"AMBIENCE Bland. A sea of beige as far as the eye can see, and the reception area is inexplicably cluttered with displays of make up and Thalgo products, which are used in the treatments. The refurbishment of the old Turkish Baths, open since 1926, has been resisted by many regular visitors to York Hall, which is in the heart of one of the five most impoverished boroughs in the country. Spa London lacks the open space and sense of freedom the Turkish Baths had, but nevertheless, a refurbishment to the facilities was long overdue - it's nice to see ceilings without whacking huge holes in, for example."

(Via Spa London, Bethnal Green, London - Times Online : .)

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| York Hall | 12 July 2007; 9:30:54 AM |# | | Discuss (1 response) |

Once again the proud bathers of Bethnal Green prove their inability to sit astride a fence and in a smashingly written piece give a blunt verdict on the 'refurbished' York Hall Spa marked with our own anaerobic punctuation that only swimming can sustain.

"In place of its rich environment of exchange, humour, banter, encounters with people you would never meet anywhere else, the treasured sharing of confidences, group discussions of ailments and medical anxieties, the lovely giving and taking of schmeissing and massage, the sheer pleasure to be at ease, naked, in the company of people from all religions, all cultures and races, gay and straight, any and all political persuasions and from all socio-economic backgrounds - instead of all this, we have the luxury-lite privileged self-indulgence of Spa London, a Musak-filled, Aroma-infested world of such terrifying banality that I could only take it for half an hour before I ran out. "

(Via Yorkhall at Yahoo! Groups Good-bye York Hall: .)

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| York Hall | 21 May 2007; 12:48:26 PM |# | | Discuss |

"Today, having seen the new 'Spa', it's clear our concerns were justified. The new set-up has professionalised and commodified experiences that formerly belonged to the users, so that 'relaxation' is something we are supposed to aim for, and pay extortionate charges for, not simply what happens when the facilities and company are right. It's a bit like telling people to be happy, insisting that happiness costs money... it's about control. People have loved York Hall baths because they could be themselves there, and join in with a vibrant community. New 'Spa etiquette' aims to restrict and manage people, commercialising and profiting from experiences that were previously shared, and free - in all sense of the word."

(Via Yorkhall : Message: Re: York Hall Turkish and Russian Baths - "Spa London" FYI - An Open Letter : .)

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| York Hall | 15 May 2007; 8:42:22 AM |# | | Discuss |

A hornets' nest seems to be being angered in Bethnal Green that is preventing "relaxation and tranquillity" within the reopened Spa. There is particular scorn for the etiquette rules posted on the Spa London website. We haven't yet established which points are so unacceptable or why they are particularly unacceptable to residents of East London but we will follow it with interest.

"Its a load of bollocks - pretentious rubbish. The person / people who created this monstrosity hasn't got a clue how to run a spa. CJB." and "Do you think these guys have ever visited east London? I think they are having a larf!"

(Via York Hall Yahoo Group Yorkhall : Message: Re: [Yorkhall] York Hall "etiquette" on shoddy Spa London website: .)

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| York Hall | 11 May 2007; 12:32:12 PM |# | | Discuss |

"Despite its location in a London borough where a third of under-16s are obese, its owner, Tower Hamlets council, was planning to close the hall, which houses two swimming pools and fitness classes.

Mark Gould Wednesday 03 March 2004"[The Guardian ]

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| York Hall | 4 March 2004; 10:21:31 AM |# | | Discuss |