We nipped into City Celts on Friday as part of our reconnaissance of clubs we have not been to before hitting Chams on NYE (we went to The Attic in the evening).
Our honest thoughts....
Location is amazing and quite surprising. It's right next to the exit door from the main shopping centre. Literally, right next door. As it's open from 10am it does present opportunities for a quick jacuzzi/steam/sauna combined with a shopping trip, which is fairly unique for swinger clubs.
The venue itself is owned by the same folks who own the Celts gay sauna, although that isn't that unusual (Chams and the Greenhouse sauna are owned by the same guy after all). It's quite a small place, has a few little play rooms, a small jacuzzi (fits about 4), a small sauna and quite a decent steam room. It also has some unusual things, which are worth mentioning....
Firstly, they make it clear that they are not a judgemental sauna and it's open to everyone from any sexuality or fetish. One of the things they push is the 'TV day' which runs concurrently with the standard day on Fridays, when we went. As well as welcoming TV's, they even have a wardrobe of clothes and a chest with more lady-stuff if people want to dress up but don't have the kit themselves. It's not something that interests us, but it was a nice touch.
Secondly, they have a large cellar with dungeon and cinema/DVD area. Not that unusual in itself, but to get down there you have to descend a couple of staircases, which happen to be shared with the local dance studio next door - so there is a rule that you have to go down the stairs in one of the (provided) dressing gowns. Apparently, the times the dance studio are open are not really in major conflict with most times the sauna is open but it's a somewhat amusing quirk!
I won't lie - the decor and fitting in the place is a little dated and rough around the edges. I suspect that is inherited from it's gay-sauna origins before it became a swingers sauna three years ago. It's clearly in an old office suite and if you glance past the main rooms it is clear that it isn't a fully fitted club like Chams or VA. It is what it is though, and shouldn't necessarily put anyone off.
The lady who runs the place (I'm sorry I've forgotten her name) was great - she was instantly welcoming, told us where everything was and nattered to us over a drink when we sat in the reception area to cool off. It's a 'dress-down' sauna venue (i.e.. like Chams, you get changed into a towel on arrival), and it was a nice touch to find free condoms and lube - and a sarong(!) - in the lockers - I guess another carry-over from the gay sauna origins, and perhaps something that other bigger clubs could learn from.
On the day we visited it was REALLY quiet, but that could partly be because of the proximity to NYE and partly because of all the snarled up shopping traffic in Leicester that day. There was a few single guys - all very respectful and not at all the kind who follow couples around - of which we were the only one in there to start with, and a couple of TV's who seemed to be doing their own thing in various corners of the club.
The only downside clientele wise was a bit later in our visit when two couples appeared who just seemed a bit out-of-sorts with the place. I don't want to cast assertions as to who they were or what they were there for, but I guess this is the downside to being a sauna right in the heart of the city/shopping area. In this case, I didn't get the feeling they were swingers at all, and it did make things a little uncomfortable for a while.
I know the place isn't listed on the club listings on fab (intentionally, I believe) and this is why it is lesser known than others in the area. Personally, whilst we enjoyed the visit, I don't think it will ever be challenging our choices of club (Chams/VA) to go to, although knowing it is there is good - especially if we need some shopping and can mix it with a quick sauna! If we go again in the future, I'd hope to see it a bit busier though so we can see what a busier atmosphere is like...
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