A PRIVATE sex club described as “a Disney World for adults” is due to open in an historic Exmoor mansion next Friday (January 25).

The ‘Exclusively Silks’ £80-a-night luxury club, claimed to be the “hottest and newest lifestyle venture”, is part of the refurbished Croydon Hall in the Brendon Hills near Rodhuish.

And with some residents in the area concerned that the club, which will stay open until 4am, would create noise, traffic problems and disorderly behaviour, joint owner Allan McCloud said this week he intended to visit neighbouring houses to allay fears that the club would cause any problems.

He told the Free Press that he would happily meet anyone who was worried about the project and discuss their concerns: “We live here and we want to be friends with everyone in the community.”

Since the new owners took over Croydon Hall in November, the building has been extensively converted into themed “playrooms” to cater for a wide range of sexual tastes and activities.

Mr McCloud said it would be run as a hotel, with initially eight luxury en-suite rooms, and the “swingers’ club” would at first be open at weekends. Some club members would stay in the hotel and others would be accommodated in hotels and B&Bs in the area. Drinking time ended at 11pm or midnight and many members would leave around that time, rather than 4am.

Mr McCloud said there had already been massive interest in Exclusively Silks online: “We have taken legal advice to make sure that what we do is 100 per cent legal,” he said.

“We call it a Disney World for adults and there is certainly a demand for an up-market well-run swingers’ club in this area.”

West Somerset Council’s licensing chairman Cllr Richard Lillis said: “If properly managed and respecting the views of local people, there is no reason why this club should not operate in the community.”

Residents have told the Free Press that rumours circulating in the area since the house changed hands in November have caused some concern.

One, who asked not to be named, said: “We are very apprehensive about what this new venture will bring. This is a little corner of West Somerset which has always been unspoiled.”

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