A SEAFRONT sauna will close its doors for the final time after being forced to look for a new location.

Beach Box Sauna will close on January 2 as the site is turned into a new outdoor swimming centre, as part of the Sea Lanes development.

Katie Bracher, who co-founded the company with Liz Watson, thanked customers who have come to the sauna and said they have received "so much love and support and goodwill" from people who have visited.

She said: "We've managed to create joy for people but, in doing that, we've received the same amount of joy for ourselves.

"It's been an honour to be part of such a beautiful community of people and part of the Brighton seafront story - thank you to everyone for coming."

Liz Watson said: "It has been an amazing three and a half years and it's thanks to the population of Brighton that we have organically grown into what we have got here.

"We are hoping to carry that over to our new location and hopefully get even better."

She said they are working with Brighton and Hove City Council to find a new home, and that talks have been "very promising for a site not too far away from where are now."

Liz also said she has been advised to get letters of support for their application to find a new home, and encouraged former customers to email the company if they want to back their bid to find a new home.

Katie said said that the sauna has seen a surge in bookings as people visit for one last time.

"Everyone's coming to get their final saunas; it's really really busy," she said.

The sauna is one of several businesses in the area being forced to close to make way for the new swimming centre, due to open next summer.

The £4.5 million development is set to feature a 50 metre eight-lane pool, changing rooms, showers, sauna, studios for training, exercise and yoga, therapy rooms, leisure-related shops, a restaurant, and a function room.

Sea Lanes Brighton director Joe McNulty said: "The pool will provide much needed swimming facilities in Brighton and will act as a gateway for those looking to gain the confidence to swim in the sea, as well as a training hub for open water swimming events, triathlon, sea safety and lifeguard courses.

"We are delighted to be beginning construction this winter and want to say a big thank you to everyone who has visited Sea Lanes and shown your support over the years."

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