Sex Shops in The Northwest

Eighteen years ago, when Nice 'n' Naughty first opened on Crown Street in Warrington it was the very first licensed adult store in the Borough. On the 10th February 2020 we will bring adult retail into a modern retail environment when we open the doors to our new luxurious Boutique store on Sankey Street.

The location of our new store, in a retail shopping area, surrounded by specialised businesses, licensed bars and eateries, is not only keeping with the new boutique image we are launching, but was selected due to the ever-changing face of UK retail in general.

The Crown Street store that opened in 2002, has become a victim of its own success, with the modern-day customer demanding a more intimate, sophisticated shopping experience that a store in a railway arch just cannot provide. The new boutique store has given us the opportunity to consult with interior designers to create a shopping experience deserved of this new era in retail. Nice 'n' Naughty has in conjunction with the designers and Warrington based shop fitters, created a boutique store that will ensure we continue to cater for our core market, which over the last 5 years has seen an increase in females and couples of all genres.

Trish Murray, a Warrington lady herself and a driving force behind the new store shared her thoughts:

"We are proud to be part of the Warrington community and share the vision of equality and diversity. We have spent 20 years working to change the stigma and preconceived ideas of the 'Adult Retail Store', and have always preferred this label, but in this new era the customer demands a "Boutique", which is more in line with 2020 and the female and couples' market that we attract. We have worked closely with Warrington Borough Council and their Licensing Department to ensure the requirements of the licence we have been granted are not only met but have been exceeded"

After trading in the town for 20 years, we have built a very loyal customer base who have been the backbone of the store along with the staff who have a combined experience of over 35 years . Our customer loyalty was recently reinforced with the positive comments that were received across multiple social media posts during our licence application process for the Sankey Street store, with the company receiving overwhelming support from customers and local businesses alike, many of whom demonstrated this by writing to the council in support of us.

With the High Street changing dramatically over the past 10 years, businesses need to adapt to survive. Nice 'n' Naughty are no different than any other retailer out there who are competing with Online shopping trends. Relocating and upgrading to a boutique style store shows our commitment to continue to provide a new and improved shopping experience to our existing customers, and the ability to attract new customers who may be more aware of our online competition. Bricks and mortar retailers need to ensure that they offer high quality products, knowledgeable staff and a luxurious shopping experience to compete with the online competition and this can be found in abundance at our new Nice & Naughty Boutique.

Our new store located at Unit 2, 66 Sankey Street, will be open from 9.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday, and 8.00pm on Thursday, in keeping with many other retail stores in the area and in the Spring will open on a Sunday.

Nice & Naughty obtained the license to ensure it can continue to supply our loyal customers with R18 hardcore DVD's and a vast selection of adult products.

To thank our loyal customers, the boutique will be running several special offers across their opening month, and anyone quoting code "Press Release" will receive an added discount.

Plans to convert the former Little Chef on the East Lancs Road into a sex shop have been rejected .by St Helens Council

Cocktails Ltd applied for a licence in March to transform the former roadside restaurant on the A580 into a sex shop called Pulse and Cocktails, aimed at couples.

But the plans created issues for a local residents and feminists.  261 objections were received by the council, including 175 signatures on a petition. The main objections were bottom of the barrel stuff, with incredulous fears that it could impact house prices, cause queues and too much traffic or spark antisocial behaviour

But many people on social media were in disbelief after the plans were rejected, ridiculing prudish attitudes and suggesting potential new jobs had been lost.

A majority of councillors on St Helens' licensing and environmental protection committee voted not to give Cocktails Ltd a licence. No meaningful reason for the ban was offered by the council so presumably the reasons were moral. Labour committee chair Dave Banks spouted a bit official speak which said nothing:

Members turned down the application on the grounds the number of sex establishments was already equal to the number the authority considered appropriate for that locality. They also took the view it would be 'inappropriate' with regard to the area and the use to which the premises would be put.

Liverpool Echo also noted the worthless explanation:

Licensing rules do allow the council to decide the appropriate number of sex shops for an area -- and it can be zero, suggesting a moral value judgment. But confusingly the rules also state that objections should not be based on moral grounds/values .

Rotherham-based Cocktails Ltd said in their application that they have never had permission turned down before, and if they object to the decision they can seek a judicial review.

A man who sold hardcore porn from a Preston sex shop has been fined.

The man admitted selling unclassified videos and magazines from the Pirate Shop, on New Hall Lane in the city and was ordered to pay more than £1,500.

However he insisted that he did not own the shop and was unaware that it was not licensed to sell the material.

He pleaded guilty eight charges of selling R18-rated and unclassified videos which magistrates in Preston heard showed "graphic sex scenes".

Trading SubStandards officer Nick McNamara, of Lancashire County Council, said: Regardless of your attitude towards this type of shop, it is true to say that licensed sex shops pay a hefty price to stock this type of product.

These fees are currently £769 for the first licence and £384 every other year and there are checks on the location of licensed shops and on the people who run them, and no such checks were carried out here.

The magistrates told him that the material which was 189 unclassified DVDs and related paraphernalia seized in the raids March this year would be destroyed.

The man was ordered to pay £1,100 in fines for the eight separate charges and £482.04 costs.