FabSwingers.com > Forums > Swinging Club Discussion > Looks like blackpool connections is in trouble.....
Looks like blackpool connections is in trouble.....
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Just been reading the headlines online of the local Blackpool gazette andv it states that the council are trying to shut connections down...
The owner is appealing but I don't think too many customers would relish the council busybodies snooping round a club!!!
Not good news for those who attend |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If you believe what you read in the press or on a sex site,  |
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By *ugby 123Couple
over a year ago
Forum Mod O o O oo |
It is true if you want to read it on Blackpools council site. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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and only a rival would post it on here. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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This thread should be stopped now, before it actually does do some commerciaql damage, rumours, help no one! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This thread should be stopped now, before it actually does do some commerciaql damage, rumours, help no one!"
It's not a rumour |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"and only a rival would post it on here. "
I'm not sure what you are implying.....
I was reading the local rag online and that was the headline story.:...
I could have sworn that this was a forum discussing clubs....???
We have been to most clubs and hotels in Blackpool ...... |
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I was going for the first time on Sunday, not sure now having seen the article |
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"and only a rival would post it on here.
I'm not sure what you are implying.....
I was reading the local rag online and that was the headline story.:...
I could have sworn that this was a forum discussing clubs....???
We have been to most clubs and hotels in Blackpool ...... "
Well I agree this is a forum for discussing clubs and when someone has publicly available knowledge such as this whether from the press or the council web site, then I for one appreciate knowing about it.
Thanks for sharing the information. It will be interesting to see what happens regards this club. |
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By *ugby 123Couple
over a year ago
Forum Mod O o O oo |
"This thread should be stopped now, before it actually does do some commerciaql damage, rumours, help no one!"
It isn't a rumour, it is in the public domain if you look for it.
They are appealing with full support of the residents by the looks of it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I was going for the first time on Sunday, not sure now having seen the article "
I thought one rule of the forums was not to name and shame,
By scare mongering, already people are not going and the club will lose money.
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I thought one rule of the forums was not to name and shame,
By scare mongering, already people are not going and the club will lose money.
"
They've been given a closure order, surely that will lose them more money |
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By *ugby 123Couple
over a year ago
Forum Mod O o O oo |
Discussing clubs isn't naming and shaming, I really don't think you re reading what people are saying.
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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago
Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum |
"I was going for the first time on Sunday, not sure now having seen the article
I thought one rule of the forums was not to name and shame,
By scare mongering, already people are not going and the club will lose money.
"
Same thing happened to Ab Fabs earlier this year but I don't recall anyone complaining about that then. If its a discussion about a swinging club in the swinging club forum then I suspect its allowed. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"
By scare mongering, already people are not going and the club will lose money.
"
Would have thought being front page news in the local paper and a closure order by the local clowncil would have a more direct effect on trade than a discussion on here.....but I'm sure you know better......
Personally I hope he guy keeps the club open....the town is big enough for 2 clubs if not more and he seems to have invested a few bob in the place aswell..... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
By scare mongering, already people are not going and the club will lose money.
Would have thought being front page news in the local paper and a closure order by the local clowncil would have a more direct effect on trade than a discussion on here.....but I'm sure you know better......
Personally I hope he guy keeps the club open....the town is big enough for 2 clubs if not more and he seems to have invested a few bob in the place aswell....."
Local people are probably not customers,
looking at the clubs reviews here , many people on this site are. I only know what is written here, from my own experience, I know shit sticks, and by highlighting a problem, it does no one any favours. |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"
By scare mongering, already people are not going and the club will lose money.
Would have thought being front page news in the local paper and a closure order by the local clowncil would have a more direct effect on trade than a discussion on here.....but I'm sure you know better......
Personally I hope he guy keeps the club open....the town is big enough for 2 clubs if not more and he seems to have invested a few bob in the place aswell.....
Local people are probably not customers,
looking at the clubs reviews here , many people on this site are. I only know what is written here, from my own experience, I know shit sticks, and by highlighting a problem, it does no one any favours."
but the local paper are only reporting fact.. that it is subject to a closing order.... which can be found on the council website... (took me two minutes to find it)
I am sure that if the club wins the appeal... that will end up on a thread here as well....
as long as it is factual and not libelous.. I am still not sure what your issue is..... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Hoepfully the club will win.
If there is a gay sauna in Blackpool, we have no idea if there, but we are guessing the facilities are much the same and we would recommend the owners point out that if he is effectively running the same business for Hetrosexuals, why is it that the homosexual one is allowed to operate? This would be a very valid argument in any court case. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hoepfully the club will win.
If there is a gay sauna in Blackpool, we have no idea if there, but we are guessing the facilities are much the same and we would recommend the owners point out that if he is effectively running the same business for Hetrosexuals, why is it that the homosexual one is allowed to operate? This would be a very valid argument in any court case. "
connections was originally a gay sauna. I agree with what your saying and the local residents seem to have no issues. I think one of the main issues is that it has been opening beyond the hours allowed. |
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We used to go to connections at the start of this year - only stopped going as the travel was too far for us and we found charms a lot closer.
