Inferno was Stoke’s first gay sauna – an openly gay venue that was clearly and unambiguously promoted as a place where men could meet for sex. It was based in Garth Street in close proximity to The Club and opened around 2008.  The company wound up some time in early 2012.

The history of gay saunas stretches back a long way. There were gay cruising grounds and brothels in London in the early 17th century.  Even as early as the 1930s the Imperial Baths in Russell Square, Savoy Turkish Baths in Jermyn Street, and Harrow Road Baths were used as meeting places by men looking for sex.  The long tradition of public baths as a meeting place for men may go back much further, even as far as the Roman occupation of Britain.

Any place where men are wandering around undressed is likely to be seen by some men as an opportunity to meet others interested in sex.  However, using public places for gay sex could result in police prosecution and gay saunas were routinely raided by police up until the end of the 1980s and in some cases even into the 1990s.

As society’s attitudes changed the police raids stopped. It is now accepted that having designated adult venues for gay sex is better than having men trying to covertly use other public venues. When a venue can be open about its purpose it can also offer free condoms and services that promote good sexual health. 

The page below from Inferno’s original website is completely transparent about the nature of the business. This shows how far we have now travelled in accepting gay venues that allow sex on the premises.

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