High-flying lawyers in the City of London are constantly pilloried by the middle-brow tabloid press for allegedly being fat-cat leeches on business.

But there is now at least a source of sympathy for those under the cosh of late-night deals and the constant pressure of billable hours.

The Chancery Court Hotel in Holborn has recently opened a spa that specifically targets its relaxation treatments at stressed lawyers, describing the experience as the 'holistic stress buster for solicitors'.

This is the type of bespoke service that Obiter finds difficult to resist.

A severely deadline-stressed representative from this column trotted down the road and found an amazing experience involving a gold-leaf relaxation room , an amethyst crystal steam room, a dry heat sauna infused with mint and then a complete treatment that included exfoliation and then a hot stone body massage.

The whole performance lasted the best part of a couple of hours and was incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating.

But what's it got to do specifically with City lawyers? Well, prices start at 125.

This article refers to images that appear in the printed edition (see [2004] Gazette, 20 May, page 13}