Statement on 80 Eastway (The Bath House), Hackney Wick

A statement in response to concerns about the future of the Bath House, at 80 Eastway in Hackney Wick.

“Our decision to repurpose 80 Eastway to create much-needed affordable workspace was made to support Hackney Wick’s creative community. We are discussing early proposals that could see the Community Sauna Baths – a social enterprise already based at 80 Eastway – take on the building to continue that work, with a view to maintaining the majority of the building’s current operations and businesses.

“We have been clear and transparent with Civic State Ltd, who currently operate the building, that their management could not continue due to various concerns including large rent arrears and other lease breaches. Their lack of engagement on these issues left us no choice but to serve a notice in July 2024, which will bring the current lease to an end on 10 September 2025.”

Cllr Robert Chapman, Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and Customer Services

Further information

Why is the Council ending Civic State Ltd’s lease?

Unfortunately, due to persistent breaches of the lease by the tenant Civic State Ltd, including large arrears and a lack of meaningful engagement from the tenant despite the Council’s clear written requests, the Council had no practical choice but to serve notice to end the lease early.

That notice was served in July 2024 and will bring the lease to an end on 10 September 2025.

Has Civic State Ltd. had the chance to put these issues right?

After service of the break notice, the Council remained open to dialogue with Civic State Ltd and held off from forfeiting the lease. In advance of a meeting in November 2024, we requested responses to the various outstanding issues and lease breaches that the Council had clearly set out in correspondence earlier in the year. Unfortunately, no substantive responses were provided at that meeting and subsequent proposals did not viably address the Council’s concerns.

In December 2024, the Council wrote to Civic State Ltd. to confirm that the only possible solution would be if another party took over the building on a new lease. 

What will happen to the organisations based in the building?

The Council is actively trying to find a viable solution to allow the use of the building to continue beyond September 2025.

The Community Sauna CIC, already operating from the site, has put forward a proposal to take on a new lease and maintain the majority of the building’s current operations and businesses.

This is not a guaranteed solution, and we want to be clear that we are still working through the details. However, at this stage, it appears to offer a potentially constructive way forward, especially considering the tight timescales we are working to. The proposal is pending receipt of information requested from Civic State Ltd, which remains outstanding.