FabSwingers.com forum: How important are club owners?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Just been thinking what difference a club owner / host makes to a club?

For example, one club we visit has a hostess who gets to know swingers and "sets up" people she thinks will get along!

Another club has a stand-offish owner

Two very different experiences for us. Do people care? Does it matter?

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By *mega_1Woman
over a year ago

Birkenhead

I think it makes a massive difference, I'm always hearing people say how much they appreciate having Vicky and Jim as owners of Townhouse.

The fact that they love the place and are willing to go out of their way to make people feel comfortable and at home is what brings so many people back to the club time and time again.

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By *lik and PaulCouple
over a year ago

Flagrante

Like in all businesses the people involved are all important....people buy from people

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We've only visited two clubs so can only comment on those

Atlantis, the hostess is exactly as you describe. She makes a great effort to find out what you are looking for and if she can introduce you to like minded people she will. She's great and makes a difference to that club we feel. It's quite a small place so her input works in that environment.

Xtasia is a different animal. It's so much bigger and more to explore that I don't feel such a service is needed as much. That doesn't make it a worse experience in our eyes just a different one

It is nice though to meet someone who genuinely cares so much about what they do and want to make the experience better for you

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Like in all businesses the people involved are all important....people buy from people

this yes. When an owner/manager takes pride in their business and brings personality and interest and enthusiasm into their interactions with their customers then the customers experience a better service and will be more likely to become regular customers, m x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Have visited three clubs in the northwest.

First one the owner seemed more interested in our money than our comfort.

Second one, don't even think we saw the owner but the staff were OK apart from one woman who was super friendly and sold out as being very helpful and the third club, well, it's the best we have been to and been back a few times since. The owners are great, helpful and friendly.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Have visited three clubs in the northwest.

First one the owner seemed more interested in our money than our comfort.

Mr"

One woman "stood out" not sold out.

Note to self... Use the sodding preview button

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

As has been seen on a couple of cases here lately.... they make a huge difference

Have I chosen which places I won't visit based on posts I have seen on here.... absolutely!!

Owners like staff can make or break places.... those that listen thrive

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By *ecretpassion100Couple
over a year ago

Walsall

Speaking from my experience personally i find all the club owners i know make a real effort to interact with customers . I find this more welcoming than a host , hostess as it proves there not just out to make money and are part of the swinging community xx

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By *ownhouseTwosomeCouple
over a year ago

Birkenhead/Liverpool

I think it's really apparent when owners are fully involved in a club and genuinely love what they do vs a manager who is doing a job; however, I know some cracking managers out there in clubs where the owner isn't present.

The owners are only as good as their staff as it's impossible to run a club without them. Any club owner who is arrogant enough to think that the club revolves around them, needs to have a word with themselves. A good club should be able to run smoothly without the owners present but maintaining their high standards.

Also, club owners should be speaking to each other. Apart from one or two clubs, we have great relationships with other clubs. No club is an island.

To give customers what they want, we should all be speaking to each other; lets face it, swingers move around! Good club owners work together and we do so with several clubs and have done for years. I find that the clubs who work together better and are more approachable to inter-club relationships are those with owners at the helm and not managers as the owners want the business to succeed and have more to lose.

So are owners important? Yes as good owners really care about their club and the people within it.

xxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I think it's really apparent when owners are fully involved in a club and genuinely love what they do vs a manager who is doing a job; however, I know some cracking managers out there in clubs where the owner isn't present.

Also, club owners should be speaking to each other. Apart from one or two clubs, we have great relationships with other clubs. No club is an island.

So are owners important? Yes as good owners really care about their club and the people within it.

xxx"

We haven't had the pleasure of the townhouse, but with the reviews and all the positivity we have seen, combined with posts as this, it is definitely looking like the next club we visit.

Mr and Mrs xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Makes a big difference. Staff at chams are brilliant, they welcome us as old friends and more than happy to go out of their way.

We have also been to townhouse, liberty elite and va. all of these were friendly and welcoming.

Xtasia not so much but think that's the nature of the club.

