Liverpool docklands will be home to the UK’s first public floating sauna this autumn after city planners gave the go-ahead to the venture. Tony McDonough reports
City planners have given the go-ahead for a floating sauna in Liverpool Waters.
WYLD Sauna, the ‘traditional Nordic sauna experience’, is set to open in Princes Dock close to the Pier Head and the Cruise Liner Terminal this autumn.
Site owner Peel Waters is working with WYLD Sauna to create the “ultimate swim-sauna experience”. WYLD Sauna was established by outdoor swimming and sauna addicts and has installed floating saunas across Scandinavia.
It will comprise a floating pontoon containing a 30-person sauna, complete with two ice baths, two cold waterfall showers and four heated outdoor showers with salt rub.
There will also be outdoor seating, changing rooms equipped with hair dryers, lockers, changing mirror and swimsuit dryers and direct access to jump straight into the water from the sauna.
Traditional Finnish saunas are seen as restorative, comforting spaces that promote a deep sense of calm and offer numerous mental and physical health benefits – many of which are amplified by moving from the heat and plunging into cold water.
Jon Miller, co-founder of WYLD Sauna, said: “This is amazing news and we’re super excited to get started on this UK first at Liverpool Waters. We’re aiming to have the sauna installed in September, with a public launch soon after.
“In the meantime, our plans for WYLD Sauna are continuing to evolve and we can now reveal that, during the design process, we identified that sauna goers are keen to enjoy refreshments and nibbles post sauna.
“So we have now incorporated a floating café for our guests to enjoy. We are also very keen to forge partnerships with local businesses such as gyms, hotels, clubs, tourist boards and wellness centres.
“We are planning lots of exciting activities to mark the opening, including a grand launch event, some exclusive pre-launch sessions, hosted guided tours, plus demonstrations and wellbeing workshops.”
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Liza Marco, senior asset manager for Liverpool Waters, added: “We are very excited that Liverpool Waters will be the first destination in the UK to have a public floating sauna and the location for this experience is perfect.
“We are looking forward to seeing Princes Dock buzzing with people enjoying WYLD Sauna, as well as the open water swimming, canoeing and yoga already on offer, alongside bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels, with the unique backdrop of cruises.”