Nude ban to remain at Turkish Baths Harrogate

Turkish Baths Harrogate has permanently banned nude bathing.

The Victorian venue, run by North Yorkshire Council’s leisure company Brimhams Active, operated two weekly single sex clothing-optional sessions until March.

But swimwear was then made compulsory for all sessions following what the council described as a “serious” police complaint.

No further details have been revealed about the incident and North Yorkshire Police today repeated its statement that “enquiries are ongoing”.

However, a regular customer contacted the Stray Ferret yesterday after receiving an email from the baths informing him the ban would remain.

Katie Summersall, Turkish Baths manager, today confirmed the news. She said:

“Brimhams Active’s priority is to safeguard and protect the wellbeing of staff and customers.

“A management decision has been made that swimwear is to be compulsory at all public bathing sessions.”

The customer, who asked not to be named, regularly attended the clothing-optional male sessions, where he said the majority of people found clothes uncomfortable.

He said:

“I suspect there was never any intention to restore the old policy, and — perhaps cynically — wonder if the complaint and investigation contained an element of convenient prefabrication.”

North Yorkshire Council took control of the baths on April 1 when Harrogate Borough Council was abolished.

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Harrogate Turkish Baths bans nude bathers

Swimwear has been made compulsory for all sessions at Turkish Baths Harrogate following a complaint to the police.

Until this week, clothing was optional at two single sex sessions for men and women each week. It is compulsory at mixed sessions.

But a spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council, which runs the Victorian venue, said:

“Following a complaint at Turkish Baths Harrogate, an operational decision has been made that swimwear is now compulsory at all bathing sessions.

“The complaint related to an incident which due to its serious nature has been reported to the police and is currently being investigated.

“We have a duty of care to our customers and staff members, and in order for all single sex sessions to operate in a safe environment, it has been decided that swimwear must be worn until further notice.”

Harrogate's Turkish Baths.

The Moorish design

The council issued the statement after a bather, who regularly attends men-only sessions unclothed, alerted local media to the change.

The person, who asked to remain anonymous, said recent attendees of single sex sessions received emails yesterday informing them of the change with immediate effect, with no consultation.

He also pointed out the ‘bathing etiquette’ section on the Turkish baths’ website had been amended to say ‘swimwear is compulsory at all sessions (including single-sex sessions)’.

The person said the majority of people at male-only sessions preferred not to wear clothes because they found them uncomfortable.

He added he would monitor the situation in light of the complaint to see whether the unclothed option was reintroduced.

The baths, which has Islamic arches and screens as part of its Moorish design, opened in 1897 and have been fully restored with a plunge pool, steam room and sauna as well as rooms of various temperatures to relax in.

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