Bristol Community Sauna: The BCS Expansion Plan

Aim

We’re raising £60,000 to expand Bristol Community Sauna so more people can access regular, affordable sauna.

Bristol Community Sauna began in June 2023 with a single Instagram post:

“SAUNA?”

It was an invitation to imagine what the overgrown former council car park behind St Anne’s House could become.

By February 2024 we registered as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) and opened in May 2024 with our mission to make hot-and-cold bathing an inclusive, accessible, and community-led wellbeing service for the people of Bristol. 

We want to transform sauna from a luxury experience into something that can become part of your regular week.

What makes us different?

Our Location: We are tucked behind St Anne’s House, a historic building that is now a creative and community hub. We are situated in an urban green space that used to be an old quarry!

Our Company Structure: We are a Community Interest Company. This means we are not-for-profit and reinvest all our profits into serving our community better.

Our Mission: We are one of the most affordable saunas in Bristol and have prioritised accessibility from the start; including building a wheelchair accessible sauna, silent sessions, lower-capacity sessions and bespoke sessions for trans and queer individuals.

As we expand physically, we also plan to expand inclusive programming and partnerships, including collaboration with local organisations and the NHS so that more people who experience barriers to wellbeing spaces can access sauna in ways that work for them.

What We’ve Built Together

We are incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. In just 18 months we have:

• Welcomed over 14,000 users with up to 100 visitors a day 
• Built a community of over 400 active members
• Achieved an 81% sell-out rate at peak times

“I love the aesthetic, how BCS takes feedback, the price model and the fact that it’s a CIC. I love it all so much. It’s deffo my fave sauna.”

“I absolutely love the sauna. What I enjoy most is simply the way it makes me feel….I feel restored and like I’m glowing the whole day - it really is incredible.”

Bristol Community Sauna users

Why Now?

Our success has created new challenges. We now regularly operate at or near capacity. Sessions sell out. Cold plunges are busy. Rest and changing areas feel crowded.

In May 2025, we ran a co-design consultation, gathering insight from attendees, staff and St Anne’s house tenants on what is working well and what we could improve. You told us clearly:

• Increase space and capacity 
• Upgrade facilities 
• Improve winter infrastructure
• Further develop inclusive and community-specific programming

What Your Support Will Make Possible

£20,000 from the community unlocks a £40,000 loan from Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC. If we reach our target, this means £20,000 raised unlocks £60,000 total funding to grow Bristol Community Sauna.  

With this, we will be able to increase capacity, improve comfort and usability, and expand inclusive and bespoke sessions. We will maintain the values of care, simplicity, and belonging that define Bristol Community Sauna.

Our big plans:

• A new, larger and more accessible sauna
• Additional and improved cold plunges
• Additional showers, including hot water
• Larger and more varied outdoor rest area
• A site designed with accessibility in mind 
• Enhancement of the existing garden and pond while preserving the existing feel
• Changing area improvements

Masterplan of future site

What Changes If We Succeed?

• 50% increased sauna capacity. This means fewer sell-outs, shorter wait times, and more availability for inclusive sessions. 
• More choice and variety in how and when people sauna. 
• Conservation of the balanced, calm and community atmosphere that makes the space so special.
• Improved facilities creating a more comfortable and welcoming sauna experience.
• An expanded rest area, designed with accessibility in mind. This means more people can access and enjoy the site.

We will continue to remain a non-profit, to offer affordable and simple hot and cold bathing facilities that are a space to find calm or connection and improve health.

The Ask

We invite you to be a part of the next chapter in our journey and help expand and improve this shared community asset. 

You can:

• Purchase one of our exclusive rewards! (see below)
• Share the campaign
• Continue to visit Bristol Community Sauna
• Share what this space means to you.

Rewards

See below for our current reward offering! Keep an eye out as we add more throughout the campaign!

Thank you for being part of the BCS community.

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Golden Ticket Prize Drawer Terms and Conditions

The prize is a lifetime membership at Bristol Community Sauna (worth £15/month).

£15 pledge = 1 entry into the draw

The draw will take place in June/July 2026 and the winner will be contacted directly.

Open to UK residents aged 18 and over

No purchase necessary — to enter for free, send your name and contact details to Bristol Community Sauna, St Anne's House, St Anne's Road, BS4 4AB and you will be added to the draw.

The prize is non-transferable and has no cash alternative. Based on 2026 membership pricing model.

The winner's name will be shared publicly unless they request otherwise

Personal data will be held only for the purpose of administering this draw and deleted once the prize has been awarded

The promoter is Bristol Community Sauna CIC.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 25th June 2026 at 11:44am