Latest news with #Allington
News.com.au
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Loud moaning': Swingers party takes over quiet villlage
Kinky revellers have descended on a sleepy English village for the country's biggest annual swingers festival, sparking noise complaints from conservative locals. Swingathon took place this weekend in the town of Allington, two hours north of London, and has attracted around 1000 amorous attendees. That's more than the number of residents who live in the quaint village, which has a listed population of just 897. The three-day festival features frisk play tents, pole dancing, foam parties, mobile dungeons and an array of sex games. But its presence in the quaint British hamlet has caused a stir among locals after X-rated noises took over its usually quiet streets, the New York Post reports. The annual festival first began back in 2020, and is becoming bigger each year, much to the chagrin of locals. 'We're becoming known as the swingers capital of England just because of this festival and that's not a title we want,' one anonymous resident told Southwest News Service. 'It's mostly elderly people and families here so you can imagine them spitting their tea out when they learned we were to be the home of Swingathon.' 'It's usually the talk of the village. Some say let consenting adults do whatever they want to do, but I know many are not pleased they have chosen here for such activities,' they added. 'It's just a bit seedy and sleazy isn't it? Not for me I'm afraid.' In prior years, residents have publicly complained about an onslaught of 'loud moaning and screaming sounds' coming from the site. 'God forbid a fella wants some peace and quiet in his lil' town,' one person commented on an Instagram post advertising the event. However, the organiser of the summertime sex festival insists there's nothing dirty about the event. 'Contrary to some beliefs, there are no keys in bowls, seedy music, lecherous individuals or a high level of STIs among this community,' Swingathon's Matthew Cole claimed. 'In fact, individuals within this community are respectful, conscientious, and more likely to practise safe sex or be regularly tested than the average person you might meet on a night out in a club,' the organiser added. 'The team are passionate about normalising the sexual freedom that alternative lifestyles provide and continue to strive against prejudice and adversity to bring the community a safe and inclusive social, play and learning space.' Tickets for the frisky festival go for around $250 USD ($A385), with live music, DJs, workshops and demonstrations that are advertised as being set in a 'safe, inclusive space' that 'celebrates diversity.' 'Disgusting. Where can I sign up?' asked another Instagrammer. 'Sexstival if you will,' wrote a second. 'How many CEOs are 'out of town working' this week?'
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I visited UK's Swingathon fest with 50-person orgy & spank shows – here's why this year was younger & SEXIER than ever
BEAUTIFUL women in barely-there bikinis strut past as a young man pulls a blonde into a tent. She gives a quick, saucy wink over her shoulder before they disappear inside. 9 9 9 For a moment, I almost feel I'm at Glastonbury — until I glance to the side and clock a full-blown threesome in a tent. Welcome to Swingathon 2025. More than a thousand horny revellers have descended on the sleepy village of Allington, Lincs, for a weekend of frolics, flings and full-on filth. As The Sun's sexpert, I've been granted exclusive access to the steamy three-day romp-fest. It's not my first rodeo — I covered this saucy shindig last year — but 2025 is bigger and definitely better. As ethical non-monogamy continues to boom among younger generations — and is now Dear Deidre 's number one query — one of the most noticeable changes is the crowd. Some look like they have just strolled off the set of Love Island and straight into the hot tub. 'It just takes you out of normal life and into a whole new world,' says Macy, a model and mum from Blackpool, who is celebrating her 25th birthday today. Clad in a neon green fishnet bodysuit that's cheekily cut away at the back, Macy gives me a tour of her tent in the glamping quarters. She is sharing with her long-term partner Karl, 34, who she has been with for six and a half years. The pair, who also have a child together, tell me they discovered the lifestyle a few years ago and haven't looked back since. 'It's our first Swingathon but we've been to a few clubs,' explains Karl. 'Everyone is dead accepting. The Sun's Georgie Culley visits UK's largest sex fest Swingathon 'I've seen lots of willies' 'We're a pretty open couple and are open to anything but we tend to stick to softplay (sex with your partner in front of others, but not swapping), but it all depends on the people and couples.' The pair say they do have rules but don't have a safe word. 'She's my queen and I won't see her disrespected,' Karl continues. 'We are in sync with each other and connect with our eyes.' The couple haven't played with anyone else just yet — but the night is still young. 'There's a couple of girls I'm eager to get my hands on,' Macy laughs, excitedly. Their advice for curious couples? 'Don't knock it 'til you've tried it,' says Karl. 