SenseOnline, in association with The Ascot Boutique Hotel and The Classique Spa on Grant Avenue in Norwood, gives you the chance to win an incredible 24 hours of luxurious pampering for you and your partner to the value of R5000. Never say we don’t love our readers.

The Prize

This is how it works: You will walk up the marble steps of The Ascot Boutique Hotel where the doorman will take your overnight luggage and lead you through to the spa; you will receive the ultimate full-day package of treatments with lunch at The Classique Spa, which recently won South Africa’s Best Day Spa 2010; you will overnight in one of the beautifully appointed rooms at the hotel; and after breakfast you will head off rejuvenated and ready to face 2011.

To enter simply send your name and email address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and you will go into the draw. To increase your chances of winning we will give you another entry for every name and email address of a friend that you send to us. To make it even better, their names will also go into the draw. And every single batch of five names and email addresses of friends will earn you ten entries.

The Ascot Boutique Hotel

We all know the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of the ugly duckling that grows into a graceful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. It is a story of personal transformation, which is perfectly mirrored by The Ascot Boutique Hotel.

Once upon a time Grant Avenue was the hottest strip in Jozi, but its fortunes declined somewhat in the last decade. That slump was led in large part by the tacky old Ascot Hotel. Here sex workers plied their trade and biker gangs held sway in the dingy pool bar. By early 2008 the authorities had had enough and closed it down.

It was then that the brothers Obel, Nick and Matthew, with a dream of returning Norwood to its heyday, took over the dump and began transforming it into the most beautiful bird of all. Two months ago their fairytale became reality as The Ascot Boutique Hotel opened its doors. And it is working because there is suddenly a sense of rejuvenation in the air as Grant Avenue preens itself for a brighter future.

Luxury & Charm

From the moment you arrive at The Ascot Boutique Hotel you are taken in by the charm of the 50s architecture married to the luxury chic of a modern city sanctuary. At the top of a marble staircase a doorman in tails ushers you into a strip-floor reception area aflame with a display of orchids. Off from here is a leather couch lounge area adjoining the bistro and cocktail bar that spill onto the street-side patio.

Upstairs are 15 individually decorated rooms that range from deluxe to superior and a family suite. Each has wi-fi and flat screen TV as standard. There is also a 20-seater conference facility, business centre and gym.

Ascot Bistro & Cocktail Bar

The Ascot Bistro & Cocktail Bar will soon be the favourite hangout in Jozi, especially on Thursday jazz nights. Here you can breakfast with clients or friends, lunch or dine, or just sip cocktails on the street-side patio.

The kitchen serves up one of the best bistro menus in Mzansi. You can start the day with anything from a health to a full Ascot breakfast. For lunch there are a range of crisp salads and light meals. And candlelit dinners that include everything from vegetarian options to free range carnivorous offerings. I particularly like the oven baked kingklip in garlic sauce with seasoned lace chips and perfectly grilled vegetables.

The Classique Spa       

The adjoining Classique Spa was recently awarded Best Day Spa 2010. The brainchild of the irrepressible Saul Sostak, it has been widely lauded locally and internationally.

It is elegantly appointed in a classic style with treatments from top professional staff using the best products that range from the normal spa fare to unique offerings. Here you can experience everything from massages and pedicures to body treatments using natural Dead Sea water and body butters.

Rasul Chamber & Dead Sea Pool Experience       

What sets The Classique Spa apart is its Rasul Chamber and Dead Sea Pool Experience. The softly lit Rasul Chamber incorporates earthly elements with modern technology to give a multi-sensory experience that begins with the application of mud to the entire body. The chamber is then filled with scented steam and mood-enhancing music to de-stress then transport the body to an exotic place of wellbeing. The mud, along with your tension, is then rinsed off with a fine drizzle of soft rain.

The pool, filled with the waters of the Dead Sea, contains the world’s richest source of minerals and trace elements. These have the power to revitalise the skin’s vital functions, alleviate muscular tension and contribute significantly to overall health. Best of all, it takes you to a legendary place where the body floats effortlessly, weightlessly in heavenly waters.        

To Enter

To enter simply send your name and email address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and you will go into the draw. To increase your chances of winning we will give you another entry for every name and email address of a friend that you send to us. To make it even better, their names will also go into the draw. And every single batch of five names and email addresses of friends will earn you ten entries.

Terms & Conditions:

• Employees and the families of SenseOnline, The Ascot Boutique Hotel and The Classique Spa are not eligible for entry.
• The draw will take place on 30 November and the winners will be notified within 48 hours.
• The winners agree to be interviewed by SenseOnline and to be photographed while receiving their prize.
• The prizes are subject to availability and are valid Monday to Thursday.
• Transport and any extras not mentioned above will be for the account of the winners.
• Prizes may not be transferred or redeemed for cash.

GOOD LUCK!!! And keep those entries coming.