There’s a shift happening across Kent right now.
Not just in food and drink, but in the way people want to feel.
From sound baths and sea dipping to breathwork, ice plunges, wild swimming and outdoor saunas, wellness in Kent is moving away from polished spa culture and towards something far more immersive, social and slightly addictive. People are searching for experiences that genuinely make them switch off. And after spending an evening at the new Sea Scrub Sauna on Folkestone Harbour Arm, we completely understood why.
AJ Sharp and Clare Pope were invited for a first look inside what is being described as the UK’s largest beach spa and, slightly annoyingly for anyone sceptical about cold water therapy, we both slept ridiculously well afterwards.
Set directly on the shingle with uninterrupted views across the English Channel, Sea Scrub Sauna feels far more like Copenhagen or Oslo than the traditional British seaside. Less than an hour from London by train, Folkestone is rapidly positioning itself as one of the UK’s most exciting coastal wellness destinations.
At the centre of the experience are two wood-fired saunas.
The Scandinavian Sauna is the showstopper. Built by one of Scandinavia’s most respected sauna makers, the glass-fronted sauna seats up to 16 people with uninterrupted sea views from the tiered benches. The heat is deep, intense and properly immersive. This is not a gimmicky spa sauna tucked into the corner of a hotel. It’s the real thing.
Alongside it sits the more intimate Shepherd’s Hut Sauna, handcrafted in Kent and packed with character. Smaller, wood-fired and positioned directly on the beachfront, it feels rugged, authentic and perfectly suited to Folkestone’s creative coastal energy.
But what really sets the site apart are the plunge pools.
Two large-scale cold-water plunge pools sit at the centre of the spa experience, designed for shared cold-water therapy rather than solitary endurance. One is fully chilled for the brave. The other sits at a more ambient temperature for newcomers still testing their limits.
Expect gasps, swearing, nervous laughter and then that slightly addictive post-plunge euphoria everyone suddenly seems obsessed with.
There’s also a hot tub positioned between the pools, complete with jacuzzi jets and sweeping coastal views, offering a softer landing after the intensity of the cold water.
The wider space has clearly been designed for people to linger rather than rush through. Spacious changing rooms, warm showers and an integrated event space mean the Harbour Arm spa is likely to become as much a social and cultural destination as a wellness one. Planned events include Aufguss masterclasses, yoga sessions, seasonal gatherings and private wellness experiences.
And then there’s the food.
Instead of leaning into predictable health café clichés, Sea Scrub Sauna has introduced a Japanese onsen-inspired wellness café, tying together Scandinavian and Japanese bathing culture through a shared focus on ritual, restoration and slowing down.
The menu runs from speciality coffee through to post-sauna cocktails, including espresso martinis for those wanting their wellness with a little chaos attached.
As sauna culture continues to explode across the UK, Folkestone may just have positioned itself at the centre of it. And somehow, against the backdrop of sea air, wood smoke, cold plunges and the sound of waves crashing onto the beach, it makes complete sense.
