WE'VE covered a fair few bizarre, sordid things since Confidential first announced the arrival of a series of exclusive invite-only sex parties to Manchester in 2014.
Killing Kittens lost its exclusivity. The vetting was lax
We've been accosted by a man with a spanking paddle at Britain’s largest sex exhibit, Sexhibition; we've reviewed the 'cockadoodle’ comic porn exhibit; we've had a personalised erotic story written by a lady sat on Thomas Street; we found a Mancunian escort offering student discount; whilst most recently, we were asked by a stranger to strip naked for art.
My point is, the news that another exclusive orgy party recently launched in Manchester is not even the weirdest thing we’ve heard this week.
Following the success of Killing Kittens, the female-friendly sex party launched in 2014, one of its organisers, Natalie Bridge, has gone rogue with a similar proposition called Elysium. So what's new?
“We’re not doing the whole mask thing,” says Bridge, “If you saw a load of people walking around in masks then you’d probably know what they were up to. The Eyes Wide Shut thing is so ten years ago.”
So no Tom Cruise, then.
Elysium will be launched secretly in Manchester at the end of March
Bridge has also ditched her former Killing Kitten alter ego ‘Jordie’, preferring to use her Christian name for the new joint-venture.
She tells us Elysium will take place in secret luxury locations across the North West and beyond. Sounds familiar. So how will the parties differ from her rivals?
“Killing Kittens lost its exclusivity. The vetting was lax. I wanted to do something a little bit more high-end and keep the vetting really tight,” says Bridge.
By vetting, Bridge means the critical rules of entry still apply.
“You’ll have to set up a profile with a full length photograph which will be approved within 24 hours. Enter your age, weight, looks – that’s still the same,” says Bridge. “This is not first come, first served, they’ll be vetting and scrutiny.”
Got it, sounds harder to get into than Neighbourhood on a Saturday night wearing a Lacoste tracksuit.
While it may seem obvious, why is it that only the sexy are able to enjoy an exclusive sex party?
“We’re not looking for supermodels,” says Bridge, “but we vet people on weight to prevent the morbidly obese.”
“There's people who are a size fourteen who are curvy, sexy and confident. That’s what we want. We’re not saying everyone has to be a size eight. That’s unrealistic and ridiculous. Everyone has different tastes and preferences,” she adds.
Harsh as it seems, with anything labelled 'exclusive' you've got to expect some sort of criteria for entry.
And in a bid to strike a gender balance, Elysium will be allowing a few so-called ‘alpha males’ to roam the parties, unlike Killing Kittens which catered only to single women and couples.
"When we say 'alpha males', we don’t mean big blokes, thrashing into everyone,” says Bridge. “What we found was not all single girls are into other girls, and they might not want to be going with someone else’s man, even if the couple are up for it.”
“The girls are still in charge – that’s still important," she adds. "They need to feel comfortable and safe. For guys to attend there has to be something about them. Their written bio needs some substance. I don’t want any lurkers.”
Elysium founder Natalie Bridge
Elysium parties will take place once a month in various secret and 'really fancy' locations, with Bridge lining-up chauffer driven limos, Croatian villas and even private jets.
But what on earth does someone wear to something so sexually charged?
“We’re not going to do themes. People want to go in what they’re comfortable with. The only requirement I have is that you look sexy and confident. Guys should look on trend. Dark coloured jeans, no trainers. These are high-end parties so dress appropriately.”
"Hygiene-wise they'll be condoms everywhere, and we won't have any unhygienic toys lying around.
But please...," she adds, "get a wax."
So the sex… we assume they'll be a great deal. Do you just turn up, whip off your kecks and do the dance?
“In Manchester it takes a little longer for everything to kick off, whereas in Scotland there was no messing around. In Manchester it starts with the socialising before everyone gets busy. When it does kick off, it really does – there’s no messing,” laughs Bridge.
It’s nice to know that Mancunians like to offer each other a drink first. So what should newbies know before attending?
“You’ve got to come with an open mind. Everyone there is there for the same reason. There’s loads of people that will be new. No one’s going to judge you. You can go there to make friends the first time and wait 'til the next one to dive in. There’s no pressure.”
So how far can you open your mind? Because Elysium would have you fling the door right open to watch a bunch of people having sex.
Though, if I've learnt anything in these past few years, it's that Manchester is more up for it than some may think.
It costs £10 to sign-up to the Elysium website. Find out more on the website and Twitter.
Follow @LOreal_B
(image credits: Jack Kirwin)
