I’m nervous. I haven’t been to a gay sauna since last summer when I went to Madrid and Der Boiler in Berlin. So, I decided on my first night in London, I would try the sauna everyone is raving about. It’s the Sweatbox Soho. It’s located in Soho, a hip, gay, trendy part of town. Let me tell you what I found.
The SweatBox Soho & How to Get There
If you’re trying to figure out how to get around London, I made a post on the Underground Tube a few months ago. I’ll link to it here. However, if you’re trying to get to the Sweatbox Soho, you can take the Tube to Oxford Circus station. From here, it’s about two or three blocks.
The Sweatbox Soho is located at Ramilies House, 1-2 Ramilies St, London. It’s on the corner of Ramilies St and Ramilies Place. The streets in this area are tiny and cute. They look like they’re from a different world altogether. It’s lovely.
You’ll notice a big red door with the word SweatBox above it.
The Facilities
As you push the door open, you’re immediately in front of the register to pay for your day. It’s 19 Pounds for a 24 hours pass.
As you enter, you’ll see a window to pay your entrance fee. There are two staircases on either side of you. One veers to the left and one to the right.
Once you pay, they give you a key with your locker number on it and a towel.
They tell you which staircase to take, depending on the locker you have. You’re buzzed in, and you enter the SweatBox.
I enter to my left and look for locker number 062. The lockers look like cages stacked on top of each other. I find it and proceed to get naked. I wrap my towel around myself and stuff all my belongings inside.
If there is anything I learned right from the start is that they don’t give you sandals. In other words, I was barefoot the entire time I was there. I don’t like being barefoot in locker room situations.
So, bring your own sandals if you don’t want to be barefoot.
I should mention, the entire place is spotless, so being barefoot shouldn’t be an issue. Everyone else is barefoot except for the couple of guys that already knew to bring their own sandals.
Other saunas might give you condoms and lube, however, the SweatBox Soho didn’t. But, that’s not a big deal, you can always bring your own as other men in the sauna did.
SweatBox London: The Main Floor
After getting undressed, I decided to walk downstairs to the main floor. I want to look around and acquaint myself with the establishment.
Directly in front of you, there’s a lounge area with tables and chairs. Past this, near the back, there’s a big jacuzzi filled with lots of guys chatting. The guys in the jacuzzi are white, Middle Eastern, Black, but mostly young guys. All of them are fit and handsome. It’s a little intimidating at first. I’m 35, and I felt like the oldest guy here.
To your right, there’s a bar.
The place is one big open space, so there’s no need to really look around. But I want to find every nook and cranny this place offers.
The walls have black and red tiles, and there’s a disco ball spreading light throughout the space. The floors are dark grey.
Left of the jacuzzi, you’ll see a revolving door. Besides it, there is another door with a set of stairs going down.
I decide to go downstairs to see what I would find. As I land, I notice a huge gym. It has every machine and weight imaginable. If you want to use this place to workout, you can.
Currently, two guys are working out. Both guys are naked. It’s like the start of a porn.
I carefully make my way back up the stairs and sit in the jacuzzi to observe. These handsome young men are lean with beautiful hairy chests. The Middle Easter guys have gorgeous thick beards. It’s an attractive bunch! But no one seems to be flirting with each other. I don’t see anyone making passes. There are no signals to “get it on.” I find it odd.
Then, as I am looking at the revolving door in front of the jacuzzi, I see someone exit, and I wonder where he just came from. Are those the restrooms? Is there more to this place? Then I notice everyone has a magnetic bracelet I didn’t get.
So, I walk up to the bartender and ask him about the magnetic bracelet. He asks for my locker number and hands it to me.
He then says: Behind you, there is a revolving door. At the top left, you’ll see a scanner. Scan your bracelet and push the door. Go left and down the stairs. You’ll find showers, private rooms, a labyrinth, and a steam room. Enjoy!
Say what?! I immediately perk up. There IS more to this place! Hell yeah!
Past the revolving doors
I scan my bracelet, push the revolving doors, and head downstairs. I turn right at the landing and walk into the shower room.
It’s an open shower. There are about 7 or 8 showers in total. Most of them are occupied by young, in shape men with toned bodies. All of them are lean. They have beautiful hairy legs. Some have a nice patch of hair on their chest.
