I plunged into Manchester's new sauna and ice bath café and it was worth the cold shock

Located in the Green Quarter and just a short walk from Victoria station, Kontrast is owned by Jamie Smith who was inspired by his travels to Taiwan, Japan and Scandinavia to bring the sauna culture to the city. We, of course, had to go down and check it out. 

After nearly walking past the huge outdoor sign under a railway bridge, I saw a cosy outdoor seating area with fairy lights hung around it. Inside was decorated fittingly in a Japandi style – an interior design style combining Japanese and Scandinavian decor containing lots of panelled natural wood and plants. 

They have a variety of drinks available to have in the café area, from cold kombucha to hot coffee. To add to the cosiness, blankets and books were in every corner of the cafe area, as well as ducks dotted around to add its own quirkiness. 

Speaking to Jamie about the idea of bringing sauna culture to Manchester, he said: “The vision is just wanting to bring the community aspect of sauna culture to Manchester in an accessible way for everyone to enjoy. Somewhere that can boost everyone’s mood and offer a space where it is not drink-central for people to hang out and relax in.”

There are three plunge pools and three saunas to try – two traditional Finnish saunas and an infrared sauna and three plunge pools ranging from three degrees to 12 degrees. Once I changed into my swimwear and slides, I tried the small Finnish sauna first, which was super snug and relaxing. There was a bucket of water so you could adjust the temperature yourself to get the best experience.

Then it was time for a cold plunge. I wussed out of going for the three degree plunge pool and went for the six degree pool instead. The first dip was excruciating, my feet started tingling and all my leg muscles contracted. I shot down so the water covered my shoulders – cold water shock seized my body as soon as I felt the water on my chest.

It was a strange refreshing feeling after I got out of the pool as I quickly began to warm up. I went to the larger Finnish sauna to relieve the tension in my muscles. My body and mind were twice as relaxed as the first sauna I went into.

In Kontrast’s first two opening weeks, 50% of all earnings will go to the Manchester MIND charity, which has been advocating for better mental health for 30 years. Jamie said: “This is to show our commitment to mental health. That's what the saunas and ice baths are about, to get people to feel better about themselves and get them out of a funk.”

Kontrast opened its doors on Friday, October 25. Sessions are priced at £10 for 60-minute off-peak sessions, or £17 for 90-minute peak sessions. More information is available on the Kontrast website