As with many businesses the UK’s government has said that all non-essential shops and venues open to the public should not be open during the lockdown to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus.
Since the last week of March 2020, many businesses and services that were open to the general public across the UK have been ordered to shut including many shops and venues deemed not essential.
The ruling applies to massage parlours, gyms and other health resorts – so unfortunately if you’re looking for an open gay sauna, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one open – and if you do, it’s most likely operating outside of the Government’s guidelines.
When can we expect gay bars and saunas to reopen?
The Government is expected to review its lockdown policy on the 7th May – and will make decisions about the types of businesses which will be allowed to reopen.
It’s unlikely however that gyms and health spas will be high on the priority list for the Government to allow opening.
Bars and clubs are also low on the priority list of business expected to be allowed to open once the UK’s lockdown is eased.
“Pleasuredrome will undergo maintenance and cosmetic improvements providing work for our core staff”
One of the UK’s busiest gay saunas has announced that it is to shut its doors from today, “until further notice” due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
A spokesperson, Chris Amos, for the sauna said,
“Following last night’s advice from the UK government recommending people avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other social venues and in the interest of the health and wellbeing of our much-valued guests as well as the wonderful staff we have decided to temporarily close our doors from 7 am today until further notice.”
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The sauna will use the time to “undergo maintenance and cosmetic improvements” which will provide work for the core staff at the facility.
Pleasuredrome says it will continue to monitor the Government’s advice and “act accordingly to ensure public health and safety.”
You can keep up-to-date with the sauna on their Twitter feed.
Gay Sauna the Board Game is a brand-new adventure game that has just launched its first Kickstarter campaign. Conceived and designed by Adrian Collier, an avid ‘gaymer’, this gay-minded game brings adult fun to board game fans willing to spice up their playdates.
The game was completely born in Amsterdam. Gay Sauna the Board Game, which has been under development for more than 2 years and has been through over 20 iterations based on feedback from hundreds of playtests, aims to bring a taboo topic (gay saunas) to the masses in a very fun, naughty, and witty way. The Kickstarter campaign, launched on July 26th, has already reached 20% of the fund total in just 5 days – a key element of success for any Kickstarter.
“After the idea was in my head for over a year, I decided in Autumn 2018 to leave my professional career in IT Development and investigate if my novelty game idea had any merit,” stated the brain behind the game, Collier.
“I spent the next months doing a lot of research, prototyping and playtesting to see what I wanted to do with my idea. I created ReRoll Works, a creative organization with the intent to create and publish exciting and funny games for the LGBTQ+ audience, with Gay Sauna the Board Game being just the first in what I hope to be a great series of games.”
The Kickstarter campaign runs until Friday August 30th. The intention is to really help a true entrepreneur with no corporate backing to reach his goal of a launch. For interviewing opportunities with Adrian Collier, contact Anthony Hodge, in Dutch or English: ahodge.vansteenbergen@gmail.com, +31 6 308 616 31. For game testing and questions about playdates, contact: adrian@gaysaunatheboardgame.com , +31 6 152 597 51.
Are there any gay saunas in Manchester and where you can meet guys for hookups?
Manchesteris one of the gayest cities in the UK, famous for its gay village, which thanks to Queer As Folk is known world-wide. There’s plenty of gay bars and restaurants, but are there any saunas?
The short answer is yes, but not as many as you’d think for a city as large as Manchester. There are a couple, notably, Basement Sauna, the other that you might consider is the Heat Sauna which is outside Manchester in Stockport, about a 30 minute drive away from the city’s centre.
Basement Sauna is located on 18 Tariff Street, just around the corner from Canal Street. Its telephone number is 0161 236 8131. Check out the latest deals and opening times on its website.
With the gay scene constantly evolving in Nottingham, we look to see if there are any gay saunas or hook up clubs in the English county of Nottinghamshire. Currently, there are two gay saunas in Nottinghamshire, Wolf Spa and Metro Sauna.
Wolf Spa is located in the city of Nottingham, while Metro Sauna is in Mansfield about a thirty-minute drive from Nottingham city centre.