I watch as they soap their bodies. As they lather their privates, it starts to grow. One by one, their dangling meats get bigger and bigger. Several of them are well endowed, and may I saw thick as well.
I step up, take my towel off, and press the button to start my shower. It’s not a button, it’s a soap dispenser. Oops. Ok, let me try again. Still not a button. How do I work this thing? Now I’m feeling stupid in front of these stallions. Quick, just push anything, I think to myself.
Below the soap dispenser, there’s a rectangular metal box a button on the side. I tap it, and the shower starts. It rains ice-cold water. I let out a loud gasp and quickly move back. I’m feeling embarrassed, but at least it’s warming up. I lather myself and clean up. I hope no one saw that. The hot naked guy next to me looks at me and says, “Too cold?”
Yep. Too cold. And we all know what happens when it’s too cold.
SweatBox London: The Sauna
I towel myself off after the shower and notice four doors. The far-right door is an infrared sauna. It fits about 3 people in total. The far left door opens to a small steam room. The two middle doors give way to the maze-like sauna (which is pretty much the main sauna.)
Here you’ll find small rooms to play in. Seating platforms to sit and watch men walk by. Alcoves with holes in them to see what’s happening inside those rooms.
It’s not a big maze, but it’s big enough for you and your friends to get some excellent group play started.
Little by little, it starts to fill up. I’m surprised by how clean it is. Yes, the floors are wet, but it is a steam room, after all.
I watch as some guys sit next to each other. Others stand, flexing their six-packs, dangling their thick meat, but no one seems to be playing with each other. I don’t hear anyone moaning in pleasure. I don’t see people congregating in rooms having fun with each other. Perhaps I’m missing something.
The SweatBox Soho: The Private Rooms
I walk out of the shower area and notice stairs leading down. I see people walking up. So, I decided to head down and see what’s going on.
To my surprise, it’s a large area with private rooms, open spaces, and dark corners.
Perhaps you don’t like others watching you as you make love to that beautiful man you just met? Bring him down here.
However, again, I noticed no one was getting it on. Everyone was walking around in circles looking at you but not making any advancements. However, some areas are too dark to see if anything is happening.
What I want to find out is if SweatBox Soho is a gay sauna where men can play freely, or if it’s just a spa where men can be naked, but that’s it.
SweatBox Soho & the Naughty Details
So I decide I need to head back to the actual maze sauna and find out if people can actually hook up here.
At this point, there are other men sitting alone, naked. I sit across from one of them. He’s a handsome older white guy. The interesting thing is that by now, I have not seen many older guys.
Most guys at the SweatBox Soho seem to be young. I would say 18-35 years old in range. This guy was in his 40s or so.
I sat and observed his man-spread as he sat. He reached towards his private area and began to stroke what nature gave him. It was hot to watch. A guy walked past him and tried to touch it. The older man gently pushed his hand away. A rejection.
I stood up to keep walking around. However, the guy thought I was walking to touch him too. He shook his head in disagreement, but I continued walking.
I walk around the maze for a bit until I saw two Spanish men kissing. Both young and hairy. Their hands grip each other’s manhood and desperately attempt to fit their fingers inside their hidden zones. They kiss passionately as if trying to devour each other.
Other men assemble to watch. But, no one attempts to join, and no one is playing with each other as they watch. Are people not getting turned on by this?
I walked to see if others were playing. I saw two older men playing with each other. As I observed, a third one joined for a few minutes. The middle guy quickly drops to his knees and starts pleasuring the two at once. Although it ended just as fast as it started.
I walked past other men pleasuring themselves only to have others watch them as they stroked their gifted packages.
However, it’s surprising that not much action is happening. Especially with all the attractive young guys here.
The SweatBox Soho is giving me a very standoffish vibe I didn’t like so much. I’m not sure if the men here just come to show off their goods but not enjoy each other. What’s the deal?
This is when I decide to leave.
I got in the shower one last time where I saw other well-endowed men fluffing themselves as they lathered their soap. It is a lovely sight.
On my way out, a young guy grabs me and says, “Where are you going? You need to stay… I can be your bottom all night.” Well, if he only knew I’m a bottom too, he would know we’re not a match.
