Jonny & Emma Ridley
Based in Seaton, Devon.

In 2016, we built a sauna in our back garden. It quickly became a sanctuary — somewhere to relax, slow down, and have space for solitude and reflection during busy times. Having a sauna at home made us appreciate the many and varied benefits of regular sauna use. This was the motivation to start Backyard Saunas and help others achieve the same.

Backyard Saunas is a small, family-run business – Jonny leads the design and build of each sauna, focusing on thoughtful craftsmanship and traditional principles. Emma looks after the website, social media, and advertising, helping to share what we do and connect with others who value rest and wellbeing.

We’re inspired by traditional Finnish saunas where layouts are designed to get the best löyly – the right balance of humidity, airflow, and heat – so saunas feels both efficient and deeply restorative.

Passionate about helping people access regular sauna use, we aim to share the relaxation and stillness it brings – something especially needed in today’s busy world.