One of London’s longest running saunas is closing for a £1 million refurb
Sweatbox, in Soho, has been running for more than 100 years and is set to get refurbed this year
By Steve Brown
One of London’s longest running gay saunas is set to close for a £1 million makeover.
Sweatbox, based in Soho, has kept its reputation as being the city’s busiest (and sexiest) gay sauna for more than 100 years but now the sauna is set to close on August 12 to have work done to allow it to continue to be the hottest space for men to relax and unwind.
Over the years, the LGBT+ community has seen a number of the popular gay venues close but Sweatbox owners Mark and Jason Ford reassured people it’s only a temporary closure in order to revamp and modernise the venue.
Mark said: “It’s important to us to continue to invest in the gay community in order to offer a safe and sexy space for gay men to meet and interact with likeminded people.
“For the last decade we have seen almost two million guests use our facilities, so as you can imagine some work needs to be done to ensure we have a reason for guys to come time and time again.”
The new refurbishment will include new workout spaces, a new giant jacuzzi as well as an extensive steam maze and hammam.
Jason added: “We are very excited about the refurbishment and looking forward to improving our customers’ experience as well as expanding on our community outreach.
“Previously we have worked with 56 Dean Street and AfterParty to provide free sexual health screening and counselling, and we want to expand on that further and offer more services in our new expanded facilities.”
To celebrate the refurbishment, there will be a sexy 24-hour goodbye event on August 12 and are offering 100 guests free admission by signing up to their text database.
All people need to do is text ‘FREESWEAT’ to 88802 to enter for a chance to say goodbye – for now – to the venue.
