The British Sauna Summit and the Rise of Sauna Culture in the UK | Sauna Talk Episode 111

This episode of Sauna Talk comes to you from the British Sauna Summit, held May 20, 2025, at the Hilton London Canary Wharf.

What a difference a year makes.

At the first Summit in 2024, about 120 of us gathered on a rooftop in Hackney—part conference, part family gathering. This year, attendance swelled to well over 300, and the setting shifted to a proper hotel ballroom. A clear sign of something growing.

This is the evolution of sauna in Britain.

What began as a passionate, grassroots movement has quickly developed into a structured and expanding community. The British Sauna Society now represents a wide network of "saunapreneurs"—operators of public saunas across the UK's coastlines, waterways, and cities.

And yet, despite the growth, the spirit remains.

I had the honor of announcing the winners of the second annual Sauna Summit Awards, recognizing standout saunas across several categories. While there's certainly pride behind the scenes, what stands out most is the sense of collaboration. The British sauna scene carries a shared belief: a rising tide lifts all sauna boats.

Spending time in London again also brought back memories from my earlier days living here. There's a cultural thread in Britain—a long-standing commitment to accessibility and community support—that feels very much alive in today's sauna movement.

In this episode, we catch conversations throughout the Summit with a range of voices helping shape the future of sauna, including:

• Harvia
• Jake Newport
• Lassi Liikkanen
• Mark Lamb
• Emma O'Kelly
• Sauna from Finland
• Carita Harju
• Rob da Bank

These are conversations from the hallways, between sessions, and behind the scenes—capturing a moment in time as sauna culture in the UK continues to take shape.

From London, I'm pleased to bring you this episode of Sauna Talk.