SILENCE IN COURT AS SESSIONS SALON AND SPA UNDERGOES ITS OWN MAKEOVER

19/12/2012

Ten years after sealing the deal to buy one of East Yorkshire’s most iconic buildings, the team behind Sessions Salon and Spa are set to embark on the next phase of development.

The former courthouse, which was built more than 200 years ago, is to undergo a major refurbishment to expand and improve the company’s salon services.

The project represents a further five-figure investment in a courthouse conversion which has already cost around £1.8-million. By absorbing the company’s Hessle salon, the move also completes the couple’s dream, hatched after walking into the derelict building 10 years ago, to bring the ultimate salon and spa services under one roof.

Sessions will close during the week of 19 November, reopening on Saturday 24 November with a new look. The Hessle salon, which opened at The Weir in 1995, will close on Saturday 1 December and reopen within Sessions on Monday 4 December.

All 11 staff from Hessle will transfer to Sessions, and many clients have already made the move.

Jimi said: “It is another significant milestone in the development of our business.

“It’s now 25 years since I opened my first salon in Princes Avenue, Hull. We added Hessle in 1995 and Beverley a couple of years after that.

“But we wanted to bring it all together, out of town and away from parking restrictions. Some of our treatments can be provided quickly but a lot of our services are very sophisticated and there are really not many clients who rush in and out in less than two hours!”

Georgina added: “We relocated the Beverley salon from North Bar Within into Sessions House. Hessle has taken longer because we had to be absolutely certain that we had the capacity here. This refurbishment makes sure we can accommodate all the staff, all the facilities and, crucially, all the clients.

“You could say there will be silence in court – but only for five days. We’ve advised our clients in Hessle about the move and 99 per cent have said they will move here with us. Most have already joined us.

“The improvements to the A164 will make Beverley more accessible to our clients in the west Hull villages and to people from south of the Humber – we’re already experiencing more business from that area as a result of the reduction in Humber Bridge tolls.”

The new-look Sessions will house more than 40 staff in comfort and style ­– a far cry from the day when the couple walked into the courthouse for the first time with Jimi’s father Jim in the autumn of 2002.

Hull-based Chartered Surveyors Garness Jones had been quietly seeking a buyer for the property and Managing Director Dave Garness became aware of Jimi’s interest.

Jimi recalled: “We were in Spain at the time and Dave faxed us the details. The images were pretty poor quality and showed a big monstrosity in the background, but we trust Dave and when he said it was worth a look we came down.”

Sessions Salon and Spa proved a game-changer in its sector. The stylish Westwood restaurant, operated independently by tenants of Sessions, was added five years ago and the new development further establishes the building as a prime leisure destination.

Jimi said: “I saw it as a place that would allow us to be as professional as we are capable of being. “It gave us the luxury of space and enabled us to develop our own luxurious services. The location provides our clients with stress-free parking and the design of the building fills it with natural light.

“We were the first true spa in the area and we are still the largest independent day spa in the country. Our industry voted us the most iconic salon of the decade in 2010.”

Dave Garness added: “It’s hard to believe it’s 10 years since Jimi and Georgina walked into the building for the first time and decided to build their business there.

“Because of the nature of the building, the history and the fact that it had been empty for so long, it was a long, drawn-out process to get them in but they stuck at it because they felt the building was different and impressive.

“I remember attending the opening and talking to Jimi. He hadn’t slept for three days because they’d been working so hard to get everything ready, but the reward for all that effort is there for all to see. They’ve done a remarkable job and the next phase will help them build on that success.”