'It's a place where you can live out your wildest fantasies.' Macy adds: 'It's about being you, and being free — you don't have to do anything. Just being here is enough for some people.' Nearby, I find Annie, 38, a carer from Bristol and her long-term partner, Dave, 39, a scaffolder. 'We have a really good, healthy sex life,' says Annie, 38, who's been in the lifestyle for nearly 18 years. 'And then we'll come here and treat it like a sex toy — something you use and then put away. For us it's an enhancement of our sex life, not something we need, something we enjoy.' Friday's scorching sunshine caught many out — and let's just say the combo of baby oil and blazing July heat was not ideal. 9 9 There were plenty of red bums on display by sundown, as revellers soaked up the rays — and each other. For some, Saturday's downpour was a welcome relief — finally, something cool in a weekend that's anything but. Still, a bit of bad weather hasn't dampened the mood or slowed anyone down. In fact, there are loads of new additions to the festival this year. 'We've got Naked Attraction — like the Channel 4 dating show, but live and fully interactive,' one organiser tells me. 'There's Kerry's Kinky Quiz, spanking displays, foam parties, a group massage class, naked discos . . . and of course, dozens of orgy tents. 'There's also the new glamping village which is great for socials.' Each play tent comes fully stocked with bowls of condoms (we're talking hundreds), plus lube, blue roll and disinfectant. Revellers are expected to clean up after themselves and leave the space as they found it — or risk a fine for being messy. 'Last night we were in here with 12 other couples,' continues Annie. 'It was very hot and sweaty. We like to play with other women and sometimes that does mean a couple swap. But it's got to be pleasurable for everyone.' Festival organisers tell me they've come well prepared — with a jaw-dropping 4,000 condoms and hundreds of bottles of lube and baby oil stocked up for the weekend. And judging from the saucy stories I've heard echoing from every corner of the site, none of it's going to waste. As I walk to get a drink from the shiny phallic-shaped drinks bar, a group of beautiful women rush past me, wearing nothing but painted handprints smeared across their bodies. They giggle wildly, slipping into an outdoor bath, splashing and scrubbing each other down in a blur of skin, suds and laughter. In the content creator tent I find two Only Fans models posing up a storm. They tell me how it's their first time at Swingathon. Laughing, Jazzy, 34, says: 'I've seen lots of willies out which I like — I've had a right old gander at that.' 'It's a bit crazy, innit?' adds Shania Howard, 25, from Surrey. 'There were loads of people having sex in the play tents. I know I do Only Fans but that's wild.' As the day gets into full swing — pun intended — more and more revellers emerge from their tents. At one point, I overheard a couple casually plotting a 50-strong orgy for later that evening — just your average Saturday night at Swingathon. Elsewhere, others strip off without a second thought and slip into the outdoor hot tubs, cocktails in hand, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. Nearby, I meet circus performer couple Annabella Stanyer, 28, and Josh Gill, 32, from Bristol. 9 9 What is Swinging? SWINGING, also known as partner swapping, is a sexual activity where partners in a committed relationship engage in sexual activities with other people. All parties involved must give explicit and enthusiastic consent. Open and honest communication between partners is crucial. Many swingers engage with a community or attend events specifically for swinging. Such activity can enhance intimacy and trust within the primary relationship. It provides an opportunity to explore sexual fantasies and desires. But it is not suitable for every relationship and requires a strong foundation of trust. Jealousy and emotional challenges may arise and need to be managed. 'Sleaze on our doorstep' 'I hired him as a sex slave for a festival,' dominatrix Annabella says. 'And the rest is history.' It's the pansexual pair's first time at Swingathon after Annabella bagged a free ticket by winning Best Fetish Model at the Alternative Awards. The pair have been together a year and set clear boundaries to ensure they don't get paranoid about anything and 'just have fun'. 'You're OK with me playing with a girl,' says Annabella. 'And he can play with boys individually and we play with both genders when we are together.' Josh adds: 'It's important to take things slowly and communicate with each other, which you should be doing in a relationship anyway.' While most locals I've met seem unfazed by the festival, one grand- father said: 'Our beautiful and peaceful little village has become synonymous with swingers. 'It's outrageous, and we don't welcome it. We don't want it here. It is sleaze on our doorstep.' But the founder of the event, 37-year-old Matt Cole, disagrees. He says: 'Live and let live — we are not hurting anyone and no one can hear or see what is going on inside, unless you are attending it.' His wife Stacie, 30, chips in: 'One of the main negative comments we get from people is that we are one big STD festival.' Matt adds: 'They call us dirty swingers and say we are spreading this and spreading that. 'But if we can make it all free for attendees to get tested beforehand then that stops that. In every play tent there are condoms and lube and most people play with safe sex.' For the first time in the five years they have been running the event, Matt explains how he asked festival-goers to test this year before they arrived. He says: 'I sent free NHS kits to everyone and 50 per cent of people here today have taken them. 'Next year, I'd love to work with an online testing company so we get everyone tested and then we will be the first festival that is as safe as can be.' As I peruse the stalls selling sexy underwear and kinky sextoys, a stunning brunette casually strolls by wearing a little jacket and nothing else. It's 7pm and the sun is starting to set over Britain's biggest swinging festival. But judging by what I've seen — and heard — it won't be the only thing going down tonight . . . 9 9
