Gay bathhouses in the United Kingdom

There are multiple gay bathhouses, in the United Kingdom. In the UK the term used is "gay sauna" as opposed to gay bathhouse, the term more commonly used in North America. There are gay saunas throughout the UK, with London having most of them. Among the more noteworthy are Pleasuredrome, South London and Sweatbox in Soho, London.

Chariots

Chariots Leisure Ltd has opened the following gay saunas: Chariots Shoreditch (now closed), Chariots Streatham (1999) (now closed), Chariots Limehouse (2002, previously Sailor's Sauna), Chariots Waterloo (2003, previously Wellingtons Health Club) and Chariots Vauxhall (2005). Chariots Farringdon (opened 1999) closed in 2010 due to the Crossrail development.[1] In terms of floor-space and capacity, Chariots Shoreditch is the largest gay sauna in the UK.[2][3]

Description

Chariots Shoreditch was on three floors decorated in the style of Roman baths.[4]

There were free STD testing sessions held at the bathhouse.[6]

Chariots Roman Spa opened in 1997. The management previously ran Rio's, a Kentish Town naturist club. Originally a warehouse, the Shoreditch redevelopment cost £2.5 million.[7] In 2000 the venue was significantly expanded with the addition of the restaurant, 30 more cubicles, video lounge and internet room. It was announced in February 2016 that the venue would be closing down, and the building would be demolished for a redevelopment of the site.[8]

Etiquette

Customers were given two towels, a locker key and condoms on entrance. Further condoms were available from wall dispensers. Most people kept the second towel as a dry spare in their locker. The convention was to walk around the bathhouse wearing a towel, though nudity in the dry or steam sauna was normal.[9] Apart from the lounge, cafe area, lockable cabins and within the jacuzzi, sexual activity occurred anywhere, with anyone free to watch or attempt to join in.[10]

Media attention

On 2 May 1998, former footballer Justin Fashanu spent the evening in Chariots before committing suicide nearby that night.[11][12]

There was significant press interest and internet speculation in 2006 when the sauna was closed for Easter Weekend, after a 24-year-old man's body was found. The police investigation found that death was due to a drugs overdose but there were no suspicious circumstances.[13]

On Sunday 20 March 2011 the London Fire Brigade were called to attend a fire which was reported to have destroyed most of the ground floor of Chariots Shoreditch. 150 patrons were evacuated, and there were no injuries.[14]

Pleasuredrome

Pleasuredrome is a gay sauna in south London, in the arches below Waterloo East railway station on the corner of Cornwall Rd and Alaska Street.[15] It markets itself as "We never close"[2][16][17] and is open every day of the year and is also licensed to sell alcohol 24 hours per day.

Etiquette

Customers are given two towels, a locker key and condoms on entrance. While it is etiquette to wrap in a towel while moving around the premises, nudity in the dry sauna or steam room is normal. Inside the sauna area sexual activity may be present and others may wish to watch or try to join in. Privacy at this venue is afforded by private rooms.,[9][10][18] This venue actively promotes condom use reinforced by staff in their interactions with the clientele to promote safer sex.[19] The venue has a drugs-free, smoke-free policy.[18]

History

The sauna is set in railway arches, a building method employed as land prices in large English cities increased. The sauna opened as a gay bathhouse in 1998. In 2006 there was claim by an 18-year-old male that he had been raped at the sauna by a 24-year-old man while visiting the sauna. "With the full co-operation of the management and patrons, the suspect was subsequently identified and arrested" the official statement further stated that "A 24-year-old man was taken into custody at Kennington police station where he remains." Police thanked staff at the sauna for their co-operation.[20]

Sweatbox

Sweatbox is a gay sauna located in Soho, London's gay village. Sweatbox opened in 2008, and is the only gay sauna in the UK to offer 24hr and 48hr passes, as well as a weekly pass. The sauna also offers annual membership. Sweatbox, being ideally situated in London's gay quarter, Soho, attracts many customers from the pubs, clubs and bars of the nearby gay scene either before or after a night out.

References

  1. ↑ Archive page of Chariots Farringdon in 2007.
  2. 1 2 Humphreys, Rob; Bamber, Judith (2003). The Rough Guide to London (5 ed.). Rough Guides. p. 507. ISBN 978-1-84353-093-0.
  3. ↑ "Chariots Review". Time Out London. 2009.
  4. ↑ Edward, Olivia; Cortinovis, Genevieve; Eggleton, James; Lee, Youyoung; Hermitage, Ashley (2007). MTV England. Frommer's. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7645-8773-3.
  5. ↑ "QX Magazine London Issue 767". QX Magazine London (QX) (767): 88. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  6. ↑ Writer, Staff (2007-10-15). "NHS to hold STI testing in gay sauna". PinkNews.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  7. ↑ Chariots History, archive from official site
  8. ↑ http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/londons-biggest-gay-sauna-to-be-demolished-to-make-way-for-hotel-a3173226.html
  9. 1 2 Couture, Joseph (2008). Peek: inside the private world of public sex. Haworth Press. ISBN 978-1-56023-646-7.
  10. 1 2 Woods, William J.; Binson, Diane (2003). William J. Woods; Diane Binson, eds. Gay Bathhouses and Public Health Policy. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-56023-273-5.
  11. ↑ Powell, Vicky (June 1998). "Suicide note increases speculation over death of Justin Fashanu". Gay Times (Millivres) (237).
  12. ↑ "It's the national game but it is a sport which has a bad reputation for tolerance. Football started to tackle racism when black players became stars. But why is being gay still a taboo on the football field?". BBC. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  13. ↑ Shoffman, Marc (2006-04-21). "Man found dead in gay sauna". PinkNews.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  14. ↑ Park, James. "Chariots on fire: East London gay sauna severely damaged in fire". PinkNews.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  15. ↑ "Pleasuredrome London". Archived from the original on 2010-10-09. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  16. ↑ "QX Magazine London Issue 758". QX Magazine London (QX) (758): 80. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  17. ↑ "QX Magazine London Issue 717" (PDF). QX Magazine London (QX) (717): 37. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  18. 1 2 "Official Web Site". Pleasuredrome.com. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  19. ↑ Burston, Paul (2007-11-27). "Time Out Review". Timeout.com. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  20. ↑ Writer, Staff (2006-03-14). "Rape claims in gay sauna". PinkNews.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
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