A London council has reopened London’s oldest spa which has a history stretching back over 96 years.
The new ‘Be Well the Spa’, also called the ‘people’s spa’, is one of the last remaining traditional Turkish baths in the city and has reopened after a massive renovation from Tower Hamlets Council.
It’s also affordable – the prices are set by the council, making it one of the more affordable options.
Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: ‘Tower Hamlets is making history with this being one of the only spas in the country which is not only owned but also directly operated by a council.’
It first opened in London in 1929, the same year as Porchester Spa.
The renovations made sure to pay homage to the spa’s history, with Art Deco features and traditional Turkish bath features such as tile and arches.
Guests can become paid members of the spa, or enjoy saunas, plunge pools, aroma steam rooms and hot rooms from as little as £32.50.
Treatments range from stress relief massages to Dead Sea mineral mud cocoons and even Elemis pro-radiance facials for £45.
There’s also a 33-metre pool which will provide free swimming lessons for all women and girls above 16 and men 55 and over.
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Executive Mayor Rahman added: ‘By bringing our leisure centres in-house, we’ve kept prices low and enhanced health and wellbeing in our community, including providing free swimming.
‘I urge other local authorities to follow our lead by bringing the operation of leisure services into public hands to ensure they are run by and for the people, with any profits going back into services for residents.’
York Hall, home of the new spa, has changed purpose many times in its almost 100-year history.
It was once a venue for political rallies, raves and other fun events in east London.
It first opened in the late 1920s and was one of the few bathhouses in London that survived the Second World War.
The original facility had a removable floor above the pool, allowing it to turn into a public hall for events.
It also featured Turkish and Russian baths, along with laundry facilities – which was much needed when it first opened in east London.
Russian and Turkish baths refer to steam baths – or saunas – which are important in both cultures.
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