I love going to my local gay sauna and I go every few weeks or so, the only problem is that I’ve developed a verruca. Should I stop going until it’s cleared up?
Jon
Manchester
Dear Jon
Verrucas are very common indeed and caused by the HPV virus. Many people, will, at some stage develop verruca, but you shouldn’t allow it to stop you doing the things you like to do.
Unfortunately, verrucas can be very stubborn little buggers to get rid of and can take months or even years to disappear, which is a long time to be away from doing something that you love.
My suggestion is that you invest in a good remedy like Bazzuca or even see your GP if it’s worrying you too much and wear flipflops to the sauna.
Ideally, everyone should be wearing flipflops to the sauna anyway. Just so you know, the most common way for warts and veruccas to spread is by skin to skin contact – so it may be wise to keep your feet away from other people’s skin.
So in consideration of your fellow sauna goers, don’t stop going… and wear some kind of footwear.
It might also be a good idea to wear waterproof plasters over the verruca – they are cheap to buy and now come in a variety of skin tones, so it shouldn’t draw too much attention to the area.
Joseph Mellors chats with Chris, the Brand Manager at London’s Pleasuredrome sauna, about the future of gay saunas.
Ah, good ol’ gay saunas. Whether you love them or loathe them, there’s something undeniably curious about them. I know that it sounds odd, but I describe myself as somewhat of a gay sauna geek. (I repeat, I know it sounds odd.) But the fact that they attract such an array of commentaries, makes them, well, intriguing.
Not sure what I’m talking about? Allow me to explain a little. At one end of the spectrum, it is said that gay saunas provide much-needed safe spaces to explore both social and physical sexuality. At the other end of the spectrum, it is said that gay saunas must be closed down for the community to be “taken seriously”. And, of course, there are many commentaries in-between.
This said, it is only natural that I have become interested in the widespread closure of gay saunas in recent years. Why so many saunas have closed, or are closing, is not an easy question to answer. It is argued that a whole host of economic and sociocultural reasons are at play. But generally speaking, increasing business rates and rents, and the proliferation of gay apps and websites, are cited as the main reasons.
This being the case, I am led to question whether or not there is future for gay saunas. To investigate, I interviewed Chris, the Brand Manager at London’s Pleasuredrome sauna.
“The one common reason [why people come] I would say, is that they want a real-world connection, which in this day and age … is increasingly harder to have, despite the apps and ease of hooking up.”
When questioned about the future of gay saunas, Chris said, “There will always be a need to escape the realities of the world to unwind and relax. In London, several saunas haveclosed down, but I suspect that this is more to do with rising rates and rent than popularity. At Pleasuredrome, we have never been busier! Hence why we are currently undergoing an expansion to increase the size by 50% at the end of this year.”
I then asked Chris about the tendency for saunas to be shunned as ‘sleazy’. He responded, “We find more and more of our customers come to Pleasuredrome to socialise and be in a safe gay space.
“Some want a massage. Some are not out yet and want to discover what it is like to be intimate with other gay men. Tourists, locals, young and older gay men all come.
“The one common reason [why people come] I would say, is that they want a real-world connection, which in this day and age … is increasingly harder to have, despite the apps and ease of hooking up.”
After this, we discussed some of the more negative critiques about gay saunas. “I am not sure how the closure of gay saunas is a positive sign. The closing down of any LGBT businesses due to gentrification, increased rents and rates, is harmful for the next generation, who may wish to explore their sexuality in a like-minded community.
“The less venues for them to access, the less chance they will have to do this. It is the same in publishing. If gay magazines like Attitude were to close down, the next generation would only have the mainstream press.
“It would be a sad day if LGBT venues, including gay saunas, were to disappear.”
“Whether or not the gay and bisexual community need to rally to sustain saunas is … hard to say because, ultimately, businesses will stay open when they have customers.”
Towards the end of the interview, I asked Chris whether or not the community should try to save gay saunas. He said, “Whether or not the gay and bisexual community need to rally to sustain saunas is … hard to say because, ultimately, businesses will stay open when they have customers. The same goes for gay bars, clubs, shops, and magazines.”
