 | We visited the club on a ‘Couples Only’, Saturday night in May of 2012.
Liberty’s has always been one of our favourite clubs in the UK and we were regulars there between 2006 and 2008. The club went through some rough transitional times in 2011 where a few different managers came and went before the new owners Ade and Bridget took over two months ago. They had been regular members at the time we visited before and it was hard to forget them trying to put their tent up in the torrent downpour of rain in the summer party some years before.
For those who haven’t been to the club, it’s best accessible by car, though a cab from Rugby station will cost you around £15. The venue itself is a good size. Once past the small reception/cloak room, the heart of the club consists of a rather decadent lounge/bar, with a dance floor round to the right side off of which there are two playrooms, one of which contains a sling that you can shag and fly in at the same time (We are speaking from first-hand experience here!) There is plenty of seating and a fetish area curtained off behind the dance floor. To the left of the bar there is real burning fireplace with snugs and seating alcoves, and the stairs to the small second level which consists of four decent sized lockable (good improvement) playrooms, and a toilet / shower. These now all have proper air con in them as opposed to just a fan. Further on down stairs are the two changing rooms with lockers, one for singles, one for couples, and the main toilets are on the left and are very clean and modern. Through the next set of doors takes you to the Jacuzzi room, and main open play area, which contains a large bed in the middle, several more around the outside, and the sit down Romanesque style Jacuzzi, which now comes with three different lighting settings. (We like the dark purple one, but you might have to debate over which one stays on) The Jacuzzi itself also has three different modes, and can fit a good 10 couples, (More tried) At the back of the club there is a heated covered smoking area and a series of stables converted into accommodation, worth booking ahead if you’re planning on staying over. These are £50/55 and come with an en-suite with either bath or shower, or both. The beds are decent though we did our best destroy our one through practical use, and failed, which is always a good sign. The rooms come with flat screen TV and complimentary tea, coffee, juice, toast, cereals and two bottles of water. There is a fridge in every room, plus a hairdryer and toiletries.
Libs operates a membership scheme which you don’t have to pay on your first visit, so you can check the venue out before deciding if you want to join. (You join on the second visit) although we went on a Couples Only night, we have been here on a Friday before, and the single guys are fairly polite and decent. Last night there were couples of all ages and around 30 couples in all. We were aware however that because of a themed event coming up in two weeks time (Which we are also coming back for) the club had slightly lower numbers than normal, but it still seemed busy enough and never felt empty. People made an effort to dress up here, and people got up and danced, there is always a DJ on Saturday, and many people stated they came for exactly that reason. It was also pretty friendly, and wasn’t cliquey at all. For one couple it was their first experience at a venue anywhere and they took to it like ducks to water (literally, as they were in the Jacuzzi half the night) Liberty Elite has the best Jacuzzi in the country, which has recently been refurbished. The club hasn’t changed dramatically since we last visited, but there are lots of subtle changes in the décor, lighting, furnishings and the playrooms make better use of the space than previously and there is a lot more fetish equipment as the fetish nights here are very popular. The buffet is far less basic than previously and there is more of it, plus little things like the plates of Jelly Babies on the bar are all nice touches which don’t go unnoticed or uneaten. The Staff here are very friendly and professional though the bar girl rather plays down her good looks with her Dennis the Menace stripey jumper. The managers, Pete and Kate (Pwwoooooarh!! Yum yum, the man from Del Monte he says ‘yes please, cover her in honey and serve me for breakfast!) are really great too, clearly working very hard to be the engine of the club, while Ade and Bridget do the hosting and look after old and new members alike. Around midnight you will catch Ade giving out a tray of free shots of Pernod and Bridget a free pinch of your arse. (Reminds us of some other hosts we know) There was no shortage of action there though we ourselves were a little limited when it came to playing that night as no soon as we had arrived at the club, so did Mrs Parties painters! (God, would six hours more delay been too much to ask…?)
Anyway…. The club also runs photo shoot nights a few times a year, where you can come and have your pictures taken for your profiles on line, take them yourself or the club will do it for you. We’ve been to one of these before (They are normally on a Thursday) and well worth attending, especially if you want good quality pictures. Obviously cameras are not allowed in the club at any other time. The club may have taken a momentary dip a year or so ago but it’s clearly recovered and is now as good as it ever was. Those who found this there favourite club back in its heyday should make an effort to return as they will find it much to their liking. Liberty is one of the most upmarket clubs in the UK, when people ask us which club is closest to a club in Europe, we often will direct them here and they have plans to add a great deal more to the venue in the near future. The accommodation does need some new carpets but it’s already on the to do list. Otherwise it’s hard to say anything negative about the venue. If you’re new to The Scene, it’s a good first choice; one of the main strong points of the club is the design of the layout which would lend itself well to a nervous first timer. We recommend you attend the monthly themed parties if you want to attend on the busiest night. We rated it four and a half out of five before, and it still rates the same in our book. It’s not for those on a budget but if you want quality, you don’t buy from Kwik Save, and that chain of shops did go bust after all. The only downer for us was being woken up very early, by someone having a rant in the room next door, which went on for about two hours. Whatever their issue, they would have done well to remember there were others sleeping (or trying to) either side of them. Very inconsiderate, though hardly the fault of the club. Recommended.
Date: 16 May 2012
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