A famous hypnotist gave a regional publisher’s online reporter a virtual holiday – in the middle of a busy shopping centre.

Paul McKenna used the power of hypnosis to give KentOnline journalist Gareth Arnold a reminder of his most recent holiday.

The stunt was undertaken to promote a new “virtual vacation” devised by Paul and Virgin Holidays, which it is claimed will leave people feeling as refreshed as going on a two-week getaway.

It is currently being trialled on customers in Bluewater shopping centre, near Dartford.

Hypnotist Paul McKenna talks to KM Group reporter Gareth Arnold

Said Paul: “What happens is people go into the pod and in 20 minutes I hypnotise them and help them to remember a really good holiday that they had.

“In the process of remembering it very vividly they start to feel very relaxed and very calm because the human nervous system can’t tell the difference between a real and imagined experience.”

“Even though it’s January and we’re in a busy shopping centre you’re getting in twenty minutes the experience of a wonderful holiday.”

A video of Paul hypnotising the KM Group reporter is available to view here.

Gareth said: “I felt great, really good.

“I couldn’t remember [my holiday] as vividly as I would have liked but I did remember small details, things that weren’t at the forefront of my mind.”