Concerns over swingers’ club after police attend ‘disturbance’
Concerns have been raised over an ‘illegal’ Edinburgh swingers’ club being run out of an industrial estate, after police attended an incident.
After Dark in Sighthill opened in 2022 as “Scotland’s premier swingers and kink lifestyle club” without obtaining planning permission, which was later refused after an application to use the unit as a private adult club was submitted.
Despite the council issuing an enforcement notice ordering it to close last year, it is understood swingers’ parties and events are continuing – with police called out to a “disturbance” during one held last month.
Police confirmed they were called to the address “following a report of a disturbance” in the early hours of Sunday, March 10, but said it was not in relation to an assault. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A man and woman were issued recorded police warnings in connection with the matter.”
Edinburgh Council planning convener James Dalgleish warned owners they would be “committing a criminal offence by continuing to use it as a private adult club”.
However the premises’ landlord has argued it is “not operating illegally” as a new planning application “for a different use” was yet to be determined.
Graham Ludar-Smith said that as the owner he didn’t have any “direct involvement” in the operation of the club, while claiming he had not been contacted by the council in relation to the matter.
Cllr Dalgleish added: “This matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation and so we can’t say any more at this time.”