New beauty and wellness haven – Urban Retreat at the White House – is creating a buzz in Chelsea.

 

It's the brainchild of Reena Hammer, who knows a thing or two about beauty.

Daughter of make-up artist Ruby, she grew up surrounded by products and industry experts.

She also worked alongside her father George on the Urban Retreat brand at Harrods.

But Reena moved it out of the department store last April and opened its very own space in a five-storey townhouse in Chelsea in 2019.

 “Urban Retreat at The White House is a dream,” Reena says.

“This is my vision and there’s so much freedom for design and customer experience.

“We’re providing luxury and quality all under one roof. Clients don’t want to go to four different places for all their beauty and wellness needs.”

 

The converted former private residence is where “beauty meets hospitality”, says Reena.

She wants it to be “a place to hang out; not just a Zen spa or faceless clinic”, she adds.

 

 

A different service on every floor

In the basement is the detox and wellness clinic. Clients can opt for a full day of colonic hydrotherapy, an infrared sauna or a seaweed wrap, for example.

On the ground floor is the restaurant FlavoUR which offers well-sourced food and all-day dining.

The hair salon and the nail bar are on the first floor.

There is also a whole floor dedicated to medi-beauty. There is a women's health centre focussing on hormonal issues and wellness.

Consultants in dermatology, osteopathy and podiatry, among others, will be resident on different days.

There are also laser rooms and services such as tattooing and piercing.

Traditional beauty such as massages, facials, waxing and brows occupy the last floor.

 

Chelsea – the perfect location for a beauty haven

Reena believes that Chelsea is the perfect spot for her emporium.

“About 70 per cent of clients live within a mile of here, and Chelsea has always been our home.

“It’s the most community-based neighbourhood I know.

“Pavilion Road has a cheese shop, a wine shop – I want to be part of that; the pit stop in the day of a Chelsea resident,” she says.

 

For the full interview in Sloane Square magazine, read here.

To find out more about Urban Retreat at the White House, read here.