Trying to Leave Sweatbox Soho
I walk to the revolving door but can’t figure out how to get out. I scan my bracelet on the fire exit several times, but it beeps at me in disapproval. Honestly, I didn’t realize you could just walk out of the revolving door you come in through.
I take my magnetic bracelet back to the bar and grab a new towel. I walk back to the locker room. As I change into my clothes and watch other young guys undress, I wondered if I just came at the wrong time.
I go back up to the front window and grab my belongings. The cashier gives me my pass, which is suitable for 24 hours, and I depart.
So What Did I Discover?
I should mention I was here on Thursday night. Thursday nights are “Hard Up Thursdays.” This means if you’re 25 and younger (18 to 25), you get in free. This might account for all the young guys.
Did I have a good time? I did. It took a while to get used to this group of guys, but ultimately I enjoyed myself. But it wasn’t a super wild, crazy time.
Can you hook up at SweatBox Soho? You can. For sure. Don’t be afraid to make your move. In my opinion, I think most guys are worried about rejection. It’s the nature of the beast. Give it a try and see where it takes you. It’s okay if you’re rejected.
One great thing about the main sauna (the maze) is that some hallways are so narrow. This means if you’re interested in anyone walking by, feel free to reach out to them.
If a tall, lean, handsome man is standing against a wall, rock hard, and you want to see if he’s into you. Get close. Touch his hard meat. If he lets you do that and doesn’t move your hand away, continue. Maybe stroke it a little bit. Then you can take it from there.
Let me break it down for you:
In my experience, SweatBox Soho is for younger guys. I would say 18 to 30. I’m 35, and I was one of the few older men here. In fact, I saw a few guys older than me, but not many.
The guys here are somewhat standoffish. Most of them stood, showed off, fluffed themselves but didn’t play and didn’t want others to play with them. Most of the guys are attractive, lean, hung, but like I said, standoffish.
Regardless, the facilities are clean and beautiful. There’s a big jacuzzi to enjoy. The central sauna is great. Although I didn’t stay in the private area long, it’s nice and clean. But I loved the modern showers. They’re big and sleek.
The 24-hour pass is 19 Pounds.
Can you get some here? Yeah, you can. Don’t be shy. Make your move and see where it takes you. You will get some for sure. But, it takes a lot of effort, and the few guys I saw playing were older.
I still managed to have a good time, and I also had an excellent shower!
Do I recommend it? I think as long as you know what you’re in for, then yes.
Don’t expect any orgies happening. Maybe you’ll get some, perhaps you won’t. If you intend to see some great looking stallions but leave the playtime for later, then why not. Have at it.
Although I did enjoy my time here, this place made me realize that I am not in Berlin, where the men give love like oxygen.
If you’re looking for more info check out their website here.
Maybe I was here at an off night. Have you been here before and had a fantastic experience? Please let me know, I would love to hear about it!
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This has been exactly me experience every time I have gone there. Lots of hot guys, no one actually willing to play.
I was disappointed. Hear over to Vault 139. Its AMAZING! You wont regret it.
You should check out Pleasuredome in Waterloo or Covent Garden Health Spa although this was called The Greenhouse when I used to visit.
Hi there. Thanks for reading. Pleasuredome is on my list. Cant wait. Whats Pleasuredome like?
Hi James. It is split over two floors. On the ground floor is the bar, two shower sections, wet/steam room, small dark room and large-ish sauna with two hot rooms plus a few private rooms plus a cinema room and just place to lay down and rest. Upstairs has a combination of private room and locked room which apparently you can hire, I never have. One section of these rooms is a glory hole and there is a large open room for a few guys to get going.
Like everywhere else the crowd is changeable depending on the time/date. Sunday afternoon/evening is pretty full as is Saturday. I’ve found that sometimes on a Tuesday night is not so full but enough to make the evening worth while. It usually gets busy after 10:45pm once all the West End shows have ended and, especially on Saturday, the actors find their way to the sauna.
I’ve been to Sweatbox and found it was just a load of guys walking around and not doing much. At Pleasuredome the atmosphere is far better, you make eye contact, maybe a gentle stroke as you pass then look back to see if your advances are being taken up. Then it’s off to one of the side rooms, which most have locks or if they don’t, just put your towel over the top of the door and close it that way.
