Man who works in one of world’s biggest gay sex stores warns customers about rules inside
If you walk through Soho London, you're almost guaranteed to stumble upon the city's LGBTQ+ district.
There, you'll find some of the UK's most iconic gay bars and clubs, from G-A-Y to Heaven, as well as the biggest gay sex shop in the UK, Prowler.
By coincidence, Soho is also the landing spot for thousands of tourists, weekend wanderers, and party animals - which means stores like Prowler can wind up a pretty mixed bag of visitors.
Prowler sells everything from poppers and dildos to banana hammocks and jockstraps.
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The store also carries an impressive range of films, comics and zines from LGBTQ artists, and hosts meet-and-greet events.
And if you're looking for something a little grittier, there's its sister store Prowler RED, which sells more fetish-focused memorabilia.
If you're looking to pop into either store to pick something up, feed your curiosity, or just kill some time, there are some key rules that you might want to get clued up on before you set foot inside.
Former staffer Dec Bowring told Insider the hard and fast rules for visitors and they're as follows:
Rule Number One: No Photos
And that's an official policy, not a suggestion. If something you spot on the shelves is just so hilarious that you have to take a snap to show your mates, don't be surprised when you're told to put that phone back in your pocket.
This isn't one to take lightly - Dec explains that, while some workers will have a laugh about it with you, others will 'make you leave the store'.
Of course, if you're FaceTiming with your partner or friend, either for an opinion or for moral support, Dec added that they're willing to 'turn a blind eye'.
Rule Number Two: No Unboxing
Prowler is not like Primark. You can't just take an item off the rack and try it on for size.
Of course, if you're investing in a sex toy, you've got to make sure it's the right one for you, but firming it up and testing it out in-store isn't exactly sanitary.
Dec explained that if you're really considering a purchase, but want to make sure the size, material, etc, is right for you, just ask an employee to unbox it for you.
Rule Number Three: No Sniffing Poppers
It's just bad manners isn't it?
Even if you've bought them in the shop that day, the general etiquette would be to wait until you're in the comfort of your own home, in a bar or club, or even just outside the shop door, before you start huffing.
Recalling one particular incident, Dec wrote about one customer who came in 'sweaty, wide-eyed, and trembling' asking for a bottle.
"I triple-checked if he really needed them, but he assured me he was fine," he recalled.
"He then bought the biggest bottle of poppers we sell and then cracked the lid with his change still grasped in his hand. The three of us behind the counter nearly lost our heads from the fumes."
Rule Number Four: No Dildo Fights
And that goes for whip-cracking, too.
If you're shopping with a partner, you might get a little giddy looking through all the toys, so you'd be forgiven for being overcome with the urge to smack them in the face with ten inches of silicone.
While a bit of horseplay is no big deal, as far as Dec is concerned, the main worry is that it'd make more nervous customers uncomfortable.
Rule Number Five: No Laughing
This is where having the UK's biggest gay sex shop situated in Soho can prove to be a bit of a problem.
People who have just come in to gawk at all the penis-shaped products might find themselves overcome with shock, but you'd be best off to keep that shock to yourself.
"I understand the dizzying thrill of the weirdness," said Dec. "But to the people who love coming into the shop to heckle, you may upset people shopping in their own community's private space."
Rule Number Six: No Flashing
Another one that's just generally a bit rude.
Yes, it's a sex shop, but that doesn't mean anyone wants to see what you're packing, so keep all nudity to an absolute minimum.
Rule Number Seven: No Abuse
No one wants to feel frightened or threatened in their place of work, much less for a key part of their identity. So if this was ever something you were even considering, just stay home.
And as a general, all-encompassing rule, just don't be a d**k.
Ali Condon