Gosport is about to welcome a bold new approach to wellbeing, and it’s arriving on four wheels.

Thanks to local resident and community champion Stu Benfield, Gosport’s first-ever ‘mobile’ ice bath and woodfired sauna unit has launched, offering residents a wonderful way to reset, reconnect, and build resilience.

The 7.5tonne converted truck, created by the founders of Men Who PLNGE and Women Who PLNGE, Stuart and Kat, brings contrast therapy directly to communities across Gosport and beyond. Inside, the truck houses two professional-grade ice baths and a handbuilt woodfired sauna that seats up to six people, creating a fully immersive wellness experience wherever it parks up.

A vision born from personal struggle and community strength

Stu’s journey to this moment began during one of the most difficult periods of his life. “I was recovering from an illness when I first discovered coldwater dipping,” he explains. “It was the first thing that made me feel grounded again. There was something about the shock of the cold and the way it forces you into the present. Well, that completely shifted my mindset. And then there were the connections that I made with the other people who attended. Collectively – it was powerful.”

At the time, Stu was living in Portsmouth and joined a local coldwater plunge group, finding comfort in the ritual and the sense of community it offered. When he later moved to Gosport, he realised how much he missed that sense of belonging. Rather than let the feeling fade, he decided to recreate it. What began as a handful of men meeting on the shoreline soon evolved into Men Who PLNGE, a weekly gathering at LeeontheSolent where cold water, conversation, and connection come together every Sunday.

The group has grown into a genuine lifeline for many, offering a space where men can talk openly, support one another, and build resilience together. “We get around 20 to 30 men turning up at the beach every Sunday,” Stu explains. “My partner Kat runs the women’s group a little further up the beach, and she gets around 70 women. So together there’s a real appetite for it, up to 100 locals showing up each week.”

Turning a dream into a 7.5tonne reality

For years, Stu dreamed of making the power of cold-water therapy accessible to everyone, not just those living near the sea or confident enough to plunge alone. Eventually, he decided to stop waiting for the right time and take a leap. He bravely applied for a £25,000 business loan, bought a 7.5tonne lorry, and set about transforming it into a mobile wellness space.

“It took about five weeks to refurb the lorry,” he says, “but honestly, it was such a fun time.” Stuart filmed the entire process for his 2,000 TikTok followers, which included everything from sanding and painting to installing the ice baths and building the sauna. Fellow Men Who PLNGE members also pitched in, turning the renovation into a community project filled with laughter, graft, and a shared sense of purpose.

While Stu was deep in tools, timber, and cold-water tanks, Kat was steering the ship behind the scenes by securing licences, sorting out insurance, shaping the brand, and building the marketing foundations. “So together,” Stu says, “we’re a strong team.”

The result is a mobile wellness unit designed to travel to workplaces, festivals, community events, and neighbourhoods, bringing contrast therapy to people who may never have tried it before.

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), Kat and Stuart plan to apply for funding to ensure that cost is never a barrier. “Everyone deserves access to tools that support mental and physical wellbeing, and we would love to be able to make the unit accessible to everyone,” says Stuart, full of hope.

For Stu, this project is about far more than ice baths and saunas. It’s about creating a space where people can pause, breathe, and reconnect with themselves and with each other.

“Ultimately, this is about creating a space where people can recover, reset and refuel,” Stu says. “Contrast therapy can transform your mindset, build resilience and help people reconnect.”

Stuart says the thing he loves most is how this brings the community together. “Our group has built genuine friendships, and that’s what this is about. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone, but into a space that’s welcoming and friendly, and with the truck – we can now come to you,” he laughs.   

Launch details

The mobile sauna opened on 7th February and is currently available at Gosport and Fareham Rugby and Football Club. Keep an eye on the website for further locations.

Weekly Session Times – Gosport and Fareham Rugby Club

TUESDAYS 6-8PM

THURSDAYS 6-8PM

FRIDAYS 10-8PM

SATURDAYS 10-8PM

SUNDAYS 11-2PM

Full 50minute sessions are available for £15

Get in touch

• Social sauna sessions + memberships available at PLNGE, Gosport Rugby Club
• Corporate team experiences (we can come to you!)
• Private hire
• Sponsorship & Partnerships

You can follow the team on Instagram: @plnge_uk