helps to detoxify your skin. Guests self-apply organic mud to the body and face to help exfoliate and nourish. The herbal steam opens the pores to help draw out impurities, before a gentle tropical rain shower helps to ease the mud away. Idyllic!
Do you look to attract men as well as women to the spa?
Absolutely, I saw a saddening statistic recently that said 36% of men still believe there’s a stigma attached to men visiting spas, despite a quarter of men wanting to take better care of their wellbeing (22%). At a time where men in particular are encouraged to talk more about their mental health, visiting a spa can be instrumental in your mindset towards your physical wellbeing. Especially after the pandemic, I think now more than ever men need to feel confident visiting a spa for an escape. We have lots of couples booking in and our male guests really enjoy the experience. We have a menu of face and body treatments tailored specifically to men.
What accommodation do you offer?
With each of our overnight Spa break packages, guests receive access to a luxury apartment that includes a kitchen, living area, bedroom and bathroom. These luxury apartments can sleep between two and six guests across our range of one- and two-bedroom apartments. These self-contained apartments make Titanic an ideal home away from home, and we also provide a continental breakfast.
What does the Bistro and Bar1911 serve up?
Serving brunch, lunch, snacks, afternoon tea and evening meals, the Titanic Spa Bistro offers our guests various dining options to suit every need. Guests can end a relaxing spa day with a visit to our Bar1911 Cocktail and Champagne lounge open from 6pm. We believe our guests should have access to high-quality food that enhances your spa experience and wellbeing. Our bistro offers fresh seasonal menus, dedication to healthy eating and environmental responsibility. As our chef is vegan, we also offer a range of delicious vegan dishes, and wherever possible, we source organic and fair-trade ingredients choosing locally sourced, in-season produce which helps keep our food miles down and bring benefits to our local community and the wider environment. Due to this it means our menu is always changing, which means it’s always dynamic.
Do you have anything special lined up for the rest of summer?
We’ve just recently set up a new pop-up bar in our outdoor area, so this is ideal for the warmer summer months, and we are working on some wonderful new spa days and breaks packages for the rest of this year. We are also looking at new local partnerships that reflect Titanic Spa’s goals to work with so look forward to putting some exciting projects together!
