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Four in a Bed :: New Series (Part 3)


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Old 29-09-2015, 14:22
nancy1975
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Clover Spa is in fact, clothing optional. Oh hygiene...written about with great knowledge by people who have actually never been in a social nudity environment and don't think it's easier to shower naked than dressed. Do write and tell all the German and Austrian spas that they are all wrong.
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Old 29-09-2015, 14:37
ewoodie
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The B&B in Spain run by the two guys was not strictly a naturist establishment, although as they said , 'clothing is optional'
I have no objection to nudity in itself but I do think it is more hygienic in social settings for certain 'bits' to be 'encased'.

I am wondering if the host will answer the door au natural


Do they eat breakfast naked? Who fancies a bit of sizzling, freshly fried bacon, egg or sausage landing in their lap?? Ouch! Maybe they have reinforced napkins!

Would there be any hygiene and/or safety issues with brekkie in the buff?
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Old 29-09-2015, 14:39
nancy1975
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I have eaten naked at home and naturist places for many years and have stayed alive. People love to make up problems.
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Old 29-09-2015, 14:47
Tommo781
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I have eaten naked at home and naturist places and have stayed alive. People love to make up problems.
For heavens sake, just accept that not everyone is comfortable with nudity when they haven't knowingly arranged/paid to go to a naturist environment. If Tim is naked, I for one would be very uncomfortable when I have no wish to be confronted by a naked man in a hotel.
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Old 29-09-2015, 14:51
nancy1975
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Why is nudity automatically threatening to you? Why is it confrontational in a naturist context? Why a man specifically, rather than a woman? And I was replying to a post regarding eating.

Tim is being entirely honest, in his business, isn't that something to admire? It's not like the others don't know what a naked man looks like, or indeed will be forced to disrobe themselves.
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:09
BirthdayGirl
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Personally I don't want to see a naked man or a naked woman. Anywhere.
I can barely see myself naked at times!! LOL
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:12
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I have eaten naked at home and naturist places for many years and have stayed alive. People love to make up problems.
Pleased to hear it, but always remember you did this fully informed and without a TV audience.
People making up problems? More like having a bit of fun methinks
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:14
nancy1975
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Toplessness and nudity has been commonplace in the Med for over 40 years and some can't seem to get past nudity=sex or nudity= yuk.
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:18
nancy1975
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Well,I am sure the contestants are staying dressed throughout, so a tv audience is by the way.
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:19
Tommo781
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Why is nudity automatically threatening to you? Why is it confrontational in a naturist context? Why a man specifically, rather than a woman? And I was replying to a post regarding eating.

Tim is being entirely honest, in his business, isn't that something to admire? It's not like the others don't know what a naked man looks like, or indeed will be forced to disrobe themselves.
I have my opinion and I will stick to it. I have no intention of arguing with someone who is so blinkered that they cannot accept that others have a different opinion to their own.

For the record, I never said nudity was confrontational. I said I didn't want to be confronted. Totally different. A dictionary definition of confront "To come up against; encounter", which is exactly what would happen.

If you take the trouble to read my previous posts, you will see that I have said I would not want to be confronted by a naked proprietor, whether male or female. I would have thought it was blatantly obvious that I referred to a man in my previous post as that is what Tim is!!!!!!
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:31
nancy1975
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Well he has to demonstrate what the hotel and spa is about, if none of the others are willing. It's all publicity at the end of the day. They didn't seem that perturbed in the hot tub clip yesterday so I wouldn't project personal feelings on other people..most people are actually not that het up on encountering nudity as applause for World Naked Bike Rides in city centres proves.
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:35
nancy1975
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Good argument back there. Meanwhile Clover Spa is successful.
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:39
nancy1975
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Look,do you really not see that the programme makers would have asked Tim to undress regardless? They are purely interested in creating talking points and it adds to the value from their point of view if they cast certain contestants who definitely won't..
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Old 29-09-2015, 15:55
SolarSail
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No, it WAS No 1 of all hotels for a while. Then Trip Advisor decided to place it in the specialist category some time ago....

