USP Formerly the official residence of the Queen’s representative, the Lieutenant Governor, of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the OGH as it is known, is now a four-star hotel, one of 12 prestigious hotels in the Red Carnation group owned by Mr and Mrs Tollman.

AMBIENCE The hotel is at the top of a narrow street and some of the rooms have a fine view over the busy working and yachting harbour of St Peter Port and you can look across the sea to the islands of Herm and Sark.

The Revolution Health Club and Spa is open to hotel guests and they can use the facilities (rock sauna, steam room, two whirlpool spa baths, gymnasium and aerobics studio) for free. The adjoining Renaissance Salon de Beaute is where you go for the pampering and the pummelling.

The spa is in the basement of the rambling old 18th-century building and you feel a bit like a troglodyte as you descend into its depths. The walls and ceilings are covered in glass mosaic, the individual pieces in all shades of blue.

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The naked female torsos that are incorporated into the walls add to the sensual Moroccan palace feel. There are no windows to the outside world so if you a bit claustrophobic it could be a bit of a problem, but then you don’t go for a treatment to admire the views.

EXPERIENCE I had chosen a Balinese Massage and Lisa, a therapist of three years, had been to the Orient to learn the art. She explained that it was a deep almond-oil-with-lavender-essence massage, similar to ayurvedic massage, which involved working very deeply with fingers and knuckles, using predominantly pushing techniques, to release toxins and to ease muscle and joint pain.

As a regular runner who is about to greet 60, I was looking forward to those aching calves being worked on and the stiff back being made a bit more supple. The only thing I wasn’t looking forward to was not drinking alcohol afterwards. When Lisa saw how perplexed I looked at this, she downgraded the instruction, to advice. And eventually to a recommendation, which I happily was going to ignore anyway, as it sounded too girly for someone who liked a pint (the world, especially your own little one, is always better after a couple). “But drink plenty of water,” she instructed as she set to work top to toe.

First back and neck, then legs and thighs and feet with pressure points being pushed deeply with expert thumbs. The sweeps were strong and firm and when she did my calves it felt like mice scampering over them and was most pleasurable.

Then I was turned over and Lisa did “This Little Piggy” with my toes before doing the front of the legs and arms and hands and upper chest and shoulders before ending with the forehead and head.

My Research Assistant had a Thai girl give her 90 minutes of massage working on the knotted tissue such that she squeaked from time to time but was reassured that the “sweet pain” was doing her good. The RA also had a facial with hot flannels and then a collagen mask, then unguents worked into the face. She positively glowed afterwards.

FOOD AND DRINK There is a chill-out area where you can order snacks and drinks from the Brasserie in the hotel.

IN CROWD Mostly women who come from St Peter Port and the surrounding area to combine shopping, a treatment and then lunch with friends in the Brasserie that overlooks the busy harbour.

WALLET WATCH The Balinese massage costs £55 for 60 minutes and £75 for 90 minutes. Face mapping using Dermalogica products starts at £45 for 45 minutes and an Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Facial is £65 for 75 minutes, whereas an Elemis Taster Facial is £30 for 30 minutes.

NEED TO KNOW Renaissance Salon de Beaute, St Ann’s Place, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2NU (01481-738679; www.theoghhotel.com) E-mail: renaissance@theoghhotel.com

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