Personally - i liked connections, I liked Chris and the team.
With regards to Planning regs - I would consider it unusual for a "swingers" venue to be allowed in a residential area, however - as Chris has stated - if a gay sauna was allowed on planning regs, it would appear to be unfair for a swingers club not to be allowed in the same area.
IF the residents are not complaining he will have that on his side.
For me - the sad part is when he stood for Councillor - according to the paper report he only got 8 votes - thats a shame as even though "he runs a sex establishment" - he is passionate about Blackpool and doing good things for the community.
Wish him and the team all the best! |
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"Hoepfully the club will win.
If there is a gay sauna in Blackpool, we have no idea if there, but we are guessing the facilities are much the same and we would recommend the owners point out that if he is effectively running the same business for Hetrosexuals, why is it that the homosexual one is allowed to operate? This would be a very valid argument in any court case. "
Yes, we hope the club wins as well. Although we have never visited this one it isn't good for the lifestyle in general if local councils are able to close clubs at will. |
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The key to this judging by the newspaper article is that the club flouts it's planning permission by regularly opening beyound the hours that it's agreed to.
I seem to remember that the club was the subject of a forum thread when it opened where much of the argument was based around whether the club should stay open past it's permitted hours. As it appears in the argument in the paper fom the owner, the case that another Blackpool club (presumerably Infusions) allegedly doesn't have planning permission is irrelevant as the problem is Connections flouts its own planning permission and admit it.
Surely the solution to this was and is for the club to open and close within it's permitted hours and to obtain planning permission to open til 3am in the proper manner.
I've been to the club on the past and it appears to be a reasonable club with ambitious plans some of which can be seen to be happening. But if the owner continues to decide to flout the rules that he'll have agreed to in order to gave got the original planning permission passed then he is the author of his own downfall. |
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By *coobysMan
over a year ago
north west lancs |
there is a shut door time, after which surely its private time. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I have asked the BBC to launch an appeal Connections in Need. Terry Wogan has promised to host the night which will involve third rate artists looking to promote their Christmas wares. The marketing tool will be just that a large tool (maybe black in the interests of a civilised society)
We are asking for volunteers to dress in appropriate attire and stand outside various establishments with buckets and little flags.
This could an annual event? |
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Sounds like a call to the owner would potentially assist, to see how we can help. Connections In Need may not get run in time, if an order is already in the making. It's also good for management to know how much they're supported, as just seeing endless news articles, forum posts is sure to add stress to an awful experience for them. |
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"there is a shut door time, after which surely its private time."
No it's not. The people inside the club paid to enter the club, therefore they are customers. Plus should anything be charged for after midnight for example a cup of tea that would break the private time too.
If of course the owner was able to demonstrate that anyone in the club after midnight was a guest and hadn't paid to be there without of course ushering them all out at 11.55pm and letting them back in at 12.05am then he'd potentially have a case that it's a private non business party but then I suspect the financials wouldn't stack up. The problem is if course today in the article he is quoted as saying that the club us open till 3am on sat/sun mornings.
It's exactly the same with building a property. Flout the planning permission rules and the council have the power to pull the building down irrespective of how much it cost you to build it.
The owners clearly an intelligent man whom owns a hotel and ran got election as a councillor. He clearly knows what he is doing and the risks he takes by not sticking to the planning permission regulations. Time will tell what happens but I suspect the only possibility of the club staying open would be by strict compliance with the council conditions. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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With respect you are talking bollocks.
Firstly the planning system does not allow an enforcing authority to demolish an existing building that has been in existence for a specified period of time. The owner can apply for a certificate of lawful use. The enforcing authority can however exercise certain controls, both licensing and planning as to the use a building can be put to.ISuspect its a licencing issue (private club) that the authority are using to want to cease the current activities.
The owners should seek the advice of a specialist legal advisor.
Knock the building down? what utter rubbish. |
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By *irtydanMan
over a year ago
Blackpool |
"Hoepfully the club will win.
If there is a gay sauna in Blackpool, we have no idea if there, but we are guessing the facilities are much the same and we would recommend the owners point out that if he is effectively running the same business for Hetrosexuals, why is it that the homosexual one is allowed to operate? This would be a very valid argument in any court case.
connections was originally a gay sauna. I agree with what your saying and the local residents seem to have no issues. I think one of the main issues is that it has been opening beyond the hours allowed."
i read it yesterday and agree with you  |
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"With respect you are talking bollocks.
Firstly the planning system does not allow an enforcing authority to demolish an existing building that has been in existence for a specified period of time. The owner can apply for a certificate of lawful use. The enforcing authority can however exercise certain controls, both licensing and planning as to the use a building can be put to.ISuspect its a licencing issue (private club) that the authority are using to want to cease the current activities.
The owners should seek the advice of a specialist legal advisor.
Knock the building down? what utter rubbish."