He added, “Lots of gay men are disenfranchised with dating apps and social media, and are going out, specifically to gay venues, more often.”
(C) BIGSTOCK
My interview with Chris has left me feeling positive about the role of gay saunas in our community. To hear first hand about how gay saunas provide safe spaces for men to explore their sexuality, especially for those who may not be able to, or may not feel able to, explore it in the outside world, evoked admiration. It has also led me to believe that we really need to move beyond the ‘sleazy’ stigmatisation of these venues.
More pertinently, the planned expansion of Pleasuredrome has left me feeling slightly more optimistic about the future of gay saunas. Many gay saunas may have closed, or be closing, but Pleasuredrome, at least, seems to be a firm fixture on the scene.
There are many Gay Saunas or to use the Americanism, gay bathhouses, in the UK – but are they legal?
The short answer is yes, gay saunas are legal in England and Wales. They are also legal in Scotland, however, sexual activity is not permitted by the license that these venues must have.
In 2013 Police in Scotland called for a ban on the availability of condoms in all saunas in a crackdown on sex workers in Edinburgh. They also called on the licensing committee that “no items of a sexual nature will be permitted on the premises” should be included when reconsidering licenses.
Police in Scotland also raided two saunas who found during their inspection, “officers found evidence to indicate that the premises were used for activities other than those permitted by the licence, specifically sexual activity”.
As long as you are just paying for entry to the club to have consensual sex with other members who are also in the club, for no financial reward, then that is legal. As long as the club has no control over others who are having sex in the club that is also lawful.
What’s it like to go to a sauna for the first time?
Well, it’s quite liberating if l am honest. Admittedly this wasn’t a sauna in the UK. It was one we found on a trip to Milan, Italy and Il have only every tried it the once.
If what had gone on was an indication of what Brexit would be to the UK then I can tell you we would have got f*cked by the Italians, fingered by the French and the British would have stood around talking.
However, at the time of the event, there was no such talk of Brexit.
During the evening I had done wonders for Britain in the EU. Let me explain. It’s quite daunting at first. I am/was at the time still quite naive.
It was the year 2000. I had only been out for about 4 years and was on a little paid for jolly by a well known UK pizza company with an ex-boyfriend and good friend, his partner and a friend who you could quite easily smother with a pillow because he made all sorts of random noises at night time.
Having spent the day at Alfa Romeo (I write about cars, give me a break) and lusting madly after the Alfasud, we headed to a sauna in the evening. You would think that the language barrier would have been difficult for a Brit who could order a Big Mac and fries in French and nothing in Italian. Well, think again.
The language of sex is simple. Point, pull and force. You point to the person within the area you are in. You pull them to a private room and you force them onto your cock. In this case, the young Italian man had the upper hand. He was cute, we spoke not one word of understandable language and we had sex.
He waved his erect penis at me in the private room that was no more than a toilet cubicle with a medical type examination couch in and we did the deed, hooded for safety. Later that evening I caught up with the Brits. In this case, the ex in the hot tub. He had suggested we start something off to get it rolling. I then stopped him to say I had already been involved in something. So off to the steam room we head.
A French man is standing nearby. His English isn’t too bad. In fact, it’s quite good, better English that any I have heard on the Jeremy Kyle show.
“I like to finger” in any accent is pretty much the same. Outside the steam room, he fingers and all of a sudden a strapping Italian man lifts up his towel and pushes my mouth over his hard cock.
I reciprocate and perform oral sex on the man of no name. The event comes to an end and we all go our separate ways home.
England, France and Italy. It was an event as you can see I still have fond memories 17 years later. I am yet to step into one again. I think it would be quite hard to match this. I did try a men-only club in London recently, however, it just wasn’t the same. I am (we hope) taking the Fiat X1/9 to Italy in October and passing through Turin.
Who knows but I’d quite like to revisit a foreign sauna again.
As my quest for Mr right continues, I’m keeping an open mind when it comes to ways of discovering just where the bloody hell he is. Because right now, he is completely UTL. Does Mr right even exist? Is there really such a thing? Bugger me, I’m procrastinating and counselling myself as I write this column.
