&Soul Shoreditch is London’s hottest new wellness space (literally). Home to a 40-person sauna, the community-focused venue boasts a beautiful yoga studio, plant-based café, and more. Open to the public from May 9, Seen in the City attended an intimate launch party to explore the Sanctuary before the daily wellness programme kicks off. With a range of events such as workshops, live performances, and immersive banquets planned over the coming months, there’s plenty of fun ahead.
The thing to know about the space is that there’s a lot going on under one roof — as you might expect from a self-described ‘experimental wellness space — but none of that detracts from the atmosphere.
Stepping inside the converted Victorian warehouse on Cheshire Street, the outside world melts away. Gone is the noise of nearby Brick Lane and you’re instead offered the chance to relax, unwind, and reconnect.
Immediately, you find yourself in the plant-based café. With decor inspired by Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Alchemist’ and food served up by Palm Greens, it’s a great place to meet and make friends.
Next door, there’s a high-end alcohol-free bar, and trust me, the drinks are delicious, with prices from £4. It’s the brainchild of Karma Campbell, the medical herbalist behind the bar (and the award-winning vegan and halal-friendly formulas).
Both the café and bar are open daily for the public, and the ground floor is also home to an impressive event space, ideal for &Soul Shoreditch’s festival-inspired programming (more on that soon).
For paying guests and members, there’s also a yoga studio and co-work upstairs. Then there’s the Sensorium at the heart of the venue. Co-designed with the British Sauna Society’s Katie Bracher, expect a circular sauna in one half of the Sensorium, with ice baths and rain showers in the other.
It’s clear in their long list of attractions for the community the &Soul team wants to welcome in the space (following on from their first location in Southall).
But what’s really special is the festival-inspired programming, with events planned for each of the spaces, including the sauna, bringing together different community partners.For instance, spa lovers can expect Nordic, Aufguss, and Balkan sauna ceremonies, alongside music-led events, life drawing, multi-sensory sound journeys, and yoga (with the temperature dialed down). There’s even talk of sauna raves.
For my part, I prefer a relaxing sauna session, so I was glad to spend some quiet time in the beautiful setting. I’d not tried contrast therapy before, but now understand the attraction. The sauna offered the ultimate relaxation. Then it was time for a dip in the ice bath, and while it wasn’t relaxing, it was invigorating.
Leaving &Soul Shoreditch, I felt much more refreshed than when I arrived. I can only imagine the experience will be that much more powerful when the venue is full, bringing people together.
The team told me community, connection, and belonging is at the heart of what they do, and it’s clear they can’t wait to throw open the doors and welcome everyone in.
Day prices start from £20 and memberships start from £99 per month. There are four memberships for &Soul, Fire, Water, Earth and Air. You can find out more about these here.
&Soul Shoreditch
The Sanctuary
114 Cheshire Street
London
E2 6EJ
