Review: The Lodge Space

A wonderful world of wellness and culinary delight

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the capital lies a wonderful escape from everyday life.

The Lodge Space is a fairly unassuming building from the outside that delivers wellness in the form of diverse fitness classes, treatments and healthy food. Nicknamed ‘the playground for adults’ by the owners, this business that opened in summer 2019 is incredibly welcoming and just a stone’s throw away from Canada Water station.

With three elements to its wellbeing triangle, your mind, body and soul can feel re-energised and raring for the next challenge by the time you leave the building.

Entering through the door off the main street, you appear in the cafe area. Although, cafe is overstated; it does not feel like that at all. The area is minimalist and everything is based on stained wood.

The chairs, tables and even the ceiling carries this theme. With a log burner in the centre of the wall, warmth spreads throughout. There is no overly formal seating or tacky menus littered over the tables. Simplicity here is paramount and that helps you to feel at ease.

The Lodge Space is set over two floors. The ground floor is home to the cafe, zen garden - which is a glorified patio with some Buddha statues - and two studios. The biggest space can fit 25 people in a class and has panoramic views of Southwark Park.

In terms of relaxation and wellness, classes range from yoga to dance and pole fitness. The centre also features the latest wellness trends by offering ‘hot’ classes. These take place in the basement in a 35-degree heat studio setting so they are not for the faint-hearted.

The price is expensive compared to a bog-standard gym - starting at £95 per month - but you get what you pay for: classes from top industry experts in London. Downstairs also hosts two treatment rooms which offer deep-tissue massages, osteopathy and some rather niche therapies including one that focuses entirely on your breathing.

Back upstairs now and it is time to fill-up with some food. The menu is presented in a bound wooden book, with an array of main dishes, smoothies and ‘raw’ sweet treats to choose from.

This time - as there will be a return visit - the drink of choice is a Zen Garden. This is a smoothie which consists of banana, kale, mint, pineapple and almond milk. Everything on the menu is gluten and dairy-free, with most options being angled towards vegans and vegetarians with the option to add meat or cheese as an extra.

The smoothie goes down a treat and the metal straw is a nice touch to demonstrate their sustainability. The taste is refreshing. While the kale is subtle, you can still taste it. Coupled with the mint and sweetness of the pineapple, you are left with something easy to drink but immensely good for you.

Next comes the food. The Karma Curry is the most popular dish on the menu. Chargrilled rainbow vegetables and brown firecracker rice make it a heavenly combination when paired with a fresh red Thai sauce. Topped with chicken, it is healthy and filling. The smell alone is divine - a concoction of aromatic spices and sweet coconut milk.

However, if you are fussy when it comes to food, you may find the menu problematic with its vast abundance of spices and lack of any ‘brown’ food like chips. If you are after chocolate or cake then think again too!

The price is hardly painful. The meals range from £6 to £9 before you add any extras. The smoothies are more expensive, costing £5 for what is a generous beaker. The only downside is the sign that notifies you to order at the till. When you are here to unwind and re-energise, getting up to order your food and drink is a mild inconvenience after you have made yourself comfortable.

Overall, The Lodge Space is an experience bursting with flavours, wellness and freedom to choose what you desire when it comes to your health and wellbeing. Open all week long from 07:00 until 21:00, this is the perfect place for a post-work wind-down through the forms of yoga or a holistic therapy treatment followed by a nutritious bowl of goodness.

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