Last weekend we visited The Couples Club . It's located in Surry Hills, an inner city suburb of Sydney. With restaurants, pubs, cafés, a 7/11 and a four star hotel nearby it has everything You would need for a fun night out. It's an impressive venue with a long history in the Lifestyle.

What impressed us most about the place was the care and pride that John and Nicola take in their club. According to them "with 18 years of ambience the club has evolved" to what it is today. "Since 1990, 15 other clubs have opened in opposition" and most of them have closed. John told us he thinks "a city needs a population of around 5,000,000 to sustain one viable swingers club". Greater Sydney just barely meets this criterion. "Less populous cities like Melbourne and Brisbane will struggle".

The club first started in around 1988 and John and Nicola took over 7 years ago. Nicola told us their aim was to provide an "open environment" where "people can make their own fun". We arrived very early so there weren't very many people there, but by the time we Left a few obviously regular couples started arriving.

The people that arrived as we were leaving seemed very happy to be there. They were obviously very comfortable in ‘their' club. The atmosphere is best described as comfortable and cosy. The temperature inside the lounge area is comfortable, the lounges themselves are comfortable. We felt vert at Home as soon as we sat down.

The club is on the upper floors of an office building. There is a discreet Entry off Commonwealth St so you are unlikely to run into anyone unexpectedly. It is split over two levels. The upper level is a lounge area with a cosy dance floor. The downstairs are consists of a number of tastefully decorated Play rooms. There is an outdoor courtyard area with a view of the city skyline where people can smoke, and a small pool room. There is a Ladies only bathroom with shower.

Typically people arrive between 9:30 and 10pm. The Friday night prior to our visit saw about 40 couples. The demographic depends largely on the time. Later in the evening about half the patrons are in their 30's. Early on the age group tends to be a little older. the Each night at around 11.15pm the club hosts either a female or male stripper which seems to get patrons in the mood. After the stripper they tend to wander downstairs to the play areas. Later people return to the lounge area dressed in the robes the club provides.

We had a long chat with John and Nicola despite them having to run round attending to patrons as they arrived. John explained that his motivation for running the club was that "it is a hobby, but I derive great joy from the lifestyle and running the club". We asked them where they get their inspiration for Couples Club. It comes from all the other clubs they visit around the world. John is an interesting person to talk to. He has absolutely No front. He comes across in a "take me as you find me way". We think that is part of his appeal with newer couples. He told us he might "try to build a few bridges" with the newer couples, but for the most part he'll "let them work it out for themselves".

The Couples Club is open Friday and Saturday for couples only and Sunday is a couples plus event where single guys are vetted at the door. John explained that the single guys must meet certain criteria and he vets them personally. He has to see them, and he encourages variety. On Friday and Saturday nights the couples only policy is very strict. They told us single guys are not allowed alone in the play areas. They have a very clever non-confronting way of ensuring this. Rather than ask the guy to leave the play area they simply ask the girl to stay with her guy. Admission includes finger food and soft drink. They stopped supplying alcohol as part of the cover charge some time ago because of liability issues.

We'll definitely go back to the Couples Club and leave the notepad behind sometime soon.

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Swingfest   | Author | 2008-04-09 19:45:25 Good to hear the place is thriving. We started our Swinging life in that very club. I am happy that the original owner was able to find someone as nice as him to take it over. We only ever hear good stuff about CC. We'll get back there next time in Sydney for sure. Thanks for the rundown P & L. Cheers Wayne Reply | Quote You need to be logged in to vote

petitmiam - Oohh.   | Registered | 2008-04-10 05:51:33 CC looks great. Soon as I have a holiday I'm going to Sydney to visit~! Reply | Quote You need to be logged in to vote

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