So, as I sip on an ice cold glass of Sauvignon in an empty gay pub in the heart of Uxbridge, (no wonder it’s empty, it’s Uxbridge!) I overhear some rather slutty looking queens talking about a sauna in Soho. And they say it’s such a great place to meet men. My ears prick up like a cat’s tail when they’re after a mouse.
Wonderful, I think to myself, that’s where I can meet the man of my dreams, m Mr right, the man I’m meant to share my living days with; in a sauna.
As I walk into the entrance of this sauna, I find it’s very dark. Cor, my old apple pies ain’t the best in daylight, let alone in this dimly lit setting.
Luckily I’ve got my contact lenses in so it’s only the darkness I have to contend with. I’m so excited for my sauna experience. I think to myself, even if I don’t meet a man, it’s still going to be a relaxing and rejuvenating evening.
I enter the locker rooms and see men walking around in their birthday suits. I go into a sheer panic.
I don’t think I can walk around in mine. I grab a rescue remedy pastille from my Superdry bag and suck on it. I need it to calm my nerves. I’ve always got pills in my bag for any eventuality. My friends call me a walking pharmacy. If you’ve got the sh*ts, a bad head, feeling sick or you just need a vitamin boost, I’ve got the solution.
After sucking on my pastille for a few moments and giving myself a good old slap round my Botox-ed boat race, I decide that I’m a young, attractive gay boy and I can walk around naked! And I thank god I stuck to my New Year’s resolution of swimming. I’ve got biceps that would make Tom Daley swoon. So I whip off my clothes and open the door.
Once in the sauna, I see a man’s genitalia, practically starring me in the eye. He is naked with a boner, in this sauna. What a saucy minx, I think.
We are practically eye to eye and I’m talking the eye on my face and his special downstairs eye. Cor, I bet that hurts, I find myself thinking. He winks at me. With the eye on his face, I’d just like to point out. I shyly say hello. He just shakes his head to the left and walks off into a locker. Well, it looks like a locker. It’s got a black bench in it that looks like a bed.
Maybe he’s feeling sleepy. F*cking rude, though, I think. What was the point of winking at me? And then just walking off. I shouldn’t be too judgemental, though, maybe he’s got a nervous twitch.
I decide that I should find the jacuzzi. Oh yes, that’d be bloody lovely. A warm bubbly bath to soothe my achy muscles after a 70 length breaststroke marathon in the pool. I see two old men sitting in the jacuzzi, I mean they must be at least 75. I see a walking stick hanging from one of the hooks. Bless them, I find myself thinking. At least they still get out the house and look after themselves. I smile at them as I get in, which as you will discover, was my downfall.
As I sit my naked body down in the jacuzzi, the two geriatrics grin at me with their false gnashers. I mean, I don’t know that they’ve got false ones, I’m just being ageist. I lay back and close my eyes, enjoying the bubbles fizzing around me. Cor, I suddenly feel bubbles bubbling quite ferociously around my man bits. As I start to feel slightly aroused from jacuzzi fizz, I put my hand down to check it’s not being fizzed away from my pubic bone. And my lord, I get a shock.
My hand bumps into another hand and as I look up, I see the geriatric grinning at me, a full display of false Steradent cleaned gnashers glistening in my apple pies. At least his false teeth aren’t stained, I think to myself. So it could be worse.
He has got his bloody hand on my penis. The dirty old perve. I’m old enough to be his great grandson. I protest and start to pull away but he grabs my leg and pulls me towards him. Cor, he’s strong for an old bugger.
“Now, I’m not really interested!” I start to protest.
“Oh come on! Make an old man happy!” He seedily says.
“No, I will not!”
Well, as I went to get up from the jacuzzi, he pulled me towards him so fast that I slip off the seat, screaming as I go and my head slips under the water. And I can still feel the bloody old bugger’s hand on my manhood. But right now, I’m more annoyed that my whole head and hair are under the water and wet. I finally manage to pull myself from his grip and I storm out the jacuzzi. And out of the sauna. I don’t think this is the right place to look for love…
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