Sleepy Lincolnshire village braces itself for swingers festival
Around one thousand people have descended on a sleepy Lincolnshire village for Britain’s biggest swingers festival.
The four-day sex and fetish event - called Swingathon - kicked off on Thursday in Allington, near Grantham, Lincolnshire.
This year’s festival is the biggest yet, with one thousand guests - a 50 per cent increase on last year - paying £265 to experience activities including “play tents”, pole dancing, hot tubs, foam parties and “mobile dungeons”.
In previous years, disgruntled residents have complained to police about “screaming and moaning” coming from the site.
One resident said the noises were “not the sounds you want to hear when you’re trying to sleep”.
The festival will see a number of bands performing, alongside DJs, dancers and comedy acts. Other entertainment includes a competition based on the Channel 4 show Naked Attraction, drag and burlesque acts as well as massages.
‘Social and safe space’
Kerry Voellner, Swingathon’s organiser, said: “The event offers a very social and safe space for people from different lifestyles to meet new people.”
The festival will run side by side with an event called FetFest, which Ms Voellner described as for “modern people who are into fetishes”.
“We are just a normal festival for people with alternative lifestyles,” she said.
Lincolnshire Police previously raised concerns about the event on the grounds of prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and protecting children from harm.
However, organisers were granted a temporary events notice and said they have received more support this year from the local authority.
Matthew Cole, co-organiser, said: “It’s nice to have their support this year. Last year we had to go through a headache from start to finish, but this year is totally different and they are working so much better with us.
“We have sold more tickets than ever and, having the council on side as well, it could not be going any better.”
The festival has received a mixed reception from local residents, with one anonymous person saying: “Each to their own I suppose but we don’t really want or need it in the village.
“It all seems a bit seedy if I’m honest, not my cup of tea.”
Another resident said: “I heard about the noise complaints previously and it’s not the sounds you want to hear when you’re trying to sleep.”
A spokesman for South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) said: “A temporary event notice was submitted by the organiser and no objections were received from the statutory consultees, therefore the event was able to go ahead.
“SKDC received no complaints from residents regarding last year’s event.”