NEW outdoor saunas opening in Christchurch have experienced huge demand since bookings opened.

Capacity for the newest Saltwater Sauna at Avon Beach is ‘nearly full’ for the first week, its owners say.

The new facility, which features two Nordic saunas and changing rooms, is opening to the public on Monday, October 14.

Users will be able to enjoy panoramic views across to the Isle of Wight, and choose between private and communal sauna packages.

Co-founder of The Saltwater Sauna, Arlene Glyn-Jones, said: “Our new facility at Avon Beach allows clients to connect with nature while reaping the bountiful benefits of contrast therapy.

"Customers are welcome to join us for breathtaking views, golden sunrises and sunsets, crisp autumn and winter mornings, moody skies, and stormy weather-fronts, all from the comfort of our award-winning beach-side saunas.”

The Saltwater Sauna company already operates a successful sauna in Sandbanks, but owners have remained keen to open a facility in the Christchurch area.

Arlene added: “Many of our regular customers currently travel to Sandbanks from Winchester, Southampton, Christchurch and the New Forest and so the new location with its beachfront facilities and post-sauna dining at the Noisy Lobster makes this an easily accessible gem.”

Jane Witt, resident sauna master and contrast specialist, said: “Our expansion enables us to fully commit to our ethos of giving back to the communities, building on the work we've done with therapy organisation Resurface and the charity The Above And Beyond Trust.

"Our saunas have proven to be a valuable community space for people, and we look forward to working with medical organisations to offer social prescribing - helping people with their physical and mental wellbeing through contrast therapy.”

Earlier this year, Saltwater Sauna won two awards at the UK Sauna Industry Awards; its resident sauna master and contrast therapist, Jane Witt, the UK’s first-ever thermalist instructor, won 'Sauna Practitioner of the Year', and the company won 'Best Design' for its saunas.

In addition, Saltwater Sauna launched its first-ever Wellbeing Retreat to Helsinki, Finland next February, which sold out within days.

14 customers will travel to the world’s sauna capital for an immersive wellbeing retreat where in the depth of the Finnish winter they will be expertly guided in the thermalist method of contrast therapy, enjoying sauna, ice swims, time in nature, yoga, sightseeing excursions and local cuisine.