What does it take to bring a centuries-old wellness tradition into the heart of modern London, and then keep it going through one of the toughest periods hospitality has ever faced? In this Igniting the Spark interview, Robert Procopé, Director of The Bath House in Victoria, shares the story of opening a banya just months before the pandemic, building a team of more than fifty people, and what he’s learned about doing it with the right partners alongside you.
Your What & Why
Q1. Briefly, what does your business do, and what is the purpose?
I run a banya called The Bath House in Victoria (www.banyalondon.co.uk). Banya is the Eastern European version of the Turkish hammam or Finnish sauna. It is somewhere to go with friends or family to enjoy the benefits of heat and steam, to take a range of restorative treatments and to spend time together, often over a meal. We call it Heat, Treat, Meet.
Your Spark
Q2. What originally sparked the idea to start the business?
I have always loved thermal therapies like sauna and have Finnish family, so it’s in the blood. I also spent some time living and working in Russia where I encountered banya. When I moved back to the UK, I was desperate to find something similar to banya but for a long time there wasn’t anything. I knew that London had a rich history of bathhouses of one form or another so I started planning to open somewhere to rival the grand urban bathhouses I had visited in Moscow and St Petersburg.
Hardest Challenge?
Q3. What’s been the toughest challenge you’ve faced so far?
We opened in December 2019, just a few months before the pandemic, and in March 2020 we were forced to close like all hospitality businesses. Navigating and coming through that period of closure was a major challenge.
Q4. What advice would you give other entrepreneurs / leaders?
Don’t do it alone. I work closely with a partner and friend which has made the whole experience much more enjoyable. Doing it alone wouldn’t be anything like as much fun and would be far less successful. You need someone to share the ups and downs with, to talk things through with and to lean on occasionally.
The Highlight
Q5. What achievement are you most proud of? Why?
Apart from getting The Bath House open, I would say that I am most proud of our team. We employ over 50 people, many of whom have come to the UK since February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
One Piece of Wisdom
Q6. What one piece of advice would you share with your younger self if you were doing it all again?
We are doing it all again. On this occasion we will get some better advice up front, which brings us to…
Ignition Journey
Q7. What led you to work with Ignition Law?
When we did the first project, we were keen to keep costs down. In some cases this was a false economy and lease negotiations was definitely an example of that. We are keen not to repeat that.
Legal Support
Q8. How did Ignition support you through this, and what difference did we make?
Perhaps a bit early to say, but so far so good. Plus Helen was the only person to take up an invitation to visit The Bath House which I interpreted very positively – it told me they were genuinely curious about the business, not just the paperwork.
The Experience
Q9. What do you value most about working with Team Ignition?
Much the same as my answer above. It’s the willingness to engage with what we’re actually building, not just the legal task in front of them, that stands out so far.
Keeping Motivated Beyond Work
Q10. What keeps your spark alive, inside or outside of work?
I am going to say banya. I go most days and I don’t think I could live without it.
Sharing Knowledge
Q11. What book, video, Ted Talk, quote or single piece of advice can you share with our SME Community?
I enjoy reading Ian Leslie, who wrote a brilliant book on the relationship between Paul McCartney and John Lennon, John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs. He also wrote a book called Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together, which has some application in everyone’s lives.
