When I opened my Christmas present from my best friend I was delighted to see she had got me a pedicure. This delight soon turned to horror when I realised that this was no ordinary pedicure, this was dipping my feet into a tank of fish and letting them eat me!!! The horror was compounded by the fact that the Garra Ruffa fish are commonly known as "reddish log suckers". The thought of having fishes nibbling at my feet was not my idea of fun. How wrong I was...

There are load of fish pedicures all over the country but the one I went to was FootLove in Newcastle. We went on a Friday afternoon but on a Friday night they serve wine with your treatment so that might help settle the nerves of anyone who needs a bit of dutch courage.

The set up is such that there are 2 banks of tanks each with 4 separate tanks. These tanks are full of fish. The fish are Garra Ruffa fish and they basically nibble away all of the dead skin on your feet. I had a half hour treatment which costs £15. I spoke to the girl running the shop and she confirmed that I was basically giving the fish their dinner - she actually described it as a treat for them!!!

The big question is how does it feel?

I have to say it feels fantastic. The fish do not have teeth so banish all thoughts of Piranhas from your mind. At first it was a bit weird and a bit ticklish but you soon get used to.It is a really pleasant sensation. I would compare it to dipping your feet into a jacuzzi.
But does it work?

I have to say it did. My feet felt much softer and lots of dead skin was gone. My feet also felt really relaxed as though I had a foot rub.

Would I reccomend it?

Definitely. The girl in the shop told me that they will soon be opening a full body Garra Fish Spa in Durham and I cannot wait to give it a go although I am a bit concerned as to where the fish might nibble lol