If you'd read it properly I never said anything about knocking this building down. The assessment was simply that planning permission needs to be complied with. If a new building is built in the wrong place the council can indeed enforce its removal.
The crux of this is simply that the club is knowingly breaking the planning permission it's been granted and whether or not it wins it's case may well depend on how much money they want to spend on lawyers. If the club had simply closed at the times it's meant to there would have been no case to answer. |
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"The key to this judging by the newspaper article is that the club flouts it's planning permission by regularly opening beyound the hours that it's agreed to.
I seem to remember that the club was the subject of a forum thread when it opened where much of the argument was based around whether the club should stay open past it's permitted hours. As it appears in the argument in the paper fom the owner, the case that another Blackpool club (presumerably Infusions) allegedly doesn't have planning permission is irrelevant as the problem is Connections flouts its own planning permission and admit it.
Surely the solution to this was and is for the club to open and close within it's permitted hours and to obtain planning permission to open til 3am in the proper manner.
I've been to the club on the past and it appears to be a reasonable club with ambitious plans some of which can be seen to be happening. But if the owner continues to decide to flout the rules that he'll have agreed to in order to gave got the original planning permission passed then he is the author of his own downfall. "
This seems very sensible. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Sounds like a call to the owner would potentially assist, to see how we can help. Connections In Need may not get run in time, if an order is already in the making. It's also good for management to know how much they're supported, as just seeing endless news articles, forum posts is sure to add stress to an awful experience for them."
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Don't let the press or the stirrers put you off, this is a friendly club with good facilities and some great regular visitors.
Its open and will remain open.. for the foreseeable future |
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Can totally understand the people who didn't turn up but don't understand the people continually knocking the place?
We'd not been for a while and paid a visit last night x
Again lots of change hope people do give the place a visit I know their outlook would change x |
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By *ugby 123Couple
over a year ago
Forum Mod O o O oo |
"Can totally understand the people who didn't turn up but don't understand the people continually knocking the place?
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Not on this thread there isn't, in fact there seems a lot of support for it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It's a few months since I last visited connections, its not my first choice as my preferred venue,however I am a local here and see what goes on late at night, and I've spoken to Chris in the past. He runs the place well, its friendly and clean. Whatever time the place may shut, the people leaving are quiet and I can't see how they would disturb the residents any more than someone walking home from the pub.
Blackpool can be a fun place, with its many bars and clubs, it does seem unfair that the council would pick on him as they do, although if he is flaunting the rules of his license then, he's not helping himself.
There can be significantly more trouble in the town centre from those that can't handle there drink than from a swingers club just on the outskirts of the main town centre.
Personally, I hope he can stay open. It's a tourist town, we need diversity to survive. I just hope the council can see that. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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think i ca help Chris out with this one seems as though the council are forgetting who they work for |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Could anyone help us we were wanting to try the clubs scene out not sure were to go now confused.com  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The key to this judging by the newspaper article is that the club flouts it's planning permission by regularly opening beyound the hours that it's agreed to.
I seem to remember that the club was the subject of a forum thread when it opened where much of the argument was based around whether the club should stay open past it's permitted hours. As it appears in the argument in the paper fom the owner, the case that another Blackpool club (presumerably Infusions) allegedly doesn't have planning permission is irrelevant as the problem is Connections flouts its own planning permission and admit it.
Surely the solution to this was and is for the club to open and close within it's permitted hours and to obtain planning permission to open til 3am in the proper manner.
I've been to the club on the past and it appears to be a reasonable club with ambitious plans some of which can be seen to be happening. But if the owner continues to decide to flout the rules that he'll have agreed to in order to gave got the original planning permission passed then he is the author of his own downfall. "
I rest my case and people thought I had a vendetta all I wanted is for people to be aware of whats happening with this club |
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By *asbeenCouple
over a year ago
Leeds |
Breaking rule and regulations is fine if you get away wit it, but you can't cry when it comes on top.
parking on yellow lines,not paying and displaying,35mph in a 30, smoking in a bus shelter,allowing your dog to chase a rabbit,etc,etc.
If an agreement is signed with the local council to close at an agreed time, in order to obtain planing permission is it a wise decision to play extra time.???
how much, 10 minutes,Half an hour,4 hour??
It all comes down to greed and fear. |
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we hope connections wins hands down you cant have rules for one and not the other all the shit stirring will come back to haunt you big time go for it connections long may it last |
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I went for the first time today, don't let the papers put you off, it was clean, the staff (and customers for that matter) were very friendly and helpful, I had lots of fun |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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its a shame that any club closes down as theres not enough around as it is,just another poke at the swinging world from vanilla,
more vanilla peeps should try it before knocking it,
plus were not harming anyone doing it in a controlled environment. |
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By *ugby 123Couple
over a year ago
Forum Mod O o O oo |
Ok I have removed the last two posts as they are really personal and one of them looks like a vendetta.
I would advise keeping that away from the site.
Time to close I think. |
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