5 days ago
Llandudno seafront venture aims to honour town's Victorian legacy
A small family business is hoping to get licensing permission for a sauna and 'sea dipping' venture on Llandudno 's West Shore. Conwy 's general licensing committee is set to consider a request on Monday (21 July) that would allow the operators — Pethi Sauna— to run electric sauna sessions from Dale Road Car Park, West Shore, near the Coast Watch Cabin.
The proposal would require a change in the street's current designation from "prohibited" to "consent", allowing trading to take place. The applicants, a local couple with ties to the area, say they want to create a quiet, sustainable space for residents and tourists to unwind.
In a statement submitted ahead of the meeting, the team behind the venture describe their business as 'a mobile, all-electric sauna designed with care for the local environment and heritage".
They claim the 'sleek, modern-looking' sauna, which is still under construction, would run on 'green energy', produce zero emissions, and operate up to five days a week, offering bilingual group or private sessions lasting between 50-80 minutes. S ign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox.
Up to eight people would be allowed per session, with sea dipping permitted at users' 'own risk', in line with other coastal sauna operators.
The applicants also pledge to employ and train local staff, work with nearby cafés, therapists, and fitness providers, offering a 'pay it forward' scheme for those unable to afford sessions.
Llandudno councillor Louise Emery is among those said to support the scheme. The business says the proposal could help Llandudno re-establish itself as a destination for sustainable wellness tourism, pointing to similar ventures in Gwynedd, Anglesey, and Ireland that have proven popular with both locals and councils.
The company says: 'Llandudno was once a celebrated Victorian spa town, attracting visitors to its sea air and wellness treatments.
'Our electric sauna continues this legacy with a modern, sustainable twist. It offers a peaceful space for people to unwind and reconnect with nature, themselves, and the landscape.'
The statement added: 'Small-scale health-focused experiences like sauna bathing can help re-establish Llandudno as a destination for sustainable well-being tourism.' Members of the licensing committee will now decide whether to lift the current trading restriction and grant the necessary consent for the sauna to operate.
