The Boiler Room Sauna — Local services in Sheffield

Visited 17/12/2024 mid afternoon after a work meeting finished early. Easy enough to find, though parking non existent and the free on street alternative was particularly intimidating - not sure I'd want to leave a premium motor there after dark?

It's not unusual for gay venues to be located in "low rent" areas and low rent buildings and boiler room doesn't dissapointed in that aspect and I'm sure in this day and age it's still off putting to the inexperienced but at least the signage is decent.

The guy on the desk was efficient and polite, asked if I had been before and volunteered a guided tour which was a nice touch although I opted to explore unaided.

30 years ago I'd have faked the newbie status just to spend a few more minutes in his company though as he was a fine looking man with a beard and definitely a boat floater for me!

Sad to say as per a number of reviewers previously maintenance issues meant the full facilities were not on offer as the jacuzzi was closed off. I get that maintenence is a challenge in venues open long hours and that a jacuzzi relies on power and water which are not the best of bed fellows in terms of safety but it's dissapointing to be charged full entry when the facilities advertised are not available? Even a complimentary return or discount for a future visit would have been a welcome gesture but it was not to be..

As Tuesday is a Naked day I was provided with a spa towel the size of a tea towel and a micro fibre "shower towel" which I didn't unroll (more on that later..) if Naked Day was an intimidation I'm not sure the flimsy feeling towel provided would have assured my confidence much, but maybe there are different towels for non naked days?

Immediately past the tiny reception is a compact locker room with similarly compact lockers. Fine for my street clothes wallet phone and watch, but I was grateful I wasn't wearing a jacket or coat as it would have been quite the challenge. Luckily I was in a car, and not lugging a work laptop around, as spacewise I would have been buggered.

I know I'm no longer the prime customer, and nowhere near as athletic and agile as I once was but I'm quite "British" about shucking my kit off and I suspect at busier times dressing or undressing would entail a lot of unexpected contact (yes I know I paid my money for Bums and Willies fun but I'm the guy who always gets the unsavoury neighbour....)

Downstairs the sauna cabin was on and working, if somewhat small? A bit like an old Northern train, it may have a given number of seats, but unless you're a string bean or don't mind wedging yourself between sweaty relative strangers it would have similar capacity to a large family car?

The nearby toilet was passable but lacking in toilet paper when I arrived, and when I left, although thankfully I didn't need any.

I found the out of use jacuzzi then noticed the stairs up.. And the promise of better things.. The upper floor is like most gay saunas a repository for sterling board, sheet ply, and 50 gallons of matt black with the pleasantly disorienting array of doors cubicles and alleyways. Two "video" areas one smaller and less exposed, and the, larger with two tier benching and two doorways which made it feel strangely exposed? The assortment of glory hole cubicles was fine.. I liked the two elevated ones which allow the guy(s) on both sides to stand up. There are two sling rooms but they looked to be suspended at an odd height? I know many young guys are much taller than my respectable 6'2“ but I have serious doubts about my ability to service any willing occupant without a step to stand on? Later I did see a couple of guys engaged in the act as the door was left open, and it was definitely a precarious job on tiptoes.

Now back to the shower towel provided on entry... The shower area is long and narrow with access at the end possibly not very big I didn't find out because the entry point has a sign that made me grateful I didn't need to wash.

"Do not shit or douche in the showers" 10/10 for plain English,...

I don't like givin 1 star reviews but here goes.... A few years ago this place used to be absolutely fantastic.... Over the past couple of years this place has nose dived big time and it has NOTHING to do with the people coming through the doors. It is the place itself.

There is ALWAYS at least one of the facilities not working, it is now purely contactless entry, they charge £1 for each additional towel so if you want a shower and a fresh towel its going to cost you, and the worst thing is that the place is rundown and dirty bigtime. It needs shutting down and a massive revamp.

Everything in the place is showing its age... The paintwork, the cubicles, the floor and even the outside area are just worn out and in big need of an overhaul.

I understand economic downturn and finances not been as they once were, but a place like this needs to be kept on top of, especially given the nature of activities that go on here!

Its no longer an inviting place.

I think the biggest draw that keeps people coming back is the fact that the closest other saunas are in dewsbury or mansfield and not everyone can drive or get to them easily.

So in one respect, the owner is laughing all the way to the bank, but surely even he has noticed that his once extremely loyal customer base has dwindled massively!

I fully respect the work that these places must need to keep going, but this sauna has to be the only one that only does the absolute bare minimum.

He needs to fix it or sell it and let somebody else run it that actually gives a monkeys.

I would be embarrased to say i owned this sauna if i was the owner.

I'm sorry for the massive thumbs down but it needed saying.

Don't waste your time here, if you are able to get to another sauna i highly recommend giving this...

I used to go to this establishment, on the many times I went here it was cold & like a building site. Some members of staff were very helpful, but others weren't. They were surly & rude. I complained about the lack of heat, & a member of staff was so rude about the situation, the owner offered me a Pay off in the way of a massage therapist, this was on the condition that the member of staff apologized for his behaviour. Instead once the owner left this person started shouting & belittling me, this excuse for a man was called Arron. His actions caused great harm & offence. Because of this behaviour I went to Sheffield city council, once the evidence was proved they took the appropriate action required. This place is charging for a service It cannot provide, with an ill-mannered member of staff who brought the place into disrepute. If the owner cannot see this he doesn't deserve to remain in business. The owner came up with all sorts of excuses about the heating breaking down & other services that weren't working due to insufficient funds to keep things in working order. They could have a wonderful business here but they're letting it run through their fingers, hence why he tried to buy me off with a bribe. That's not how...