EMILY: Fish give me the creeps. I hate snorkelling. I have the death of several goldfish on my hands. But I had wintery unloved feet. Half an hour in a tank being nibbled by Turkish fish was, apparently, just what they needed. I met Annie at Aqua Sheko’s Kensington salon.

Everything is black and a bit Japanese looking. There is a line of salon chairs, each one with a glass tank in front of it, about two foot square, filled with water and containing about a hundred small dark brown Garra Rufa fish. The fish don’t have teeth but their suction-cup mouths gently lift away dry skin without damaging the healthy new cells underneath.

We had our feet washed, checked for verucas or open wounds, were given some green tea and sat in our chairs with our feet hovering above the tanks. The fish gathered expectantly beneath our heels. I felt a rising sense of panic. I held my breath and plunged them in. Within a second, the contents of the entire tank were attached. The initial feeling is not painful, rather like rubbing your foot with an electric toothbrush, but surprisingly intense. Annie, who is much less squeamish than me, is an excellent snorkeller and cleans out fish tanks without a murmur, was having a full on ‘I really, Really can’t do this’ moment.

I managed the full 30 minutes submerged. The initial shock subsided and I got used to the feeling but I would not describe it as pleasant. Afterwards we had a foot massage but they deal in feet rather than nails here so polish is not on offer. Post nibbling, my feet were definitely smoother and softer. Were they any smoother or softer than they are when the marvellous Columbian beauticians at Marcela’s (across the road) go at them with old-fashioned salt scrubs and pumice? I’m not so sure.

Aqua Sheko 14 Holland St, W8 Tel: 020 3489 8336/07882 372 373. www.aquasheko.co.uk

There is also a branch in Soho, where they will shortly be offering a full body tank!

Pedicure and foot massage £45, Express 25 minute fish pedicure £30.

Marcela’s Nails 7 Holland St, W8 Tel: 020 7938 1555 www.marcelas.co.uk. Pedicure £70.