A former rugby player is celebrating after opening an “intimate” spa in a Wiltshire town.
Drift and Embers was opened on March 15 this year on Park Lane in Chippenham by Lucas Slowik and his partner Chloe.
Mr Slowik, a former rugby player for Bristol Bears, told this paper the family business had been well supported by the community during its first months of trading.
Drift and Embers is a hot and cold contrast therapy spa with a traditional sauna, an indoor cold plunge and an outdoor magnesium bath.
These features are available during either private or communal sessions.
Mr Slowik said the essence of the new business will be creating spaces where people can “switch off” while also coming together as a community.
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He said: “What we offer is communal and private sessions, we’re trying to bring back the feel of the community as well as offering people the privacy to have conversations.
“Talking at the communal sessions brings like-minded people together and they can reconnect with society.
“The private sessions offer you a chance to have more in depth conversations with people that you don’t see so often.
“You can have deep, meaningful conversations, not feel judged, and be at peace with yourself and feel comfortable.”
Mr Slowik had dreamed of opening the spa to share treatments that had helped him with injuries during his career.
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He added: “We’re lifelong holistic believers… in my career I had numerous injuries and traumas to the body so it’s been ingrained in me this holistic way.
“Hot and cold contrast therapy has aided me to get better and be pain free.
“We wanted to share that with other people so that they can also feel better for it and to share the benefits for the muscles and joints.
“We came up with the idea to create a space that was missing in the market.”
During the spa’s first months in business, there has been significant interest from residents.
Mr Slowik hopes to welcome more locals to the spa, whether they are regular spa visitors or people giving the experience a go for the first time.
He said: “It’s been really good, it’s been positive and now we’re looking at ways to embed ourselves into the community and grow.
“There’s spaces for avid sauna users and also for those who are nervous about it and want privacy to go at their own pace.”
