A LUXURY spa in the heart of historic York has closed its doors after being hit by soaring fuel costs and the effects of the struggling economy.

Alquimia Spa, in Stonegate, used to be a place where people could relax from day-to-day stress and the hectic pace of life.

But now the company which owns it, Cinnabar 133 Ltd, has ceased trading, and the spa has closed down after eight years of providing aromatherapy, reflexology, physiotherapy, beauty therapy, stress therapy, hair styling and make-up to thousands of customers.

Director Julie Sharp said today that 22 people employed there had lost their jobs, although they had all been able to find alternative employment elsewhere – some of them setting up in business on their own.

She spoke of her sadness that the business which she helped create eight years ago had had to shut down.

“I think it’s a tragedy,” she said. “It’s a bit like going through a bereavement. It’s such a waste.”

She said a primary factor behind the business’s demise had been soaring fuel costs, saying that after having already been through price rises she was facing a further 35 per cent increase in her bills this winter.

Rents and rates had also gone up, but she had not felt able to put up charges to customers to meet the extra costs because of the uncertainty surrounding the economy. She had not felt confident that all customers would be able to afford to pay the extra amount.

She said Alquimia had built up a database of 15,500 customers, and earned a very high reputation nationwide. “Three weeks ago, a list in the Sunday Express put us in the top five spas in the country,” she said.

She stressed that a separate business of a similar name, Alqvimia, which sold the Alqvimia product brand to spas across the country, remained in business.

Some of the Alquimia employees who had set up on their own were also selling Alqvimia brands.

Customers were shocked yesterday by the closure of Alquimia.

Roberta Haddock, from near Pocklington, said she used to go there for treatment and still went there to get her hair done. “I was shocked when I saw it had ceased trading,” she said. “It’s a shame.”

Jackie Burns, from the Leeman Road area of York, said she had bought £40-worth of vouchers from the spa as a birthday present for her mother, and she was wondering if they were now worthless.

Mrs Sharp said this would be a matter for the administrators, P & A Partnership of Sheffield.

A spokesman for P & A was unavailable for comment.