Adults-only club - complete with dungeon – faces a planning poser

Swingers in South Tyneside may have to wait for a planned adult-only clubwhich boasts a dungeon, playrooms and public "group activity" areas-to open.

- by Gareth Crickmer

Council chiefs say bosses at Babylon-where members can indulge in “safe play and practice safe sex”-do not have planning permission for the new venture which is due to open in Fowler Street, South Shields, tonight.

The club has been granted an alcohol licence but South Tyneside Council say it has yet to apply for permission to change the use of the former gym.

A spokesman for the firm claims it has all the “relevant permission” to open.

South Tyneside Council confirmed the premises had been granted an alcohol licence, but that planning permission was needed - which had yet to be sought.

Spread over two floors above the former Leeds Building Society, at the junction with Albemarle Street, Babylon's website says "What happens inside the club stays inside the club".