A pub has secretly reopened as a bondage club – and town hall chiefs are powerless to shut it down.
The Rifle Volunteer in Stockport is at the end of a quiet block of terraced homes just yards from a park. From the outside it still looks like a pub – but inside it is a thriving fetish establishment which boasts on the internet of offering ‘mistress worship’, ‘punishments’ and ‘the finest dominatrix in Manchester’.
Neighbours are demanding the club be closed. But the council say the change to bondage club did NOT need planning permission.
Police have also visited the premises on Carrington Road, and say there is no evidence of any illegal activity.
Mum Katie Stringer, 31, who lives on the street, said: "I don’t like something like that in the neighbourhood and it’s not something you want at the end of your road. It would be good to see it closed."
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I have lived around here for 20 years. It doesn’t reflect well on the area and I would like to see it shut down."
Labour councillor Philip Harding said: "Considering this site is close to houses and the road is used by schoolchildren one would have considered this to be a totally unsuitable place to have such an establishment."
The pub, near Vernon Park, has been derelict since it closed in 2000. It was sold six years ago.
Now it has emerged that, since last year, it has been operating as The Slave Academy – a bondage club that takes bookings on the internet before directing clients to the building.
The operators of the club were unavailable for comment.
But ‘Mistress Valeska’, one of the women who works there, told the M.E.N: "This is a fetish academy and there is no sex involved. For me it’s more like my hobby.
"When I first came here this building was knee deep in used syringes and filth and I have given it a new lease of life. I don’t feel I am doing anything wrong and am proud of what I have done. I don’t break any laws and I don’t rip people off."
A leaked letter from senior council planning officer Dave Westhead confirmed the town hall was aware of what was happening but had no legal power to act. He said the fact bondage clubs did not fall into any official planning category meant there was no automatic requirement to seek planning permission.
The only relevant question, he said, were whether it had caused an increase in noise or traffic – but not ‘people’s perception of the morality of particular use’.
He wrote: "At this time, therefore, the council is satisfied that the current use of the premises does not have an adverse effect on the amenity of the local area.
"As such the current use is lawful and does not require the submission of a planning application to the council."
A spokesman for Stockport council said: "If there are concerns regarding activities at the premises, we work closely with other agencies, including the police, to investigate and take action."
Land Registry records show that the building is currently owned by Rancourt Limited, a London-based management company. A spokeswoman confirmed it was the landlord but refused to comment further.
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So, no planning permission needed for bondage clubs. Planning permission just needed for quiet householders wanting a modest extension to improve their property. Yes, that sound like modern socialist Britain.
"Backlash" at bondage club! lol nice one MEN.
Can't see the fuss. Would the residents rather have a MuckDonalds on their street?
Can you tell me how to get there....please.....mistress?
It seems fairly discreet. There are much worse things you could have at the end of your road such as petty criminals and anti-social neighbours who treat the street as if it's their own and make their neighbours' lives hell.
give all the neighbours free entry, they will stop moaning then !
'Backlash'! Is that one of the services on offer?
Would have thought the odd sound of a whip cracking is far less worse than fighting and shouting drunks late at night. Still would have thought the residents could easily shut it down themselves.
"The operators of the club were unavailable for comment."
Why ? Were they all tied up
Big deal. At least the building isn't going derelict and it isn't being used. Bondage fetish isn't my cup of tea but hey, it takes all sorts and as long as there's no loud noise into the small hours and there's no increased crime then I don't see the problem.
Not into that nonsense myself but If you dont like it I suggest you dont visit it.
Well done. Nice to hear that an otherwise derelict building has been put to good use. The residents need to stop moaning.
.... and groaning.
people are happy enough to have pubs at the end of their street so they should get off their high horses
Harmless, though I suppose they would prefer a derelict building infested with heroin addicts as it was previously.
"Backlash: Neighbours in uproar as Stockport pub turns into bondage club"
Shouldnt there be a whiplash as well as a backlash
Isn't it funny if this had been converted to a Moslem cultural centre, no one would have dared complain, nor a disabled centre, or even a gay club, but if something happens even slightly outside of those areas which Liebour have forced 'tolerance' upon people, there is huge outcry.
So some people get off on being slapped or bossed around, what's the problem how is it affecting the people complaining? Is someone forcing them to join in?
The comments made by the Liebour councillor are exactly the same as he would have been making about a gay club only a few years ago, all this only goes to show that there is a thin veneer of tolerance and you don;t have to scratch very deep to reveal the nastiness beneath. It is of course total hypocrisy, but then that's what poiticians are best at.
A spokesperson for the council said:
We do try to give people a fair crack of the whip but our hands are tied.
Can't see the problem myself. What harm are they doing? Did the 'outraged' neighbours know about it before a reporter knocked on their door and told them? I think not.
so what...dont you think everyone should have a place to go and act out their fetishes without it being wrong....i bet there a thousands of people out there wanting something like this....its been going on for many years !!!
Can't see what all the fuss is about. No traffic, no noise, no music, no sex, no drugs, no litter, no parking problems, no big sign outside. Just Mistress Valeska going about her business on a main arterial road. Who's getting hurt.
I bet the neighbours would be well cheesed off if this turned into a loud fun pub disco eatery thingy open until 2am. Live and let live.
We nice to see the neighbours are not tongue tied about place.
Going off their website, they do foot fetishist amongst other things, plus a good code of conduct, so I'm booking for Mistress K to walk all over my bad back in killer 9 inch high heels. Works for me...
If there is no category for a bondage club,then their hands are tied!
Would they rather their child go inside and step on a syringe?? I think not....
"Considering this site is close to houses and the road is used by schoolchildren one would have considered this to be a totally unsuitable place to have such an establishment."
Establishments like this tend to operate a strict door policy and offer no clue from the outside of what is going on, with business drummed up via the internet and word of mouth. Also, I would imagine any "activity" takes place at night so would have absolutely no impact whatsoever on schoolchildren.
People need to get over their knee-jerk reactions and realise that a club like this is harming nobody. On the contrary, as it has brought a derelict building back into use it could even be seen as an asset to the area.