Save The bath house 

A Landmark of Hackney Wick. A Movement for the Commons. A Future You Can Shape.

The Story of The Bath House

Tucked in the heart of Hackney Wick, The Bath House at 80 Eastway has journeyed from neglect to revival. In 2017, the building was in a state of disrepair—underused and undervalued. But with vision and care, it has since become a beacon of culture, wellbeing and civic participation.

Led first by Stour Space, and then radically transformed under the stewardship of Civic State, The Bath House reopened its doors as a vibrant, multi-use community venue. It now pulses with activity—from grassroots cultural events and creative workshops to sauna sessions, volunteer programmes and public gatherings.

It's a local institution, fuelled by care and collectivism.

Today, over 8,000 people engage with The Bath House each week, and the site supports more than 150 jobs. It has become a place of safety, creativity, and belonging.

But that future is under threat.

A Critical Juncture

Hackney Council has made the shocking decision to terminate The Bath House’s lease, threatening to displace the very team that brought this once-derelict building back to life. This decision was made without due process and directly undermines years of civic effort, public trust, and Hackney’s own commitments to inclusive, community-led regeneration.

We are calling on the Mayor of Hackney and the Mayor of London to urgently intervene.

This is about more than a building—it’s about who gets to shape our cities. The Bath House stands as a living model of what’s possible when local people are empowered to lead: a self-sustaining civic hub generating not just public benefit, but deep social wealth.

To dismantle that is to send a dangerous message: that even when communities succeed, they can still be shut out.

What We've Built

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Civic State and our community partners, we’ve accomplished:

  • £400,000+ invested in essential infrastructure: fire safety systems, energy efficiency, public amenities.

  • Three event spaces hosting up to 20 events weekly, from music to community meetings.

  • A Commons-based governance structure built on sociocratic principles—representing workers, tenants, residents, users and operators.

  • A diverse team managing operations, wellbeing, cultural programming, tech, food & beverage, and community engagement.

  • Programmes ranging from free skills training and circular economy workshops to public wellness services and civic education.

This is not a “venue”—it’s a civic engine, designed to be governed by the people who use it.

The Future We're Proposing

We have formed The Bath House Ltd., a non-profit company limited by guarantee, to take the reins. We’ve proposed to the Council a lease that ensures:

  • No disruption to current programming or tenants.

  • A legal asset lock to safeguard the building for community benefit in perpetuity.

  • Continued community control through elected stakeholder representatives.

  • Further investment into green infrastructure—district heating, greywater systems, and renewable energy.

  • Long-term economic, cultural and social sustainability.

To further secure the site’s future, we’ve submitted an application to have The Bath House recognised as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act. This means if the building ever goes up for sale, the community has the legal right of first refusal.

We already have a social impact investor ready to support a community-led purchase if needed. In parallel, we are also launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for vital upgrades—improving energy efficiency and expanding inclusive services, so that The Bath House remains accessible and thriving for everyone.

Become a Member — It’s Free

Membership is the cornerstone of our future. It’s how we prove the depth and breadth of public support. It gives you a voice in how The Bath House is run, who represents your interests, and what the space becomes.

When you join, you become part of a powerful, living model of community stewardship and civic democracy.

  • It’s free

  • You choose your stakeholder group (residents, workers, users, operators...)

  • You vote, propose and shape the future

Why This Matters

The Bath House is more than a local space—it's a symbol of what’s possible when communities are trusted to lead.

At a time when public spaces are vanishing and decisions are increasingly centralised, The Bath House proves that another way not only exists—it works. It’s inclusive, it’s resilient, and it’s thriving.

Joining this campaign means standing up for:

  • Fairness over exclusion

  • Transparency over secrecy

  • People over profit

Useful links

Here, you will find our Official Statement !

Here is the 38 degrees campaign where you can sign our petition to the Mayor of London.

Here is our proposal we've put forward to the council, Governance Charter, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Governance and operational structure and processes.

Here is our Governance  visualisation, have a look to see how it all works in practice.

Here is our Governance Charter , have a look to see how it all works in practice.

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