An award-winning café is set to expand with a new sauna this summer.
Launching on August 29, the latest feature at Oru Space will offer a new wellness destination in Dulwich for customers and local residents.
Oru Space on Lordship Lane has become a well-known community hub in East Dulwich, combining a café, restaurant, co-working space and wellness centre under one roof.
Opened just days before the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 by co-founders Vibushan Thirukumar and Paul Nelmes, the business has grown from a bold local venture into a thriving neighbourhood destination.
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Vibushan described Oru as an “organic and continual evolution and expression of our community”.
He said: "Our community has grown with us over the years and a lot of what Oru becomes is shaped by the people who use the space every day."
The new facility will feature a 10-person sauna, combining both traditional and infrared heating technologies, alongside hot and cold showers, changing facilities and dedicated wellness spaces.
The sauna will also be integrated into Oru's membership packages as an optional add-on, while women-only and men-only sessions will be available throughout the week.
Speaking about the project, Vibushan said: "The post-sauna glow is undeniable. With the regularity of this being incorporated into your day and heading in after a class, it is going to be a true game changer."
He added that one of the biggest benefits of regular sauna use is the opportunity to switch off from modern distractions.
"One of the biggest benefits was being away from tech – being completely tech-free. I could focus on, well, nothing, and it helped me a great deal."
According to Vibushan, the decision came after the team identified an underused area between Trinco restaurant, the yoga studios and the lounge space.
Rather than leave the area unused, they decided to transform it into a health and wellbeing facility that complements Oru's existing offer.
He said: "We gave it its own purpose and this would be the next thing I would incorporate into Oru for people's health and wellbeing."
The project also builds on experience gained while developing a larger spa facility at Oru Sutton.
"We loved the challenge of incorporating this 10-person sauna, cold and hot shower, two changing rooms and a bathroom into this small space," he added.
Customers can expect a premium wellness experience designed to reflect Oru's community-focused ethos.
The sauna has already generated excitement among customers after Oru jokingly announced it as a "naked sauna" in an April Fools' prank.
"People were in equal proportions horrified and excited," Vibushan said, but confirmed that the sauna will not be a naked sauna.
Over the years, Oru has built a loyal customer base, with many residents embracing its combination of food, co-working and wellbeing services.
Vibushan said: "People have been really supportive. They haven't been told too much and they are aware we have our own way of doing things."
The venue has become a popular destination for residents, offering Sri Lankan-inspired food, speciality coffee, flexible workspaces and a programme of wellbeing classes and events.
Its unique blend of hospitality, work and community-focused activities helped it secure the Good Food Awards' Best Café title in 2024, cementing its reputation as a neighbourhood "third space" beyond home and work.
Oru has expanded significantly since opening, with its kitchen doubling in size and an additional 24 co-working desks added upstairs.
The business has also grown beyond East Dulwich with the opening of Oru Sutton in 2023, further expanding the brand's presence across south London.
Explaining Oru's success, Vibushan said: "The plan was always to purely serve as many people from as many backgrounds as possible and to serve the local economy whilst adding social impact."
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