A real Turkish delight – but this one you can’t eat.
Smithdown Road; home to all walks of life and one very special cheese cake factory. Many know the area very well but did you know that amongst the plethora of shops, there’s an authentic Turkish Bath? A Turkish bath is the Islamic variant of the Roman bath, steam bath, sauna, or Russian banya, distinguished by a focus on water, as distinct from ambient steam. In Western Europe, the “Turkish bath” as a method of cleansing and relaxation became popular during the Victorian era. We caught up with married couple, Carol and Adam, to find out what it’s like to be behind something so unique.
Hello! When did the company start?
Adam & Eve Turkish Bath opened in January 2016. It was the idea of me; Carol Durmus (a Scouser born and bred in Wavertree) and my Turkish husband Adam Durmus, who has worked in Turkish hammams for over 19 years before moving to Liverpool.
Tell us about the tradition of a Turkish bath
The tradition of the Turkish bath (or hammam) started centuries ago during the Ottoman Empire and is an important part of the Turkish culture even today. People do it for health and cleanliness, a visit at a Turkish bath is therapy for the mind and body. It’s also a part of the Islamic tradition, in which cleanliness is associated with godliness.
A Turkish bath goes like this: after a short period in the sauna, the client lies down on a warm tiled bed in the hammam room where an attendant scrubs them thoroughly and washes them with Turkish soap lather. This is followed by a Turkish massage which focuses on detoxifying the body by improving circulation and digestion and relaxing the nervous system. Some Turkish baths are clothing optional, but we frown upon nakedness and ask each client to bring a bath suit.
The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, who is legendary for her beauty, is said to have visited Tarsus, the town where Adam comes from. One of her beauty rituals was bathing in milk and honey. In the Turkish baths, we use olive oil and honey soap to replenish the freshly scrubbed skin. At the entrance of our hammam, there is a figurette of Cleopatra herself, awaiting the clients.
Why should people visit?
We are the only place in the North West that offers the authentic experience of a Turkish Bath and our clients love it. Those that have been on holiday in Turkey and tried it know what we are talking about. We take care of our clients from the moment when they come in through the door and until they sign out. The atmosphere in the hammam is relaxing, our staff is friendly and the whole sequence of treatment leaves the body clean and the mind refreshed. It’s amazing to see the difference after 90 minutes of treatment!
Also, because we’re just outside the city centre we can keep the overheads low and offer high quality services at competitive prices. We have also created local employment for three masseuses/masseurs who are now also trained in Turkish massage. We’re not aware of anyone else that offers this kind of massage in Liverpool.
Address: 187 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 2HD