Key Points
- Hackney Wick’s historic 1930s Bath House secured as a not-for-profit community space.
- Community Sauna Baths, a popular social enterprise, will manage the entire building under a new agreement with Hackney Council.
- The Bath House offers small and independent business spaces, creative enterprises, and community well-being activities.
- Hackney Council ended the lease with previous operators Civic State Ltd due to lease breaches and rent arrears.
- The Bath House faced closure fears earlier in 2025, sparking community campaigns and petitions.
- The site, alongside Trowbridge Gardens, is protected against major redevelopment to maintain creative and community use.
- Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, praised Community Sauna Baths’ social impact and the secure future for the space.
- Recent renovations and community input underpin plans to maintain the Bath House as a vital local and creative hub.
- Community Sauna Baths grew from one sauna site to five across London since its 2021 Hackney Wick launch.
- The Bath House remains at the heart of Hackney Wick, supporting diverse events, creative workshops, and well-being services.
- Larger-scale renovations for historic Kings Hall nearby are scheduled, with reopening planned for 2028.
- Ongoing partnerships between Hackney Council, Community Sauna Baths, Civic State, and businesses aim for long-term sustainability.
What is the current status of Hackney Wick’s Bath House?
As reported by Hackney Council’s news release on 1 October 2025, a new agreement now places the management of the bathhouse under Community Sauna Baths, a social enterprise that started its flagship Hackney Wick venue at the Bath House in 2021. This agreement ensures the Bath House remains a not-for-profit space focused on community interests and small independent businesses.
The Bath House, built in the 1930s and formerly Council-owned, faced uncertainty earlier in the year when Hackney Council ended the lease with its previous operator, Civic State Ltd, due to rent arrears and failures to meet lease conditions. The council’s decision precipitated fears of closure among local users and businesses, sparking petitions and campaigns calling for its preservation.
Why did Hackney Council end the lease with previous operators?
In his statement on 11 June 2025, Cllr Robert Chapman, Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and Customer Services, explained that the lease with Civic State Ltd was terminated because of persistent breaches, including rent arrears and lack of proper engagement despite multiple requests from the council. The notice served in July 2024 took effect on 10 September 2025, bringing the lease to an early end.
What role will Community Sauna Baths play in the Bath House’s future?
Charlie Duckworth, co-director of Community Sauna Baths, commented that the organisation is grateful to the council for securing the Bath House’s future. Community Sauna Baths will manage the full building, protecting the many small businesses, creatives, and the broader community that activate the space.
Since 2021, Community Sauna Baths has expanded from a single sauna in Hackney Wick to five London sites. The Bath House remains their flagship and the heart of their operations. The management move is seen as a big step towards long-term, sustainable community use.
How have the local community responded to the Bath House’s uncertain future?
The Bath House is described as a local institution fueled by community care and collectivism. During the lease dispute, thousands signed petitions urging local leaders, including Hackney Council and the Mayor of London, to intervene and save the venue. Visitors have shared testimonials about the Bath House being a vital social and healing space, especially citing events like ecstatic dances and creative workshops.
Community Sauna Baths’ efforts to secure the lease and gather community support illustrate a broad commitment to keeping the Bath House accessible and vibrant for local residents and cultural communities.
How does the Bath House fit into wider regeneration efforts in Hackney Wick?
The Bath House is one of two underused council-owned buildings repurposed to protect creative enterprises and independent business spaces amid major urban change in Hackney Wick. Alongside nearby Trowbridge Gardens, it has been preserved as a hub for community and creative activities, contrasting with other areas of redevelopment such as large-scale housing or commercial projects.
Hackney Wick is also seeing investment in the nearby Kings Hall, a Victorian bathhouse set for major restoration expected to reopen by 2028 with new facilities including a swimming pool, fitness suite, sauna, and steam rooms. This broader regeneration aims to maintain community leisure and cultural spaces.
What have Hackney Council and the Mayor said about the Bath House future?
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, praised Community Sauna Baths for prioritising social good and wellbeing. She highlighted the Bath House as a vital community and creative space integral to Hackney Wick’s identity. The Mayor affirmed the council’s commitment to securing a secure future for the Bath House organisations and locals, calling the new management team’s work “fantastic” and collaborative.
What challenges remain, and what are future prospects?
Although a resolution has been reached, community groups and the new management emphasise ongoing work to secure a sustainable future. Major repairs and building surveys incurred unforeseen costs during the transition. Raising funds and partnerships remain key to supporting maintenance and development.
Community Sauna Baths has received recognition for their social enterprise achievements, notably being honoured in 2025 for their community contributions, underpinning optimism for enduring success at the Bath House site.
Future of Hackney Wick’s Bath House ensured by new management deal
Hackney Wick’s historic Bath House is secured as a not-for-profit sanctuary for community well-being, creative enterprises, and independent businesses after Hackney Council appointed Community Sauna Baths as its new managers. This follows a contentious lease termination with previous operators Civic State Ltd over financial and engagement breaches. The Bath House faced closure fears earlier in 2025 but was saved by cross-sector efforts from the council, local organisations, and a passionate community.
