Pennine Sauna
96 Rochdale Road · Shaw · OL2 7SB / North West
About
Pennine Sauna – Shaw
Pennine Sauna is one of the longest-established gay saunas in the North of England, located above the Trend Launderette at 96 Rochdale Road, Shaw, Oldham (OL2 7SB). Operating for over forty years, it reopened in August 2025 after an extended closure caused by a fire in the launderette below. The venue opens Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm–7pm, and draws a loyal, predominantly mature crowd from across Greater Manchester and the Pennine towns.
There’s no official website. To confirm current hours, prices, or any changes to the schedule, call 01706 842 000. The entrance is street-level and discreet, accessed through the Trend Launderette — from the traffic lights in central Shaw, head along Rochdale Road towards Rochdale, roughly 500 metres on the right.
Pennine Sauna sits on Rochdale Road in Shaw, a small town on the eastern fringe of Greater Manchester where the urban sprawl gives way to the Pennine hills. It’s the only gay sauna in the Oldham borough, and it draws men from the Pennine corridor that the bigger city-centre venues don’t reach as easily. Rochdale is about 10 minutes north along the A671, Oldham town centre is 10 minutes south, and Ashton-under-Lyne roughly 15 minutes. Huddersfield, over the hills in West Yorkshire, is around 25 minutes via the M62 — and for men on that side of the Pennines who’d rather avoid the drive into Manchester or Leeds, Pennine is the closest option.
The venue has been here for over forty years, and that longevity says something about the community it serves. Manchester city centre is about 25 minutes by car, but Pennine isn’t trying to compete with the larger venues there. It caters to a local, largely mature crowd from across east Greater Manchester and the Lancashire and Yorkshire mill towns — men who prefer the quiet, familiar atmosphere of a venue they know well.
What's inside
Facilities
Pennine Sauna is a compact, multi-room venue that was refurbished following the 2024 fire. The wet area includes a dry sauna and a steam room — the steam room is frequently highlighted in visitor reviews as the venue's standout feature. A hot tub provides communal relaxation space between sessions.
Play Areas
The venue has a dark room with an adjoining dark room lounge, a sling, and video rooms. A massage table is available for customer use. Free condoms and lube are provided.
Food and Refreshments at Pennine Sauna
Pennine Sauna is unusual among gay saunas in offering freshly cooked, home-made meals on site. Hot meals are prepared to order and are widely praised by visitors for quality, variety, and fair pricing. Drinks and snacks are also available. The food offering makes the venue particularly suited to longer afternoon visits, and some regulars describe the social lounge and food service as having a "lunch club" character alongside the sauna facilities.
Entry fees
Prices
| Entry | Amount | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Call to confirm | Every day | Current prices not listed online — call 01706 842 000 to confirm |
When to visit
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday | 12:00–19:00 | |
| Thursday | 12:00–19:00 | |
| Friday | 12:00–19:00 | |
| Saturday | 12:00–19:00 | |
| Sunday | 12:00–19:00 |
What's on
Events & Themed Sessions
Check official channels for current events.
New here?
Your First Visit
No membership or pre-registration is needed — just turn up. The venue is strictly over-18s. Call 01706 842 000 before visiting to confirm current hours, prices, and payment methods, as there’s no official website.
The entrance is through the Trend Launderette at 96 Rochdale Road — it’s street-level and discreet. If you’re driving, enter the postcode OL2 7SB into sat-nav. Weekend afternoons tend to be the busiest and most social sessions; midweek is quieter.
For more on what to expect at UK gay saunas, see our guides: Preparing for Your First Visit and Etiquette and Consent.
Getting there
Directions
Pennine Sauna is at 96 Rochdale Road, Shaw, Oldham, OL2 7SB — on the A663 between Oldham and Rochdale. Free council car parks are available within a short walk, and the venue is accessible by Metrolink tram and bus from Manchester, Oldham, and Rochdale.
From the M62, leave at Junction 20 and follow the A627(M) towards Oldham and Rochdale, then pick up the A663 Rochdale Road into Shaw. For sat-nav, use OL2 7SB (if not recognised, try OL2 7BS). Several free council car parks are within 200 metres, including Glebe Street (43 spaces), Rochdale Road (16 spaces), and Salts Street (15 spaces). Details: Oldham Council car parks
Shaw and Crompton (Metrolink Pink Line) is the nearest stop, roughly 15–20 minutes’ walk from the venue. From there, bus routes 402 or 436 connect to The Cutting Room stop on Rochdale Road, a two-minute walk from the door. Journey time from Manchester city centre is around 36–42 minutes.
Bus is the most convenient public transport option. The Cutting Room stop on Rochdale Road is a two-minute walk from the venue. Key routes: 402 (Oldham–Shaw), 181/182 (Piccadilly Gardens–Shaw via Oldham). Bee Network single fares are capped at £2.
What visitors say
Reviews
Pennine Sauna has a strong reputation as one of the most welcoming gay saunas in the North of England, with visitors consistently praising the friendly atmosphere, the home-cooked food, and the sense of community.
Multiple visitors describe arriving nervous and quickly feeling at ease. Both staff and regulars are praised for actively helping newcomers settle in. The absence of attitude or pretension is one of the most consistently highlighted qualities.
The steam room is frequently singled out as the venue’s standout facility, described as well-maintained and central to the overall experience.
The on-site food menu receives recurring praise for quality, variety, and fair pricing. Some visitors describe the social lounge and food service as giving the venue a “lunch club” character that goes beyond a typical sauna.
Pennine Sauna attracts a loyal crowd of regulars, many of whom have been visiting for years or decades. The social atmosphere is consistently described as a major highlight — friendly, relaxed, and community-driven.
> Based on publicly available reviews from Google Reviews and TravelGay as of March 2026. Monitored by gaysaunas.co.uk.
Read our guide Gay Sauna Reviews: Understanding Fair Feedback & Review Etiquette
Based on Google Reviews as of May 2026.
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