Support The bath house
Support our growth
After years as short-term tenants Community Sauna Baths are now working with Civic State & Hackney Council to secure the lease of The Bath House. Taking the lease has come with unforeseen survey costs and subsequent essential repairs. This is a great opportunity to give Hackney Wick a permanent home.
Find out more about how Civic State, The Bath House & Community Sauna Baths are working together !.
Estimated cost: £100,000
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 new Chapter
Over the past few years, Civic State played a vital role in reactivating 80 Eastway - transforming an underused building into a thriving hub for creativity, care, and community. Thanks to their vision and work, The Bath House has become a place of warmth, healing, and connection.
Due to a recent decision by the council, Civic State will no longer be the leaseholder of the building. With their part of the journey now complete, they’re respectfully passing the reins.
We’re proud to share that Community Sauna Baths is now working in partnership with The Bath House Ltd, a newly formed not-for-profit company created to support meaningful community governance at the site. Together, we’re committed to continuing and building on the foundations laid by Civic State - and ensuring that The Bath House remains a welcoming and inclusive space for all who use it.
The shared mission of Community Sauna Baths and The Bath House Ltd is to secure the long-term future of the building and nurture the communities that depend on it.
We also want to acknowledge the significant value that Civic State has brought to this place, both creatively and financially. We’re fully committed to supporting Civic State’s sustainability and success in the next chapter of their journey.
This is a moment of change, but also of deep continuity. Our focus remains on community, care, and collective stewardship of this special space.
Support our growth
After years as short-term tenants Community Sauna Baths are now working with Civic State & Hackney Council to secure the lease of The Bath House. Taking the lease has come with unforeseen survey costs and subsequent essential repairs. This is a great opportunity to give Hackney Wick a permanent home.
Find out more about how Civic State, The Bath House & Community Sauna Baths are working together !.
Estimated cost: £100,000
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
Fundraiser link here.
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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