If there is one place I wouldn’t hesitate in going to, that’s here, 9/10 times you’ll have a good time. Whereas Chariots at Vauxhall is more about the group experience, yes there are a lot of private rooms but there are also two quite large rooms for group activity. You should arrange a meet up with your followers at one 😉
And I should add, at Pleasuredome there are free condoms and lube. But for those of us who do use them, we seem to be the minority these days but I’ve never had any issue with anyone at Pleasuredome when I use them, I’m top.
🤯 omg. Sounds awesome. Im also all about group stuff and gloryholes. Its my fav. I cant wait for all this coronavirus stuff is over and i can travel again. Im going to head straight to pleasuredome and chariots! Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. 🍆🤤
I really appreciate your review. Unfortunately most gay blogs avoid gay playgrounds reviews other than night clubs.
Hey there. Thanks for stopping by and thank you for the compliment. Its what i try to do different. Glad you’re finding it useful. :).
I just found your blog via your post on the Vault Facebook group, and read your reviews of that venue and this one on Sweatbox. Firstly, congratulations on a bunch of well-written articles on a subject I see rarely discussed in detail on-line. When I’ve searched around in the past for reviews of similar venues in places I’m visiting, all you often find is people commenting that they didn’t like the guys they met there, which isn’t really helpful to anyone else.
I tend to agree with you that Vault tends to be friendlier than Sweatbox. I still feel quite nervous about visiting the latter. That’s probably partly because I first went to the Vault over a decade ago, while my first Sweatbox visit was probably around 2015, but the atmosphere is definitely a factor as well. Sweatbox closely and be essentially rebuilt recently also feels like a complete reset on anything I learnt before! It was nice to see that your review was recent enough to be about the current mark 2 Sweatbox!
My experience is that it’s very hard to make a judgement on these places in a couple of visits. I’ve definitely had experiences at the Vault that are like your Sweatbox experience of wandering around and around, and experiences at Sweatbox that have been really hot and horny. I’ve also had ones at each that match yours. The rare occasions when you find others to visit with (I noticed that in your Berlin review) also end up putting a very different spin on things.
I think one of the biggest problems with Sweatbox is there’s no real good group area to play, so people just wander around, hoping they catch someone’s eye. At the Vault, and at other saunas, they have a room where you can sit and watch porn, get in the mood more, and hope someone cute comes and joins you. Most of the group areas at Sweatbox tend to be sauna areas where you can’t stay for a long time and the one larger room downstairs lacks anything for people to do when they’ve not already hooked up with someone. They did actually have such a room way back when I first went, but it wasn’t great (cold, no comfortable seating) and then it disappeared, even before the refit.
I noticed you said you’re from LA. Do they have similar places in the US? On my visits to NYC, Chicago and San Francisco, I’ve been disappointed by the saunas and struggled to find many places like the Vault. Maybe it’s because I don’t have the local knowledge, but my friend in NYC could only really recommend regular special nights rather than a nightly venue (and found London’s scene preferable when he visited).
Hi there. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. Im glad youre enjoying my blog posts. I def agree that its difficult to get a feel for a place with just one visit and I definitely want to go to Sweatbox a few more times on different occasion and update this article to give it a better, and more well-rounded review. Although, I thought the place is very well done. Its a beautiful space. I am born and raised in LA and unfortunately its not technically legal for gay bars to have this type of atmosphere. So, LA doesnt really have anything as awesome as The Vault. Some bars have a a few decadent nights here and there tho. San Francisco has more openly sexualized gay bar experiences but I havent been to them as of yet. I’ve only experienced their Folsom Street Fair which is an awesome experience. NYC has The Cock which I like. Theyre the closest to The Vault, in my opinion. I recommend it. But I am definitely on the look out to find more venues to write about in this neck of the woods.
You should also check out Pleasuredome in Waterloo. There is also another one, can’t remember the name, at Vauxhaul. My first London visit was to a place called The Greenhouse at Severn Dials, not sure if that’s still there.
Nice review, so Sweatbox had a refurbishment years ago. I was a regular before the refurbishment for years, originally the interior was very cheesy with lots of plastic mirrors either clear, red or black.
