Trevor and Tish Dodson, Horsham Salt Spa (©AAH Magazine/Alan Wright Photography)
Horsham Salt Spa was established in August 2025 by husband-and-wife Trevor and Tish Dodson. It is located at Gough House – which many will remember as the long-time headquarters of Horsham Conservatives – in Madeira Avenue, opposite the Park Surgery.
Trevor – also known for his Fabulous Trevor Dodson Tribute to Elvis act, and Tish – who is also a Yoga and Pilates instructor – have worked hard to create an authentic salt spa experience. They spent countless hours adding salt to the walls using specialist adhesive, recreating some of the aura and atmosphere of natural salt caves found in Poland and elsewhere in Eastern Europe.
Tish said: ‘Previously, we lived near a salt cave in London. I had always suffered with allergies and would often feel clogged up, but found that salt caves helped me. I visited one cave regularly and believe it had a positive and lasting impact on my health. Unfortunately, Trevor contracted sarcoidosis, a rare inflammatory disease that impacts the lungs and lymph nodes, causing coughing and shortness of breath. Consequently, he had to sell his businesses in London and we relocated to Horsham in 2018, with our three children.
‘Trevor continued to suffer with various symptoms, and I would often remark that it was a pity we couldn’t visit the salt caves, as I felt it would help him. So, we made the decision to create our own salt spa, as there was nothing like it in town, with local people seeking such an experience having to travel to Brighton or London.’
Trevor is an Elvis impersonator (©AAH Magazine/Alan Wright Photography)
Just a Placebo?
Horsham Salt Spa has invested in two salt machines, known as halogenerators. These grind down pure sodium-chloride crystals into microscopic particles, which are fed through a fan and dispersed into the room via a hole in the wall. Once in the air, dry salt takes effect, helping revitalise the body by clearing airways to improve breathing. Salt is also a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, which aids skin health too. There have been very few comprehensive scientific studies conducted on its effects, but research by the American Lung Association found that salt therapy could – potentially – offer more than just a placebo effect. Tish is in no doubt as it its benefits…
‘Salt mines have been around for a long time,’ she said. ‘In the 19th century, a Polish physician noticed that men working in salt mines didn’t have any of the same lung or respiratory problems as those working in other mines. That is why natural salt mines have become very popular in Eastern Europe.
‘I continue to teach Pilates and Yoga at Total Therapy Studios in Horsham, and often see people struggling with their breathing. This can be a result of long-Covid, but can also be related to common colds, allergies or even triggered by traffic congestion. I always encourage people to breathe through the nose rather than the mouth, as this helps filter allergens and increases your oxygen intake.
‘The micro salt particles of the spa increase the benefits, as salt natural cleanses the airways. As it has anti-inflammatory properties, it kills bacteria, opens the airways and works its way down to the lungs, helping you breathe more easily. This can also help with loud snoring and disorders such as sleep apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), by improving the respiratory process and allowing more oxygen to the brain. This in turn improves your memory and spatial-awareness.’
Children’s room at Horsham Salt Spa (©AAH Magazine/Alan Wright Photography)
Soothing Sounds
The Horsham Salt Spa has two rooms for treatments. The main salt room has chairs and foot stools for up to 10 people, as well as blankets for those who need them (or want to keep salt off their clothes). Each session lasts for 45 minutes and people can book individually, or as a group.
With soft lighting and soothing, meditative sounds provided, it’s no wonder that some doze off while in the salt spa. While people are free to spend the time as they wish – you can use your mobile phone or even read a book – most prefer to switch off and enjoy the relaxation. The space is also used for a wide range of workshops, physical assessments and treatments with Tish, including posture assessments and sleep resets, while the salt spa also hosts Yoga and Pilates. The second room is designed for children aged under 13. Here, they can play with toys and be entertained while the salt gently aids their breathing.
Tish says: ‘We see many children who have ADHD, are on the autistic spectrum, or have difficulty concentrating, and their families often find that salt helps calm them down. When it comes to the autonomic nervous system, there are two main branches: There’s the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which triggers a “fight-or-flight” response in humans, such as being chased by a lion, in which we take short breaths and our heart rate increases; the para sympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is the body’s “rest-and-digest” position, where our heart-rate is lower, breathes are longer, and we return to a state of equilibrium. Salt spas help us stay calm by promoting the PSNS.
‘The other benefit is salt’s impact on the skin. If you suffer from conditions such as eczema, it’s a good idea to expose your arms in the spa, allowing salt to penetrate the pores. The benefits are innumerable, so now it’s just a matter of letting people know we are here.’
Further information: Visit: Gough House, Madeira Avenue, Horsham, RH12 1AB or online at: www.horshamsaltspa.co.uk
Originally published in AAH (All About Horsham) Magazine on 1st April 2026. Words by Ben Morris. Photography by Alan Wright.