A swingers club could go under if the owner can't find a new venue for its get togethers.
Ron Rothwell has been running The Attic from Osmaston Road Business Park in Derbyshire since 2007. However, the building it's housed in was sold to Nottingham-based ALB Group in October last year, and the 75-year-old now has until November 2023 to find a new spot.
Mr Rothwell said: "It's devastating, really. We've done everything we can, we've complied with the council and everybody in every way.
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"People travel from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, everywhere to come to the club, We've even got one couple who come from France once a month.
"I'll be devastated if it goes. We've put a lot of work in there to make it grow and grow. We just hope the council will give us some help to get somewhere.
"The customers are all upset and we've had a lot of offers of help to move if we get somewhere. It's surprising how many people have said they'll come and help, but we do get a lot of help from people.
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"People are happy with it and they like to feel a part of things."
The club costs £15 for couples, £30 for single men and £10 for single women, and has 43 rooms.
Couples and singletons of all ages are welcome to enjoy its facilities, including an adult cinema, a dungeon and a maze, as well as a realistic dogging zone.
Mr Rothwell says his club is a friendly community of people from all walks of life.
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He said: "We're probably the biggest club in the country and we've got one of the biggest followings for transvestites and crossdressers. If we get the right place, what we're hoping to do is set up an advice centre in it too for people new to this sort of thing.
"We know people don't always agree, which is why we want to set something up, so people can come and see what we do. It's not like what you expect.
"You don't get people jumping on you as soon as you walk in the door or anything like that. It's a happy, friendly place.
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"All the couples mix in, having a laugh, having a drink - they can do what they like."
The former Osmaston Works was bought by ALB Group for an undisclosed fee, and it's feared the property could be turned into apartments.
And while The Attic will continue to run as normal for the foreseeable, Mr Rothwell is concerned about its future and the 20 employees who work there.
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He said: "The trouble is finding somewhere that is suitable now. We're looking at various properties and we're hoping that somebody will come up with somewhere.
"The council has put us in touch with agents but it's mainly offices that they're finding so far, and that's not great.
"We've found a couple of places in Derby. We don't want to move from Derby as the city has been good to us, as we get on well with the council, the police and the fire service and we've always complied.
"We're looking ideally for a warehouse, rather than an office block. Unless we had a complete office block people wouldn't like what we do.
"We need about 10-15,000 square feet. We would take a reduction in size as long as it's not too much smaller."
Mr Rothwell has asked anyone who may be able to help find the club to contact the business on 01332 205018.
Topics: UK News, Sex and Relationships
Dominic Smithers