The first visit was an impromptu birthday present to my then boyfriend. But if you go there often enough, you get to know most of the customers and it’s an extremely inexpensive sauna, steam (and whatever else) if you’re a woman. In fact, I would describe Rio’s as a naked community centre.
There used to be a large contingent of African women who would come in with a suitcase full of lotions and potions and scrub themselves all day long (not naked). Most of the men are naked, the women not always.
The really salacious stories I wrote appear in my book The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker (republished in April by Random House). So yes, I was a regular there, and for a while went for a steam and sex at lunchtimes (Wednesdays, usually) but then I moved to Friday night (party time). A few summers back, I preferred to spend the weekend in their ‘garden’ where one could sunbathe naked.
I paid nothing for a while, then £5, then £8; I’m sure it’s more now. Saturday nights are ‘couples only’ where a couple can enjoy all the spa facilities and have sex with other people in one of the ‘resting rooms’. I went there a few times with the boyfriend I had at the time and that was one of the reasons I got into the swinging scene. We had some very good nights…
My current boyfriend went a couple of times before we met, and got hit on by some guys so I guess there’s a bit of a gay thing going on too but I never noticed that too much. Safe to say that if you’re a half decent looking woman or even not half decent looking, it’s easy to get laid. That can put off single women going and I did get a few stalkers in my time but mainly it’s a fairly relaxed, casual place.
I haven’t been for over two years now so it may well have changed. But seeing as I went fairly frequently for almost ten years, I very much doubt it! In Kentish Town, it’s an institution. You can bring your own alcohol and they’ll even get an Indian takeaway for you if you ask nicely. The Jamaican guys sometimes brought in jerk chicken; that was nice. And they serve free water, squash and biscuits.
You can even order tuna sandwiches and hot toasties at the bar. As that ex of mine used to say: “So you can have a toastie between mouthfuls…”
A Jewish New Yorker, now settled in London, Suzanne Portnoy has been a publicist for twenty years. Her UK bestseller, The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker: An Erotic Memoir (Random House), came out in 2006. It’s republished in April.
Been waiting my whole KT life for this review. H-o-l-y shit. You didn’t disappoint.
Crikey I never realised there were people swinging in there!
Exactly what Gavin said – I pass this place every single day, and have developed somewhat of a morbid curiosity… thanks for indulging me! It sounds as extreme as I’d let me imagination convince me it was.
I think it used to be and old fashioned ‘rub ‘n tug’ massage place but this was stopped, fairly well known that it’s a place to hang around for sex with others in sauna and spa, never been there myself *he hastens to add*
I used to work with someone years ago who went here. I always got the impression that it was purely a naturist club. I had to re-read the line when the writer said she went “for a steam and sex at lunchtimes”! Had no idea about the swinging. I thought rumours of anything else were just overactive imaginations – people often (mistakenly) link naturisim with sex.
Interesting piece!
But do they do cheese sandwiches..?
You need to read the extract to find out!
My God – they do! I’d better get down there!
Looking forward to the Omega Sauna article next Monday.
I was told of a Kentish Town myth/legend that once a jacuzzi in Rio’s flooded so badly that it damaged the Northern Line running below. This meant that train delays were caused by too many naked people crowding into a jacuzzi.
Indeed, we have heard that tale too, Mark – it’s something we are currently researching for a future feature. If anyone else has more on this, do let us know…
I was always partial to the tuna/sweetcorn on wholewheat bread.
I worked there for three years while deciding what to do after my BA. It was eye-opening to say the least, especially the night shifts, and I met many interesting people and saw things that are permanently etched on my brain (for better or worse). Everyone should experience it once, even if it’s just an innocent visit to the garden in summer or to steam out a hangover on your way home from the pub. I went back last month and had forgotten how relaxing a naked sauna can be. I’m not sure about the myth – the overspill is pretty generous on all the jacuzzis.
Martin, there are indeed cheese sandwiches, we served them topless (the girls, not the sandwiches). Surely that improves the sandwich experience?
Wow – a cheese-and-nipple sandwich!
sounds as seedy as i thought.
a pal of mine bumped into a senior tory politician in there, not long after he had been hit with a sex scandal…
This place is run and visited by perverts and whores. Simple.
Close the place down.