Luxury beauty and wellness brand Urban Retreat has shifted from its longstanding home in Harrods into a standalone space in Knightsbridge. The 12,000 square-foot former private residence, nicknamed ‘The White House’, has been transformed into a dedicated beauty, health and wellbeing space set over five floors.
‘We want to revolutionise and own the beauty hospitality space with our expert staff, authoritative approach to service, best-in-class professional and retail products, alongside an elevated customer experience. In a landscape where traditional retail layouts and store design are being challenged by the expectations of the evolving consumer, our new concept will focus on an experience-led approach. Everyone will be welcomed to a warm and relaxed, yet luxurious place to spend time, where creating intimacy with our clients and anticipating their needs is key’ said managing director, Reena Hammer.
Reena has taken a ‘beauty meets hospitality’ approach by including a restaurant and relaxation areas, as well as onboarding respected names in aesthetics, wellness and fitness to provide a full-service offering for the brand’s discerning clientele.
Among those enlisted at the new Urban Retreat include brow expert, Suman Jalaf of SumanBrows; dermatologist, Dr Timm Golueke; manual lymphatic drainage specialist, Jina YoungSun Park; body remodelling specialist, Pauline de Jessey; pilates trainer, Gaby Noble; and facialist, Clare Marie Peters.
A 40-seat restaurant on the ground floor is designed to provide guests with healthy options for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and an all-day bar serves specialty teas, fresh juices, smoothies, wellness shots, cocktails and organic premium wines.
The onsite Khera-Griggs Cleanse Clinic offers diagnostic testing, inner and outer body-cleanse programmes, infra-red saunas, Bodyfriend Korean massage chairs, a meditation space and a private fitness studio, among other services. There’s also a 13-station salon for hair colouring and styling services and a two-seat barber offering traditional cuts, wet shaves and beard trims.
Popular nail brand CND has opened its new London flagship inside the space, with four pedicure stations and five manicure stations available.
There’s also a Body Art Studio offering piercing and tattooing services, with Lark & Berry supplying complimentary piercings alongside its conflict-free, luxe diamond jewellery.
Reena has carefully selected Urban Retreat’s retail brands, which are difficult to find elsewhere. Exclusive partnerships include products from Haute Custom Beauty, The One by Frédéric Fekkai, Kjaer Weis, Bastide and Albiva.