Northampton naturist swim suspended after 44 years
British Naturism is working with the pool operator and local officials to restore the monthly sessions
A naturist swimming group in Northampton, England, has lost access to the public pool where it has held monthly nude swims for 44 years.
Northampton Sun Group says Everyone Active cancelled all of its remaining sessions at Mounts Baths after taking over management of the leisure center in April. The group had rented the facility for private Sunday evening sessions since 1982, including access to the swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Turkish hot rooms. The sessions attracted around 80 people each month and were supported by nearly 200 regular members ranging from their twenties to over 80, according to British Naturism.
The Northampton Sun Group website says its future meetings have been cancelled by Everyone Active. The group has attributed the decision to the company’s swimwear rules, which specify approved forms of clothing but make no provision for swimming nude.
Everyone Active has publicly emphasized a different problem. The company said it was unable to offer the sessions because it had not “secured the staffing agreements needed to operate them.”
“We understand this is a change from what’s been offered before and may be disappointing to those who took part,” the company said. “If circumstances change in the future, we’ll review the position.”
Club treasurer David Farnsworth told reporters that the cancellation arrived by email two days before a scheduled June session. He said the group had completed the required risk assessments and safeguarding procedures and had operated for decades without problems.
“It’s discrimination because the management simply don’t like the idea of what we are doing,” Farnsworth told The Sun. He said the sessions were social rather than sexual and provided an important community for members.
The dispute has since spread from local reporting to the BBC, The Telegraph, the Mirror and other national outlets. The Mirror reported that the group was considering legal action, although no formal claim has been announced.
British Naturism has taken a more conciliatory approach. The national organization said Everyone Active has supported naturist events elsewhere and described the immediate obstacle as finding lifeguards for the Northampton sessions.
“British Naturism is working constructively with the company, the swim organizers and local councillors to find a positive solution,” it said. The organization added that the case demonstrates why organized naturism is needed to challenge misconceptions and protect established opportunities.
Northampton Sun Group chair Maggie Moreton told Planet Nude that the group expects to meet with British Naturism and others around mid-August. She declined to discuss the situation further before those talks but said the group had “a little more hope for a good outcome.”
The meeting may determine whether a 44-year tradition can return to Mounts Baths. Until then, the swimmers remain locked out while the company, the council and naturist advocates try to resolve a problem that did not exist before management changed hands. 🪐
I hope they get it worked out. It's saddening to see all these venues and events disappearing.