As a customer I want to go somewhere where I feel welcomed and looked after.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Also, club owners should be speaking to each other. Apart from one or two clubs, we have great relationships with other clubs. No club is an island.

So are owners important? Yes as good owners really care about their club and the people within it.

xxx

We haven't had the pleasure of the townhouse, but with the reviews and all the positivity we have seen, combined with posts as this, it is definitely looking like the next club we visit.

Mr and Mrs xx"

Townhouse is well worth a visit, just shame we are not closer.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Generally speaking, although all are delightfully different, most club owners and staff that I have met are smashing, have great passion for their enterprise and strive to listen to and support their customers. Only one exception in the last couple of years, which was disappointing but nothing to lose sleep over and I simply voted with my feet and haven't gone back there.

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By *izzy.Woman
over a year ago

Stoke area

"We've only visited two clubs so can only comment on those

Xtasia is a different animal. It's so much bigger and more to explore that I don't feel such a service is needed as much. That doesn't make it a worse experience in our eyes just a different one

It is nice though to meet someone who genuinely cares so much about what they do and want to make the experience better for you "

I have to agree. The owners at Atlantis in Stoke and Mingles in Colchester really stand out as being genuinely concerned about people visiting the club. I wasn't impressed with the Attic, or Chams Newport. Chams in Darlaston are good. I do think that owners and staff are vital in creating a good vibe in any club.

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By *t8880Couple
over a year ago

Staffs

When we went to the attic the staff were great. Xtasia not so much

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By *xploringusCouple
over a year ago

Birmingham

For us, the owner(s) of a club makes a huge difference. It's the same as any service industry - hotels, restaurants, pubs etc. in that a good owner recruits good staff that know they need to work in a certain way whether or not the owner is present. We know these things are subjective but we've been to a number of clubs now and, for us the top 3 (in no particular order) are;

Xtasia - we're surprised at some of the comments above as we have always found the owners (and staff) at xtasia brilliant. In fact, if it wasn't for the welcome and advice at xtasia after a horrible visit to a different club on our travels we would never have tried another one. Any newbies (in fact anyone) would struggle to find a better welcome than here and the constant change and improvements at the club are a credit to them.

Townhouse - you can tell from the input on the forums that they are great owners. Their comments led us to visit and the club is run brilliantly and although the owners weren't around that night the staff were great and you could instantly feel the influence.

Chams Darlaston - I'm not sure about the ownership here but management is certainly great. The staff are all very different personalities but every single one that we've met add positively to the experience of being there

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By *iss_Samantha_LovecockTV/TS
over a year ago

bmth /poole sometimes blandford

yes i'd say you have to be a good host or hostess

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We have been going Chams in Darlaston for over ten years. The staff are generally nice but not overly friendly.

We are now more likely to be found at City Celts in Leicester and Judith is a great hostess. Very friendly, chatty, makes a great cup of tea, keeps the place running smoothly and we love it there. The staff we have met so far are lovely and we have encounted no problems

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"We have been going Chams in Darlaston for over ten years. The staff are generally nice but not overly friendly.

I wasn't going to post anything to begin with as I've only been to one club.

Unfortunately it's been flagged up a couple of times as a little stand off ish.

Xtasia, I found that the owners of the place and all their staff were amazing.

I've only been once and I was nervous as Hell and on my own. But the owner was polite and discreet on the phone and emails.

When I arrived I got the wrong door, the bar staff were all polite and quietly ushered me to the reception and security. There was a little mix up, at this point all was quiet, all rules were explained.

I was then shown around by the other half of the business, she put me straight at ease in one sentence and I got to follow her incredible semi naked bum around for twenty minutes. She gave me lots of tips and wished me luck.

Luckily I got talking to fellow smokers very quickly. Bar staff were bubbly and bright.

I don't expect to be remembered by any of them. But why would I? So long as they are all as non judgemental and friendly as last time. If we become friends, I'd like it to be because of friendship, not cash flow...

It's the same with bars and pubs I guess. Having said that.. I guess a bar with shit facilities is greatly improved by a cracking atmosphere.

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