 | Club F Stanley – We attended the club on a ‘themed night’ on a Saturday, Saturdays are mixed but singles are limited and must book ahead.
Club F (Not be confused with F Club in London) had a couple of different premises and owners and really only began to hit the ground running about three years ago. The club itself is run by the very affable Sue, Dean and Rachael all of whom have different interests in the ever expanding ‘Alternative lifestyle’. Though seen primarily as a Swingers venue the club runs numerous S & M themed nights and transgender events and an even a gay club on Sundays. There isn’t an abundance of clubs in the North East so it’s just as well that what’s on offer here is pretty good.
The club itself is located in the town of Stanley in a converted coach house. It’s spread over four levels. The ground floor consists of the reception / lounge, which is unremarkable and can be a little deceptive in terms of what to expect from the rest of the club. Past here you can access the changing area and lockers, and a doorway takes you through the dance floor and bar, its BYOB here. There’s plenty of seating but it was packed out. Back past the changing area are the showers, a steam room, sauna, a sun lounge and a small 6 man Jacuzzi. There is also an outside courtyard for smokers and an indoor sun lounge which is often the heart of social activity. Back the way you came there are stairs leading to the basement. Descend to the right there is an open play area with beds and a small movie room, there are two more lockable plays rooms (Privacy optional) and a dark groping box. To the left is the fully equipped Dungeon, not just with the usual sling but whipping bench, wheel of doom, coffin, restraints but it also includes all the toys and whips to go with it. This area is not always open, and is often overseen by a resident Master or Mistress (The former, Bob, a lovely chap who still looks great in leathers at a mature age)
Back on the ground floor, other stairs lead to the first floor where there are three other main play areas. The first is a group room, the second is a Couples Only room, its split in two parts, the inner of which has a huge circular bed on which a competition is frequently employed to see how many people can get on it before someone falls off or young Ann dives in the middle, which ever happens first!! We put this room to good use. The last room contains a very large bed, a second sling and another grope box. On the second floor is the club accommodation. There are five rooms that can be booked for staying over - two are singles and three of the larger rooms you can share with another couple for less of the cost. We recommend booking these with friends though it’s not uncommon for two couples to meet for the very first time by sharing a room this way.
Be clear, when you are reading this, we liked this club from our warm welcome when we arrived until we left, we had a great time. So any criticisms/suggestions that follow should be considered minor, as there were very few gripes at all. The positives were all very major - People here were super friendly, the club was well run, the midnight buffet was well above the average fare, it was clean and the staff from Sue, Dean, to Phillip the Paul Daniels lookalike with the bowtie were all excellent - People socialised, people played and it was a great night, there was also a good mix of ages and types of couples and singles here. Couples not wanting the company of single men should not be put off coming here, as they are few and well behaved if not entirely well dressed. The theme nights are monthly and if you haven’t been to the club before as a Couple, then gravitate towards one of those for your best experience. The music here was a bit mish mash, and there is no DJ due to the license but there is plenty of room to dance. The accommodation upstairs doesn’t have en-suites, (impossible to add due to the nature of the building) but there is a massive toilet and shower block on the other side of the corridor, and the rooms themselves are very nice and comfortable. Be aware the best and biggest one is already booked for the rest of the year. We suggested converting the block to a wet room in the future. On a theme night, after parties in the rooms upstairs are common, so if you want a good kip, come on a regular weekend when the club is not as busy. You can also crash over in the club itself for a small fee and they will change the bedding for you before you do so. Although this club perhaps lacks a cohesive style and presentation in its decor to give a certain wow factor you will soon finds this matters little to the evening. The play rooms were packed, and it’s the first time we have ever seen a staff member come around with a tray of cold water for people in the middle of a hot and sweaty session. Truly a Kodak moment and one that had us reaching for a glass. The dungeon is tons of fun to, it makes it a great venue for those who have a mutual interest in BDSM or visa versa, though a ‘no talking’ sign here would make for a better atmosphere. We made some great friends on the night, and will be back here again though it’s too far for us to ever be regulars, but those more local should certainly give it a visit. The overall look of the place maybe a little bit of a mixed bag, but it’s a great club with a warm and friendly atmosphere, packing loads between its walls, which you would be hard pushed not to have a good time in and with reasonable entry fees and membership prices, it’s not too hard on the wallet either. Recommended, especially if your looking for a club in the North East and have yet to find one.
Date: 18 June 2012
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