Please refresh the page and retry. A sadomasochist swingers club with a dungeon and torture chamber has been shutdown over health and safety concerns. The Vivente private members club in Sunderland has been closed down for not complying with fire regulations.
Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard that as many as 60 revellers could be crammed into the club, which described itself as having a "whole new modern approach to the swinging lifestyle". An old website for the club said the basement dungeon was "complete with St Georges Cross, stocks, sex-swing and plenty of implements to inflict pain".
Mr Wotherspoon said that "fire risks were aggravated by the presence of equipment" which would make it tricky for people to escape in the event of a fire. Jim Wotherspoon, prosecuting on behalf of Sunderland City Council and Tyne and Wear Fire Service, said authorities were informed on April 21, that the property did not meet health and safety standards.
He said: "The rear entrance was hidden but when you went to it, it was locked from the outside with roller shutter coming down and there was no way it could be used in the event of a fire. A fire service manager and station manager attended the premises the following evening, disturbing 15 people who had already arrived for the evening. He said: "They went in through a locked door which was locked behind them so you could not get out without someone opening it for you.
Defending solicitor, Duncan Emerson, said that this was necessary because, if members smoked outside, "neighbours would throw items like bottles" at them. The property, four stories including the basement, was littered with "various items for use by members of the club". The court heard, walls were left un-plastered and exposed wiring was visible as the place was still not renovated or fully decorated.