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Perth Now
Unique retreat a romantic getaway in the South West
The calm and scenic Ferguson Valley is now home to a new retreat for couples wanting to go on a romantic getaway or for friends looking to tighten their bond. R&R Bus Retreats owners Simon and Judith Allington were lifelong farmers with a passion for world travel, who took inspiration from all the unique accommodation where they have stayed and put it into their own little retreat. Their new oasis has two buses, Betsy and Charles with their own unique design and space, guaranteeing complete privacy for those staying in them. Ms Allington said she got the idea while she was living in different units and saw an advertisement for one of the buses — Betsy. 'We bought Betsy and it was just a shell, there was nothing in it,' Mr Allington said. Bus retreat 'Betsy' Credit: Yousuf Shameel It took two years for the couple to modify the buses and said they had to learn as they went — it was a process of 'trial and error'. Along with creating a cosy retreat, they made sure their busses are as sustainable as possible. 'We looked at the eco-friendly part of it too and both the buses are solar-powered with almost everything in the interior being second-hand purchased through marketplace or locally produced,' Mr Allington said. Being regular travellers themselves, the Allingtons were always on the lookout for interesting and unique accommodation but since they never saw a bus turned into a retreat without significant modifications, they decided to do it themselves. Bus retreat 'Charles' entrance. Credit: Yousuf Shameel 'The buses I see normally have their wheels taken off and have been built onto, so they have their bathroom and toilet outside and it just looks like a little house,' Ms Allington said. 'So I thought, just a bus would be really unique, and age was a factor too, these buses are made in 1960s.' When talking about the accommodation they prefer when they were travelling, Ms Allington said her keywords are 'cozy, little, and unique', which has been implemented into the creation of this retreat. As of the future of the retreat, the couple said they have no plans to further expand the business as they value their privacy and of their customers. 'We purposely put the buses where they are so you cannot see them from the house and you can't see each other too,' Mr Allington said. 'If we start building more, then we start to get tied down too. 'Once both of us are retired, we plan to do some travelling ourselves, so we want to try and run this as remotely as possible.'
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Leave us alone! Furious pensioners in sleepy rural village insist they are NOT swingers and that they want nothing to do with 'outrageous' sex festival set to take place in their local field
As temperatures soar across the country, it is heating up in a sleepy Midlands village with the 'unwelcome' arrival of a sex festival. Residents from Allington a town on the outskirts of Grantham, Lincolnshire, fear that their idyllic hometown has now become' synonymous with swingers!' Retired business consultant David hit out at the 'unwanted sleaze on our doorsteps' and believes such events should be kept further afield. He has lived in quaint Allington for 20 years and said: 'I'm not being a prude or being NIMBY but if consenting adults are behaving like that, don't do it in our space!' David, 71, who declined to be fully named said the Swingathon now running in his desirable village for the fourth year was 'beyond a joke.' The grandfather said: 'Our beautiful and peaceful little village has become synonymous with swingers. It's outrageous, and we don't welcome it. 'We don't want it here. It is sleaze on our doorstep.' He was speaking out ahead of an X-rated Swingathon being staged next weekend in huge fields in the outskirts of his village. The sex and fetish festival features 'play tents', pole dancing, hot tubs, foam parties, mobile dungeons and butt-plug bingo. Billed as an 'alternative lifestyle festival' with tickets costing up to £265 with a camping spot, revellers can also browse and buy sex toys, cool each other down with water hoses and frolic around naked or in skimpy underwear. Marquees are filled with kinky whips and chains, spanking paddles and bondage equipment. Another shocked local Mark told MailOnline: 'The mind boggles and it's not something we really want our village to be associated with.' The accountant, 61, and father-of-two teenage daughters, added: 'As along as they keep their activities away from view, I suppose we can't complain. 'But we don't want to be known as the most sexually liberated village in Britain. 