Jon Miller, director of WYLD Sauna, appeared before Liverpool city councillors
The man behind the UK’s first floating sauna has explained why he has brought the concept to Liverpool. Last weekend, doors opened for the first time at WYLD Sauna on Princes Dock.
Inspired by a trip to Norway, Jon Miller has brought the business to the city centre in a bid to bolster Liverpool’s wild swimming community and offer an alternative socialising experience to a night down the pub. The sauna has now been given the go-ahead by Liverpool Council to serve alcohol after a short licensing hearing on Wednesday.
Addressing councillors, Mr Miller explained what drew him to the city for the unique nature of the sauna. WYLD Sauna incorporates a 30-person sauna and plant room alongside a pair of ice baths with floor boxes.
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Outdoor showers, waterfall effect pail showers, have also been put in place alongside two changing rooms, with floating planting to act as a boundary for people who would like to enter into the dock space. It is hoped the facility will be a “complementary use” to existing water-based activities within Princes Dock, such as open water swimming.
The business can open from 7am to 10pm daily with recorded music throughout. Alcohol is proposed to be sold from 11am to closure.
Mr Miller said the concept had been inspired by a visit to Norway and its own floating sauna culture. He told councillors how within six months of his Scandinavian visit he had quit his job to set up the business and Liverpool marked the first of what he hopes to be a series of locations across the UK.
The director said no alcohol would be permitted to be consumed before entering the sauna, ice baths or open water. Mr Miller said the move to seek a premises licence would allow users to continue their socialising after the water treatments and “carry on their natter” on a specific deck area.
A coffee area is to be taken on by the Pomegranate brand which has opened a branch on Old Hall Street. Regarding objections made by members of the public, Mr Miller said stag and hen parties would not be permitted at the venue, which to date has welcomed a 70% female clientele.
The sauna operates with six users at any one time every 15 minutes which Mr Miller said discourages large group bookings owing to the floating nature of the business. A dozen lifeguards operate on four to five hour shifts around the site with only booked patrons able to access the bar and eating areas.
Asked why he chose Liverpool for the business, Mr Miller told councillors the city has arguably the best water quality for open swimming around and cited its connection to Norway. He added: “Every Norwegian I’ve met supports Liverpool and it’s a fantastic city.”
