Customer Showcase: The Bath House
1 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0BD
I have a question for you.
What do you do to relax?
I mean to properly unwind. To switch off and rejuvenate.
I don’t mean sitting in the sun with a beer (although I concur, that is relaxing).
Truth be known, I don’t properly relax all that often. In fact, I think it’s almost a taboo subject in this country. It’s just not in our society to create a true balance between work and meaningful rest and relaxation.
Contrast this with the likes of Germany (we would say that), Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Russia, where, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD), less than 5% of employees work fifty hours or more in an average week. In the UK it’s over 12%, which is above average for forty countries studied.
So we all need to work a little less and relax a little more.
But how?
Enter the Russian Banya.
It should come as no surprise that of the forty countries studied by the OECD, the Russian Federation came out top, for the lowest percentage of employees working fifty hours or more per week – at just 0.1%.
The Russian’s certainly know a thing or two about vodka, but what exactly is a Russian Banya and does it involve beer?
We caught up with Robert Procope, Co-founder and Director of The Bath House, London, to find out more.
Robert: Predating Christianity in Russia, the banya is an ancient wellness ritual; where there are Russians, there will be banya. The cousin of the Finnish sauna (hot and dry) and the Turkish Hammam (wet and cool), banya sits somewhere in the middle at 60-80 degrees and 40-70% humidity.
Above: Our parilka (steam room)
Robert: A typical, leisurely visit to The Bath House lasts around three hours. Having come in and got changed, we’ll invite you to warm up in the parilka (steam room). On mixed days we ask that you wear trunks or a bikini, but on single-sex days you are free to be naked.
The entire environment is spotlessly clean but in light of the current government guidelines around COVID-19, we ask for people to remain in their groups of up to six.
Take your time here; there’s no rush. Use the parilka as many times as you wish, taking a room temperature shower between visits. For a more bracing temperature shock, use one or all of our tipping buckets or the plunge pool. The rapid changes in temperature help to strengthen the cardiovascular and immune system, while the steam opens and clears your pores and the heat alleviates pain in the joints and muscles.
After you have warmed up, you will be ready for your treatments – choose from parenie (traditional leaf and steam massage), body scrubs, wraps and massage.
Our location
We have an incredibly unique location.
We are located on the ground floor of a former bank and in the basement of a large 19th-century townhouse.
We're right opposite Buckingham Palace!
Our primary parilka is in the main vault of the bank, where the walls are almost a meter thick.
For the ultimate experience, we offer a Private Banya with dedicated staff – ideal for special occasions or family gatherings.
Above: From Russia with love – we’ve transformed our 19th-century townhouse into an authentic Russian banya sanctuary
Banya is an amazing place to meet with friends; to celebrate; to commiserate; to talk. It is a very social environment. That’s where beer comes in.
Above: Lunch in our Private Banya
Robert: Banya is also somewhere that offers physical and mental respite from the outside world, if only for a few hours.
We offer everything you would expect from a Russian banya – steam rooms, traditional treatments and authentic Russian food and drink.
Russians may make good vodka, but with the greatest of respect, their beer does not compare with the best beer from Europe. That’s why we went with Rothaus.
Tom: So whether you’re going with friends or looking for solitude on your own, think about making a visit to the Russian banya to rest, relax and realign.
The Bath House is in central London, a short walk from Victoria station, so great transport links. There is parking nearby on Beeston Place and Grosvenor Gardens.
Visit russianbanya.co.uk for lots more information and to make a booking. Be sure to mention Black Forest Beers for an extra treat! Also find The Bath House on Facebook and Instagram.
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Thanks for reading – I’m off for a brush with a crude broom and a pint of Pils!
Cheers
Tom
