April 27, 2015 - I will begin by prefacing my assessment of both of these establishments as my first foray into sex clubs. To be specific, Pleasure Garden (PG) was my first, Saints and Sinners (S&S) my second. Don’t let this fool you – it isn’t my first rodeo. I have attended fetish and kink events that varied from munch to dungeon.

When I arrived at PG I had no preconceived notions of what a sex club was or was not.

The Layout 

I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the facility.  Clubs in Philadelphia tend on the small size. While it was nice to not have to worry about parking, I will say the free parking is a bit sketchy – but not nearly as sketchy as the parking at S&S which is across the street from the club underneath I-95, inconsistently lit and littered with construction debris.

Smoking at PG is my most significant complaint. The space is large enough that management could put a separate smoking area in the back and leave the main area smoke free for those of us who prefer to have a pleasant aroma and dress for the occasion. 

I have many an outfit I won’t wear to PG because of the smoke.  When you invest in kink and fetish wear, the last thing you want is to damage or destroy the garments. When I visit PG, my hair and clothes reek, contributing to a less sexy overall feeling.  Not to mention, my lungs hurt the next day.

The décor at PG could use a little remodeling. I would be remiss if I didn’t point that out. That being said, the layout is spacious and provides ample opportunity for private, public or quasi-public activities.

The space at S&S is smaller and divided amongst different floors, requiring significant stair travel. 

At PG there is an open, dance floor bordered by tables and chairs, the buffet, the bar and a large play area (or at least it used to be a large play area).  

The bar has chairs in front of it and the dance floor so it never seems to be cramped and crowded.

At S&S the space is significantly smaller and much more difficult to maneuver to the bar to order a drink. Both clubs seem to lack diligence in bar discretion and continue to serve patrons who perhaps have had too much already. At S&S, there is more of a lounge feel surrounding the dance area, encouraging a lot of people to stay but not necessarily engage.

The flow at S&S was difficult. The private rooms are much smaller and the hallways felt smaller than at PG. 

I didn’t count the rooms, but I think PG has more private rooms, and they were definitely better outfitted. 

Hygiene

I was shocked S&S didn’t provide sheets. Both places provided towels. There is something skivvy about materials that can’t be cleaned at a sex club.

PG has a material covered St. Andrew's cross which has to be a breeding ground for all manner of disgusting things.  While seated in the lounge area at S&S, I couldn’t help but wonder the last time the material had been cleaned, if it had ever been cleaned.

I will say the ladies bathrooms at S&S were significantly nicer than PG, although smaller with fewer stalls. PG could use a total bathroom overhaul.

Security

At PG, the security guards are visible and actively manage the crowd. At S&S, I did not see security. At PG, I always felt as if there was a security guard ensuring my safety at all times.

I didn’t realize the importance of this sense of safety until I was at S&S without it.

There is a coat check charge at PG which has left a few people more than disgruntled, especially given the expense of an evening at PG. I didn’t notice a coat check at S&S.

They do have lockers in the bottom-most floor of the facility. In addition to lockers, there is a two or more person shower stall. The lockers at S&S are unisex and did not appear to be monitored at all which left me uneasy, especially during a play session when a single gentlemen walked in the room and the three of us were alone together.

There are unisex lockers at PG as well, outside of the bathrooms and in close proximity to the private play areas. 

They have a large multi-person shower stall as well as a hot tub, right outside the locker area.

Privacy

PG is diligent in confirming identity, membership, and with their no cell phone policy. I was shocked at S&S when in the dance floor area, there was someone blatantly either recording or taking a photo with their phone. This is a huge turn off for me for S&S. I also didn’t see them as diligent with who they let through the doors.

The single male policy is markedly different for both clubs on nights when they permit single males. For PG, single men are tagged and only allowed in certain areas if accompanied by a female or couple. They aren’t allowed to wander. 

At S&S, single men are given more freedom and even provided a designated play area. We were approached by a single male at one point and politely declined him. He gave us a bit of an attitude before departing. The problem was, there was no one from S&S to intervene if he didn’t accept no for an answer.

Conclusion

I had high hopes that S&S would be the solution to my quandary concerning smoking at PG. It turns out, I rather endure smoke and feel safe than be smoke-free and uneasy. The search for the perfect club will continue.

Perhaps next we try house parties!

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