Seaside Saunas Approved for Whitley Bay's Lower Promenade

Whitley Bay's seafront is set to gain a new spot for warming up after a cold-water dip. North Tyneside Council's planning committee has unanimously approved two sauna cabins for the town's lower promenade, giving the growing community of sea swimmers and wellbeing enthusiasts a permanent place to thaw out by the water.

The scheme, run by TYDE Sea View Sauna, will sit on the central lower promenade just below the Spanish City car park, opposite Brook Street. Councillors granted approval on 8 April 2026, with the council's own report finding no issue with the principle of a wellbeing business operating on this stretch of the seafront.

For residents, the appeal is straightforward. Cold-water swimming has boomed along the North East coast in recent years, and a sauna directly on the promenade means dippers no longer have to head home cold and dripping. The operators, Kenny and Mags Lyons, say the venture is as much about community as it is about wellbeing.

"Our aim is to make wellbeing part of everyday life in Whitley Bay," the couple said, adding that they hope the saunas will "support better physical health, improved mental wellbeing, and help reduce social isolation" locally.

The cabins are designed for recovery and quiet connection rather than a busy leisure attraction, with computer-generated images prepared by Neil Armour Architectural Services showing timber-clad structures looking out over the North Sea. Councillor John O'Shea backed the plans, saying they would enhance the town's waterfront amenities.

The saunas add to a run of positive news for the seafront, which has also retained its Blue Flag status and welcomed the completion of the multi-million-pound Seafront Sustainable Route between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. Together they point to a coastline being steadily reinvested in, with everyday health and outdoor life at the heart of it.

No firm opening date has been confirmed, though the operators are already building a following ahead of launch. For the full planning story and the first images, see the report in the Northumberland Gazette.