They held a foam party on regular basis in the main steaming room and other parties too, in those occasions it was very packed with an endless stream of twinks or hung stallions as you call them under the showers and literally anyone suiting everybody’s tastes like bears, hot daddies and what not.
It was an endless orgy everywhere of course within everybody desires and preferences and I could hardly tell someone didn’t find anyone. The first cooler sauna was the place to sit and get blow jobs, it was long and narrow not too hot and always packed. Even the Jacuzzi was busy, they had to put a camera over it to be able shout at people to stop having sex in there as apparently it’s illegal.
The mood that I could feel was very horny, if someone fancied you they would have played with you either privately or with other guys. It was amazing I really felt included and even turning down/being turned down was a peaceful experience without bitchiness.
The other days it was almost empty but I remember that the few people inside were always hunting or checking for new guys coming.
Then I took a braek. Later I heard they had a million pound refurbishment so I went to have a look and I really didn’t like it, it lost that cheesy plastic mirror glamorous whorish vibe and it became like the luxury stylish cold steaming room of The Savoy, I’m not surprised if this reverberates with the exclusive clientele, you get the people you deserve.
I had the same experience as you, lots of staring with some hot guys but too much beating around the bush for my tastes so at a certain point I swiftly left and never went back. I did see a couple of younger guys having fun in the open steaming room but they were very jumpy which made me wonder why aren’t they get a private room then.
I think the refurbishment just killed it. I’m not expecting the hot guys to drop at my feet but it would have been worth checking with Grindr or the local magazine how many of those were escorts, this would explain why with so many hot guys all together they all conserve their stamina.
I guess we’re seeing the declining phase of that product, everything that goes up will inevitably go down LOL!
It looks like company owns the physical venue so they can do whatever they want whenever they want as they can afford to run it empty of customers shall the management decisions stir their customs away.
Hey there. This is a lot of awesome info. Thanks for that. I thought maybe i was there on the wrong night and i should really give this place another try. I like the idea of endless orgies. Foam parties are the best!
Glad you enjoyed reading the article. 🙂
Hey. I loved having a read of this. I love the place and often make it a point to go when I’m around. My experience has mostly been like yours but I do see guys getting a lot of action. Being on the heavier side myself, I’m a little cautious approaching guys because more often than not at this place I get rejected. But I still love it for what it is.
Just one point you might have missed is that they do provide condoms. They don’t give them at the entrance but on the lowest floor (with the dark rooms and private rooms) there are two black pipe looking things on the wall that have condoms and lube. They aren’t put in the best or most obvious place though haha.
Cant wait to read more of your blogs and posts.
Hey there. Thank you for your comment. Also thanks for the condom info. Thats useful info to have on here. Im glad you enjoyed my blog post. Feel free to read more. I do it for ppl like you who enjoy it 😃.
Hi James
Excellent write up. It was your review that made my decision to visit Sweatbox last night (Sat 24th July) and WOW! It was the first time I went back out since cockdown lol.
I got there about 10.30pm and see a line out the door (i thought there was a private party). The line went down fast as the guys serving were quick, they all had smiles and were genuiney nice.
I didn’t understand why they has turnstile so I ask staff and was so impress with the time he took to explain it’s because they have put measurements (as much as they can to stop guys taking in drugs or bottles etc – I signed up for a membership as I felt really safe.
they don’t have alcohol – beer makes me even horny but alcohol and steam, sauna and jacuzzi doesn’t make safe to me (guy got cut with beer broken glass at pleasuredrome, he didnt see it was in steam and dark room bleeding ffs).
steam maze was huge and packed, there was easily around 350+ guys in this building. Condoms and lube are all free and available (none of that going to reception crap like in small village saunas in EUR), lots of private and clean cabins to use and free! The sling area are fcuking amazing. The foam room was not on but I will go back for that party.
I think many guys who don’t have good sex or get rejection probably leave negative reviews. I want these places in London to survive as that why I move to London, I want to be around gay men, it doesn’t- no matter what age or race, look how many gay places have closed down.
There is so much drugs going on in venues and this place is winner for trying to keep me safe. Thank you James, you have found this for me X
Hi Rene. Im glad you enjoyed Sweatbox. I bet there are so many men wanting to visit now that lockdown is over.
You should also give Vault 139 as well.
Thanks for the nice comment. Enjoy 😉.