USP As the name implies, Wholeman offers a holistic approach to male well-being in Mayfair. They’ll scrub, sculpt and massage your exterior, then take care of your insides with a course of vitamins and supplements, designed by the resident naturopath.

Continuity of treatment underpins the Wholeman philosophy: if stress is what drives you to their door, they’ll apply the relevant essential oils during your treatment, then prescribe a complementary tea to reinforce the new, chilled-out you.

AMBIENCE "It's ok to be here - real men use spas," cries every stick of manly furniture, every overly-reassuring smile from the staff, every page and pixel of the promotional material, and even the lighting.

The decor in the upstairs spa area is comfortingly reminiscent of a chic hotel bar. I'm told by the staff that the treatments are "not girly". The "Signature Programmes" page of the Wholeman website bears a picture of a boxer and offers a “Combat Facial”, which presumably involves having your face smeared with brown and green camouflaging exfoliants before hiding behind the pot plants to evade capture by enemy forces.

East River Spa, Docklands, London

A Thameside urban retreat with express treatments for frazzled city workers and a mud bath for two

• Top 5 London day spas

8 spas for budget-seekers

Thrifty indulgence: from the best £30 massage in London to a full hammam for a fiver in Syria

Top 5 New York spas

We've hand-picked five of the Manhattan's best spas

• The high guide to New York nightlife

• Cut-price New York fashion

• Dorit Baxter's spa, Manhattan, New York

BACKGROUND

• 5 of the best Irish spas

• 5 spas for preen queens

• 5 spas for city pep-ups

• 5 Paris spas

Overall, Wholeman protests too much. It feels OK to be a man in spa until you are repeatedly reassured that it's OK to be a man in a spa. Beyond that, the treatment rooms are everything they should be - quiet, warm, candle-lit, womb-like.

EXPERIENCE With my first Father’s Day (as a father!) coming up, I'm in need of complete unwinding. Ten months of not knowing when the next proper night’s sleep is coming, combined with an increasingly hectic work schedule has left me a physical and spiritual husk, held together by caffeine and adrenalin.

So, it is with a sleep deprived sigh that I slip into my tiny black paper thong for the signature “Real Time Out” treatment. First up is exfoliation: my therapist, Michelle, uses a mix of crushed olive pits and a de-stress body wash containing chamomile, frankincense and rosemary to flay off the rough bumps that seem to be gradually colonising my upper arms and lower back.

One quick shower later and I'm ready for the massage, which strikes just the right note, balancing intensity with relaxation. Early on, I'm pummelled; my body crunching like snow underfoot as Michelle's elbows of steel stop just short of dislocating my shoulders.

Then it becomes softer, slower and more relaxing, enabling everything to ripple back into the right place. A bowl of frankincense (see, continuity) appears. If, like me, you've ever wondered why the three wise men saw fit to present the infant saviour with frankincense, you need to lie face down with a bowl of it directly under your nostrils. It fills your airways then your entire body with it's dense, musky vapours, dragging you into a swampy, delicious state of relaxation. By the time my feet are being worked on, I've fallen asleep four times - the ultimate accolade.

The facial wakes me up again and I leave Wholeman with a specially formulated tea and some multivitamins, to complete my transformation from Omega to Alpha male.

IN CROWD “Wholeman for Everyman” is the mantra here. Wholeman is inclusive, not exclusive. Their advice on treatments and products is all independent, so they can focus on what's best for the individual, without having to push inappropriate brands. They build their stock on customer requests and pricing is amenable to most wallets, despite the Mayfair location.

WALLET WATCH The "Real Time Out" package is 75 minutes and costs £95. Individual treatments start at £15. For the deserving father in your life, gift vouchers can be bought for any Wholeman treatment or you can get an open gift voucher which can be used towards any treatment.

NEED TO KNOW Wholeman, 67 New Bond Street, London W1 (020 7629 6659; www.wholeman.co.uk).

More information about Wholeman can be found at Spafinder.co.uk

For more than 280 independent spa reviews visit timesonline.co.uk/goodspaguide

Times recommends

• The three best routes to the Med
• How to cash in on your holiday money
• 10 tips for the perfectly packed suitcase