Kirstie Allen is the founder of Hot Haus, a seaside sauna located at La Vallette in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. Kirstie was born and bred in Harpenden Hertfordshire which is where she lived all her life before moving to Guernsey 13 years ago.

She started sea swimming in 2016 which became addictive and the effect that hot and cold therapy had on her health and well being was phenomenal. After visiting many different wild saunas around the UK and her husband falling ill, Kirstie’s thoughts turned to creating this fantastic opportunity for the place she now calls home, Guernsey 🇬🇬.

She set about creating an authentic Finnish sauna by the sea with beautiful views, thus Hot Haus was born.

In our interview with Kirstie, we explored the benefits of sauna, tips for getting started with cold-water swimming, and why the Channel Islands hold a special place in her heart.

We relocated for my husband’s job and soon fell in love with the Guernsey way of life.

What was the vision behind founding The Hot Haus – sauna by the sea?

I used to work in the leisure and fitness industry back in the UK and once relocated to Guernsey my love of sea swimming began. With the beautiful coast line of Guernsey and such easy access to the sea my thoughts turned to having a sauna by the sea so islanders could experience the huge benefits of hot and cold therapy and all the health benefits that runs along side it. When my Husband fell poorly a few years back, the passion and drive to achieve this became very apparent and Hot Haus was born.

Can you please share with us what makes the combination of a traditional wood-fired sauna and cold-water immersion so beneficial for our health?

There is nothing quite like a proper Finish sauna. I have no electricity and no running water so this achieves the purest of sauna experiences. There are now lots of documented health benefits of hot and cold therapy. Here are just a few: cardiovascular benefits, better physical fitness and endurance, cellular repair, longer lifespan, lowers risk of dementia, improved mental health and depression, lower cholesterol, release of endorphins etc.

What advice would you give someone who is starting out with cold water swimming?

Take it slow and increase your time slowly, listen to your body and do the amount that’s right for you. Not every day is a swim day. Swim with people and never on your own.

Did you come across any challenges while setting up The Hot Haus?

No, we had spent time doing the research and knew exactly what we wanted.

What frequency of sauna sessions per week or month do you recommend to experience improvements in our wellbeing?

To use a sauna to its best ability you would ideally need to use it 4 times a week.

What makes the Channel Islands special to you?

The Channel Islands is now my home and I love the people, the places and the way of life.

If you’re interested in experiencing a hot sauna, don’t hesitate to visit the Hot Haus website and book your session today.