Community Update: The Bath house, 80 Eastway
There has been a recent development regarding the lease of the Baths House building on Eastway, our flagship and original home. Hackney Council has requested our landlord, Civic State Ltd, to surrender the lease to the building a year earlier than expected. While there are a range of views and concerns on this matter, we are not in a position to comment on the validity of either side. Our sole focus is ensuring that this remarkable community and its members continue to thrive.
What we do know is that this building is a one-of-a-kind creative space, nurtured and sustained by Civic State, a company founded and led by Neil McDonald. We would like to acknowledge that the space has seen extraordinary progress, including:
Vital infrastructure improvements: fire safety systems, energy efficiency upgrades, and public amenities, the building was without power and gas, and was largely unusable before Civic State.
Vibrant event programming: three event spaces hosting up to 20 events weekly, from live music to grassroots community gatherings.
A Commons-based governance structure built on sociocratic principles—representing workers, tenants, residents, users and operators.
A diverse and committed team: managing wellbeing, cultural programmes, technology, food and drink, and community engagement.
Inclusive public programming: including free skills training, circular economy workshops, civic education, and wellness services.
Our birthplace, nurtured by Civic State: We benefited from a % of turnover rental arrangement, later capped, that allowed us to grow organically, and is a large part of why we have been able to scale so effectively. Without undue financial pressure. Neil and Civic State have been a constant source of support to us, both with time and resources , our CIC and the wider sauna movement wouldn’t be where it is without him. We thank Neil personally for this.
We want to reassure everyone that although the future holds some uncertainty, we remain positive that a way forward can and will be found. We’ve been working with all parties for several weeks, but due to the sensitivity of the situation, we’ve been unable to make a public statement until now. We are in direct negotiations with Hackney Council for Community Sauna to take on the lease of the building and, together with Civic State, other businesses in the building, and the wider community, we are working towards a secure and sustainable future. If we can reach agreements between ourselves and the Council, and with the buy-in of Civic State, this means the continuation of the space largely how it is for at least the next two years, hopefully more. There’s a lot to do , and no guarantees yet, but we are hopeful , if everyone gets behind this negotiation, we can secure a very positive outcome that honours the work already done.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Hackney Council for their ongoing partnership and support. They have recognised our work - most recently by honouring us with the 2025 Social Enterprise of the Year award for our not-for-profit contributions to the local community. Hackney is our birthplace, and we are committed to remaining here long-term as a flagship sauna site, even as we expand to bring authentic sauna and plunge experiences to other areas of the city. Hackney will always be our home.
If it were up to us, we would continue our partnership with Civic State in its current form. However, circumstances have changed. That said, we are ready and willing to step up as custodians of this incredible space for the next chapter - new challenges, new horizons. This building’s legacy is built on the people within it: our community, our grassroots networks, and the many stakeholders who give it life. We are committed to continuing this journey, and Civic state is a key part of this, as we will continue to work with them , albeit in a different dynamic.
It is undoubtedly a difficult moment for everyone involved, but we are confident in our ability to secure a strong and sustainable path forward. If granted a new lease by Hackney Council, we pledge to care for this space and pass it on in even better condition to future generations.
Under Civic State’s stewardship, we’ve found a deep sense of belonging. They believed in us, offered us space to experiment, and helped us shape a new craft-building sauna culture that is affordable, inclusive, and authentic. We remain deeply committed to the principles they championed, and Civic state will remain as guardians of the vision and be strongly affiliated with the space still, whilst we step in to safeguard the lease of the building , as Community Sauna is able to meet the requirements the council has set out for the lease holder. Only if everyone works together, Community Sauna, Civic State and Hackney Council, will we be able to save this space. All parties have expressed a strong willingness to move forward, and now we need to see that in action.
We will share more updates as soon as possible. In the meantime, we’re incredibly grateful for everyone’s support. There’s nothing you need to do at this moment, but we will be sure to keep you informed if anything changes. We are aware there is another petition being circulated at the moment, but as this doesn’t belong to us, we can’t comment on any of the details of this.
We’d like to reiterate our optimism and determination to find a solution that safeguards the future of the building and the vibrant community it supports.
We’re grateful for your continued support.
The Community Sauna Baths Team
Please direct press enquiries to celia@community-sauna.co.uk.
