Stepping away from the bustle of Tavistock Street and into the bliss of Bedford’s Hammam spa, the scent of incense filled the air, along with a soothing melody.
Visiting Casablanca Hammam with my mum for some much-needed mother-daughter time, we were ready to pause and relax.
Greeted by two lovely ladies, we were shown to our separate treatment rooms to prepare for the steam room.
Unsure what to expect of my first spa treatment the serene atmosphere and friendly therapists quickly eased my nerves.
The Casablanca Grand Ritual
We were treated to Casablanca’s signature Hammam ritual, which consisted of 40 minutes in their steam room, with intervals for a full wash with olive oil and date soap, and a full-body exfoliation and clay mask.
Feeling like totally new people, we were then guided by the therapists to a room in which we were provided with mint tea and dates, before returning to our treatment rooms for a full-body massage with argan oil.
They also offer other treatments such as sports massage, Thai massage and traditional Hammam rituals.
A hidden gem of Bedford
Casablanca Hammam was opened in September 2025 by a Bedford couple who love to travel, and they decided to bring some of their favourite experiences back to Bedford.
The Tavistock Street spa, which will celebrate its first birthday next month, is definitely one of Bedford’s hidden gems.
Hammam rituals are a Moroccan experience rooted in ancient steam and cleansing rituals that deeply purify the skin and relax the body.
Giving the experience her seal of approval, my mum said: “The staff were so lovely, Nancy explained all of the steps really well, and I felt very relaxed.
“When I checked the time after we were finished, I was shocked to see that we had been in there for two hours; it felt like we were whisked away to a place where time stood still.
“I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this place before. I have been to other spas in the past and particularly enjoyed a treatment called hot stones, which Nancy told me they are starting at Casablanca soon.”
The reviewer received the service ‘Casablanca Grand Ritual’ for two people to facilitate the review
