There are multiple gay saunas, or bathhouses, in the United Kingdom. Among the more noteworthy are Chariots Shoreditch, in Shoreditch, London, and Pleasuredrome in South London.
Contents |
| Chariots Shoreditch | |
|---|---|
2009, free customer contact card |
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| Building | |
| Location | Shoreditch, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Address | 1 Fairchild Street |
| Postcode | EC2A 3NS |
| Coordinates | |
| Services | |
| Facilities | pool, whirlpool tubs, steam rooms, sauna, gym, cafe, orgy rooms, cubicles |
| Operator | Chariots Leisure Ltd |
| Website | Official website |
| History | |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Renovated | 2000 |
In terms of floor-space and capacity, Chariots Shoreditch is the largest gay sauna in the UK.[1][2]
The bathhouse is on three floors decorated in the style of a Roman baths.[3]
There are free STD testing sessions held at the bathhouse.[5]
Customers are given two towels, a locker key and condoms on entrance. Further condoms are available from wall dispensers. Most people keep the second towel as a dry spare in their locker. The convention is to walk around the bathhouse wearing a towel, though nudity in the dry or steam sauna is normal.[6] Apart from the lounge, cafe area, lockable cabins and within the jacuzzi, sexual activity may occur anywhere, with anyone free to watch or attempt to join in.[7]
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.[8] In 2000 the venue was significantly expanded with the addition of the restaurant, 30 more cubicles, video lounge and internet room.
On 2 May 1998, former footballer Justin Fashanu spent the evening in Chariots before committing suicide nearby that night.[9][10]
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.[11]
In addition to the first Chariots at Shoreditch, Chariots Leisure Ltd has opened the following gay saunas: Chariots Streatham (1999), 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.[12]
At 0605 on Sunday 20th March 2011 the London Fire Brigade were called to attend a fire which was reported to have destroyed most of the ground floor. 150 patrons were evacuated, and there were no injuries. The cause of fire is under investigation.[13]
| Pleasuredrome | |
|---|---|
| Building | |
| Location | Waterloo, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Address | Arch 124 corner of Cornwall Rd & Alaska Street, Waterloo, London |
| Postcode | SE1 8XE |
| Services | |
| Facilities | pool, whirlpool tubs, steam rooms, sauna, gym, cafe, orgy rooms, cubicles |
| Operator | Independent - Sole Trader |
| Website | Official website |
| History | |
| Opened | 1998 |
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.[14] It markets itself as "We never close".[1][15][16]
Customers are given two towels, a locker key and condoms on entrance. It is etiquette to wrap in a towel, nudity in the dry or steam sauna 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.[17][7],[6] This venue actively promotes condom use reinforced by staff in their interactions with the clientele to promote safe sex.[18] The venue has a drugs free, smoke free policy.[17]
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 whilst the HIV rate amongst Gay men in London was 10%, some but not all gay bath houses promote safe sex.[19] In the same year at another venue in London, Chariots the first openly gay British footballer Justin Fashanu spent his last night taking his own life due to blackmail.[20] and this is the year of the Bolton 7 case, at that time it was a criminal offence for more than two men to engage in sexual activity, even if above the age of consent. The charge would have been gross indecency and resulted in person being made to sign the sex offenders register. Although the law had relaxed since the raids on Gay Bath houses in the 80's[21] Gay men still faced prosecution for consensual sex if another person was present, it was in this turbulent time that this venue opened[22]. The offences of gross indecency and buggery were repealed in The Sexual Offences Act 2003.[19]
From 2002 the Waterloo area had benefited from £50 million worth of regeneration works being completed by 2007, a focus was reusing old railway arches.[23][24][25]
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.[26]