Beach Box Spa’s dramatic U-turn on female-only sessions sparks fury as customers accuse bosses of ‘capitulating to woke mob’
A trendy Brighton beach sauna has ignited a fierce backlash after abandoning its women-only policy following an online pile-on by transgender activists – with furious customers branding the business a “woman-hating team”.
Beach Box Spa had announced a female-only steam room session last Thursday, designed to allow women in swimwear to relax in the hot saunas without men present. But when asked on Instagram whether transgender women could attend, the spa initially confirmed it was for biological women only.
The decision sparked an immediate social media storm, with prominent transgender newsreader India Willoughby sharing the original post and accusing Beach Box of “excluding trans women from women’s spaces”.
Within hours, the seaside establishment performed a dramatic U-turn, issuing a grovelling apology and declaring that “trans women are women” – directly contradicting the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling just two months ago.
SUPREME COURT RULING IGNORED
In a stunning rebuke to Britain’s highest court, Beach Box’s reversal flies in the face of April’s unanimous Supreme Court judgment, which determined that for the purposes of the Equality Act, the terms “woman” and “sex” refer exclusively to biological sex.
The five judges ruled that trans women – even those with Gender Recognition Certificates – are legally male under equality legislation, clarifying that they can lawfully be excluded from single-sex spaces designated for women.
Lord Patrick Hodge, delivering the judgment, stated unequivocally: “The terms ‘women’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.
‘WOMAN-HATING TEAM’
The spa’s capitulation has provoked a torrent of criticism from women who feel their rights and safety have been sacrificed to appease activists.
One furious customer declared: “Beach Box is nothing but a woman hating team! They don’t think women should be afforded privacy or dignity! You make me sick.”
Another accused the business of “self-flagellation over supporting women’s right to safety, privacy and dignity”, calling the apology “sickening.
A third critic wrote: “This decision undermines women’s rights and safety”, while another customer accused the sauna of choosing to “alienate and offend women” rather than standing firm.
GROVELLING APOLOGY
In an extraordinary statement that has been described as “endless grovelling”, Beach Box management prostrated themselves before critics:
At Beach Box, we’ve always aimed to create an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone, regardless of gender, identity, background or lived experience. But this week, we made a mistake that caused hurt and disappointment, particularly within our trans communities. We want to say, with sincerity: we are truly sorry.
“We now understand that promoting or hosting a cis-only event goes against everything we believe in. It was wrong, and we take full responsibility for the harm this has caused. At Beach Box, we believe trans women are women and trans men are men.
The statement continued: “While we have undertaken LGBTQ+ inclusion training with the brilliant team at @lgbtswitchboard, it’s clear that we still have work to do.”
BRIGHTON UNDER FIRE
The controversy has reignited criticism of Brighton’s ultra-progressive culture, with social media users expressing dismay at what they see as the city’s complete capture by gender ideology.
“Is anything in Brighton not completely captured? Not sure I’d want to live there,” one Mumsnet user commented.
Another added: “You couldn’t pay me to live in Brighton. Full of the smuggest wokiest wankers imaginable.”
A third revealed: “I recently met a couple trying to move away from Brighton. They were very motivated to move. I wonder why.”
PATTERN OF INTIMIDATION
Local women report this is just the latest in a string of incidents where female-only spaces have been attacked in the seaside city.
One regular customer lamented: “This is a real shame. I love that sauna and use it a lot. Last week the TRA [trans rights activist] tantrum was about women having a consultation on women’s health in the library. Before that the tantrum was about lesbians wanting to celebrate same-sex attraction at Pride. This week it’s about women wanting a peaceful sauna without being ogled by men.”
LEGAL QUESTIONS RAISED
Legal experts have pointed out that Beach Box’s new policy may itself be discriminatory and potentially illegal. By advertising sessions for “women and trans women”, the spa appears to be excluding men who don’t identify as women – a potential breach of sex discrimination laws.
“On what basis are they now excluding men who don’t identify as women?” one observer questioned, noting that if the sessions are open to anyone who identifies as a woman, they cannot legally exclude other men.
THE WILLOUGHBY FACTOR
The intervention of India Willoughby, Britain’s first transgender national television newsreader, proved pivotal in forcing Beach Box’s climbdown.
Willoughby, who has previously been involved in high-profile rows with author JK Rowling and was a controversial contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, shared the spa’s original Instagram post to her followers, sparking the backlash that led to the policy reversal.
The 59-year-old broadcaster has been a lightning rod for controversy, once describing drag as “the equivalent of blackface” and reporting Rowling to police for “misgendering” – though Northumbria Police determined no crime had been committed.
BRIGHTON’S TRACK RECORD
The Beach Box controversy is the latest in a series of clashes over women’s rights in Brighton, which has become a flashpoint in the gender identity debate.
The city, long known for its large LGBTQ+ population and progressive politics, has seen repeated conflicts between women’s rights campaigners and trans activists, with venues and organisations frequently bowing to pressure from the latter.
BUSINESS BACKLASH
Despite Beach Box’s attempts to appease critics, the damage to their reputation among female customers appears severe.
The spa, which opened on Brighton beach and offers wood-fired saunas with sea views, had built a loyal following among women seeking relaxation and respite.
Now many are threatening to boycott the establishment, with one declaring: “Everyone welcome except women apparently.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Beach Box controversy exemplifies the broader conflict playing out across Britain, as institutions grapple with balancing women’s rights with trans inclusion demands.
Coming just two months after the Supreme Court’s definitive ruling on the legal definition of “woman”, the spa’s capitulation demonstrates how activist pressure can override both the law and women’s safety concerns.
As one critic observed: “One day when the dust clears they will wake up blinking and wonder if it was all just a covid dream.”
For now, women seeking a genuinely female-only sauna experience in Brighton will have to look elsewhere – another victory for the “woke mob” and another defeat for women’s rights in Britain’s most progressive city.
