From the X Factor to Mamhilad Park Estate – the story behind Torfaen’s latest wellness addition
With a career that includes doing celebrity blow dries on the X Factor, Claire John’s most recent venture, FloatHaus Wales, is Torfaen’s only floatation centre. It’s the latest therapy addition to Mamhilad Park Estate whose wellness offer and reputation is growing fast.
Originally from Abertillery, via Abersychan where she had her own salon, Claire used to travel the world hairdressing and training other hair and beauty professionals as well as TV jobs including the X Factor and the Gok Wan Show.
After taking on a large geographical area in her last job, by October 2024 Claire was heading for burnout when a colleague suggested she try floatation therapy in Manchester and, in her words, she “had an epiphany”.
“I lay in this pod, floating weightlessly for about an hour, in near-darkness and no sound and emerged utterly destressed. It gives you a feeling of total disconnection from the world and reconnection with yourself. That was it – I was hooked!” she explains.
Claire began researching the scientifically proven benefits of floatation, which is very popular in the United States where it began in the 1950s. She announced to her husband that she was going to start a floatation therapy business and, by January 2025 she had developed a business plan.
“There was no floatation therapy available in Torfaen, Monmouthshire or Newport, so I knew I could open the business locally – it was just a case of finding the right location,” said Claire.
“One Sunday, my husband took me to Mamhilad Park Estate, parked up, wound down the window and asked me what I could hear. ‘Nothing!’ I said – and we both knew then it was the right place for FloatHaus Wales!”
Claire met with Mike Whitson from the Mamhilad Park Estate team in April 2025, and they helped with the state-of-the-art fitout that includes private showers, soundproofing and anti-vibration flooring.
Since she opened the doors of FloatHaus Wales on 2nd January, Claire hasn’t looked back. She said her guests come to relax and destress when rest alone isn’t working for them, and also to alleviate chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. They have reported improved sleep as well as relief from sports injuries and anxiety.
“I’m pinching myself that this dream of providing people with a wellness therapy that I am so passionate about has actually happened and I couldn’t be more positive about the response I’ve had.”
What is floatation therapy?
Floatation therapy aims to destress, allowing you to unwind and reset.
It involves lying in a pod filled with salt water while external stimuli such as sound and light are largely removed to relax the mind and the senses (although you can control the light from within your pod). The body-temperature salt water creates a feeling of weightlessness, supporting the body so that you float effortlessly, relieving pressure on joints and soothing muscles.
Wellness businesses at Mamhilad Park Estate
Over the past year, the number of health and wellbeing businesses at Mamhilad Park Estate has continued to grow, with more than 20 now based at the park.
There is a dedicated Wellbeing Hub in Mamhilad House as well as several physical and mental health businesses based throughout the wider, 140-acre estate. These include various psychotherapyand counselling services; a chiropractic clinic; skin aesthetics and beauty clinics; specialist women’s wellbeing, remedial and healing services; physiotherapy services; Pilates and fitness studios; a cross-fit gym and a floatation therapy business.