'We're more about tea and cake fairs at the the village hall, vegetable and produce shows, parish council meetings, cycling and walking. 'In 2020 we were voted the best kept village in the county!' He pointed out that the fields where the sex festivals is being held belongs to Arena UK, a championship equestrian show ground which this weekend is hosting a qualifying showjumping and dressage event. Allington is described as a 'charming village situated on the edge of the beautiful Vale of Belvoir' which has just one pub The Welby Arms, a primary school, kids' playground and wedding and function venue Allington Manor but not one single shop. In contrast, some locals say they have no problem with the raunchy festival. Nep Reeves joked: 'We're all waiting for an invite!' The retired HGV driver: 'None of the visitors bothers us. They come in from the A1, have their fun, then go out.' Mr Reeves, who has lived in the village for 25 years, said: 'It's a lovely place, very quiet and peaceful. It is mainly retired people here. 'The Swingathon use to be held at another venue but it's been in our village for the past three of four years and is now in its fifth year in Lincolnshire.' He added: 'It's all a bit of fun and doesn't cause me or my family any concern.' His neighbour Chris Dicken said: 'I have no strong feelings either way.' The 80-year-old grandad grinned: 'I'd probably be jealous of them all! 'It doesn't make me angry, I'm very open-minded.' A woman, whose grand daughter attends the primary school, said: 'We all know the sex festival goes on which people from all over come to. 'But we've know idea if people from the village attend. 'I don't have a problem with the carryings on of consenting adults - whatever floats their boat!' Engineer Jack Webster said of the raunchy revellers: 'They can do whatever they want to, we don't even notice they are there.' The dad-of-two, 38, added: 'There's a couple of jokes on the local WhatsApp group with people asking "Are you going to the Swingathon?" But it's all light hearted banter which passes after 24 hours.' Dawn Wilson, who grew up in the village and is a bar tender at the only pub, said: 'I know some people have been shocked by the festival but it doesn't bother me one bit! 'Whether the visitors come into the pub I have no idea because they don't heave a big sign on their heads saying 'We're swingers!' She added: 'Most of us find it quite funny. It's not illegal and they're not causing us any bother.'
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
'Uber in the sky' demo on way in Queenstown
Christchurch company Whoosh will start building a 2km demo of its "Uber in the sky" transportation system in Queenstown's Remarkables Park within weeks. Whoosh chief executive Dr Chris Allington said it would begin operating as soon as the middle of next year, and more information would be released soon. "Within the next few weeks, we'll be cutting ribbons and starting to dig holes." He told an audience at the Electrify Queenstown trade show yesterday the on-demand system, which moves fully-electric, self-driving cabins around an elevated cable network, could solve the resort town's traffic congestion issues. The company unveiled a working prototype at its Christchurch base last September after six years of development. The demo system, which was being jointly funded by Whoosh and Remarkables Park Ltd, would have all its key features including cabins for four or five people, stations and an app. It would give residents the opportunity to experience it and provide feedback. "We'll then make it better, and hopefully we can work with the team and deliver something down here." The company had mapped out a 50-station network that linked the resort's town centre to Frankton and the eastern and southern suburbs. It already had projects under way in the United States and the first, in a 485ha park in the city of Irvine, California, was expected to be operating by the end of next year. It was also working on projects in Japan and the Middle East. Dr Allington said a Whoosh system had many advantages over a gondola system. It could disperse its users across a greater number of smaller stations, avoiding the queues likely at peak commuter times with a gondola system's fewer, larger stations. Its modular nature allowed it to be expanded as demand required. "You can form three-dimensional networks in your cities which fit in the existing urban spaces. "You're no longer stuck with straight lines and a limited number of stops." Whoosh was not the only mass transportation system being touted for Queenstown yesterday, which also featured a talk by Doppelmayr New Zealand chief executive Garreth Hayman. Doppelmayr NZ is working with tech entrepreneur Rod Drury and former Infrastructure Commission chief executive Ross Copland on a gondola system designed to move 3000 people an hour. The first stage, estimated to cost $250m, would run from the town centre up to a Queenstown Hill station, along to a Lake Johnson station, down to the Frankton bus hub, then on to the airport. Part of the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago district councils' regional deal submission, the plan's backers hope to have it operating by late 2028. Dr Allington told the Otago Daily Times a gondola "solves one problem, but not every problem", and could co-exist with Whoosh. If a Whoosh system was wanted for Queenstown, his company would be "very happy" to build one. "If not, we've got plenty of projects to keep us busy."
