The Hwb has partially opened with a nail bar and hair salon currently open and taking bookings, and a reiki therapy space opening later this week. The race is on to complete the development of the space, with saunas and cold plunge pools adding the final pieces to the services on offer.

The space is operated by Jake Hudson, 41, a veteran from the area and the venture began as Jake started his mental health journey. A Royal Navy veteran, Jake served for six years until he was flown home on compassionate leave for his mother’s funeral after she passed away unexpectedly.  Whilst home on compassionate leave, Jake would end up in a situation that led to a conviction for actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, which he served.

Once released, Jake turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with his problems and would eventually ask for help with his mental health.

Health Hwb will be fully open for business in the coming weeks (Image: Supplied) He found that using saunas helped with his recovery. The only issue was that the sauna he preferred to visit was in Pembrokeshire with now-business partner Helen George. So, Jake is bringing the therapy to Barry so that others can utilize holistic therapies and see their benefits.

Jake said: “It’s just amazing. The nail tech and hair salon have been open 3 weeks and the feedback we’ve had has been amazing.

“We’ve had a running joke through all this that says, ‘I only wanted to go for a sauna’, and all of this has built from it.”

The downstairs area is currently being transformed into a contrast therapy room. Visitors will be able to spend time in a sauna (both traditional Finnish and infrared) and then complete an ice plunge. This contrast therapy room will be coined the ‘Vitality Vault’, utilising the building’s old bank vault to house the plunge pools. 

Once open, the contrast therapy room will have a day dedicated to veteran-only use. With veterans already resonating with his story and visiting from all ends of the country to come and visit, Jake is determined to make this a safe space for veterans 24/7. He is intent on using this business for purpose, not profit.

Jake (left) and the part of the team bringing Health Hwb to life (Image: Supplied) Jake said: “All of this has organically grown for the right reasons. I’m not taking on pressure I don’t need, but it feels right.”

Ever since speaking out about his problems, Jake has found that his life has gotten ‘better every day’, as he simply has nothing to hide anymore.

He said: “There’s a lot of people not just in Barry but across the UK and the main reason they’re struggling is because they don’t feel safe to talk about what they’ve done and how they feel. But I’m going to start in this high street and break that down because everyone deserves to be heard.

“What I’m doing isn’t about me, it’s about everyone.”