...They will not be in a hotel with 'naked people.' There are no other guests in the establishments the night they go anyway.
On point number two I think you're mistaken.
This may be the case if an owner decides not to take other bookings, however, there have been competitors contributing to this forum who've spoken about fitting filming around their regular guests and running the business. It probably also has a lot to do with how large the establishment is. If they only have three or four rooms it would be viable to close to open bookings, significantly more than that and it probably wouldn't be possible.

I remember the venue on the Hotel Inspector and I was surprised to see it was high on TripAdvisor for hotels. Hits on Google mentioning it at one time being top hotel on Tripadvisor before a reorganisation on the site eg -
https://bluerating.wordpress.com/201...el-clover-spa/ https://www.bn.org.uk/articles.php/_...the-hotel-r167

Also some hits on Google mentioning it was no 2 in Birmingham hotels when it appeared on Hotel Inspector, so it might have moved up and down.
I wouldn't be surprised if it could hit the top spot if it was still in hotels because it does achieve the full 5 TripAdvisor "bubbles" and the hotels in that spot now do not.
With regard to the alleged Trip Advisor ranking take a look at this map and tell me honestly if anyone would, in their wildest dreams, think The Clover Hotel and Spa was genuinely number one in Birmingham? Number one in Erdington may be.
MAP

I also think it pays to remember how the reviews are arrived at as well.
Even today the Clover only has 180 reviews. Much easier to score a top rating percentage wise from 180 bookings who were actively looking either for a clothes optional venue, or, specifically Erdington as a destination. Much harder for some of the actual top establishments to score a higher percentage when they have 1,000-1,700 or more reviews.

It's not really the point on there being nakedness.
... He has invested a great deal of money in what at the time could have seemed a risky venture.
Clover Spa is in fact, clothing optional.
At the time it was a very risky business because despite the niche or speciality aspect, the hotel side of the business wasn't being well catered for or managed - well, according to The Hotel Inspector. From the trailer and the TA comments it does seem as though things have improved in leaps and bounds.
However, the number of people who prefer to keep their own clothes on and not to encounter nakedness from strangers is going to be limited to say the least.

I have no problem with naturism for people who are actively seeking it, but I do find the 'clothes optional' aspect disingenuous unless it's referring to naturists who might on occasion prefer to be clothed. I can't see how or why the environment is going to appeal to people who have no desire to be unclothed in public places and I do think it's strange to accuse people with that point of view as being narrow minded. It's simply being realistic as opposed to being zealous.
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Old 29-09-2015, 16:00
HumptyDumpy
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Having read the discussion over the last two pages, all I have been able to think of has been http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/...5408-Sugar.gif
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Old 29-09-2015, 16:15
nancy1975
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On point number two I think you're mistaken.
This may be the case if an owner decides not to take other bookings, however, there have been competitors contributing to this forum who've spoken about fitting filming around their regular guests and running the business. It probably also has a lot to do with how large the establishment is. If they only have three or four rooms it would be viable to close to open bookings, significantly more than that and it probably wouldn't be possible.



With regard to the alleged Trip Advisor ranking take a look at this map and tell me honestly if anyone would, in their wildest dreams, think The Clover Hotel and Spa was genuinely number one in Birmingham? Number one in Erdington may be.
MAP

I also think it pays to remember how the reviews are arrived at as well.
Even today the Clover only has 180 reviews. Much easier to score a top rating percentage wise from 180 bookings who were actively looking either for a clothes optional venue, or, specifically Erdington as a destination. Much harder for some of the actual top establishments to score a higher percentage when they have 1,000-1,700 or more reviews.





At the time it was a very risky business because despite the niche or speciality aspect, the hotel side of the business wasn't being well catered for or managed - well, according to The Hotel Inspector. From the trailer and the TA comments it does seem as though things have improved in leaps and bounds.
However, the number of people who prefer to keep their own clothes on and not to encounter nakedness from strangers is going to be limited to say the least.

I have no problem with naturism for people who are actively seeking it, but I do find the 'clothes optional' aspect disingenuous unless it's referring to naturists who might on occasion prefer to be clothed. I can't see how or why the environment is going to appeal to people who have no desire to be unclothed in public places and I do think it's strange to accuse people with that point of view as being narrow minded. It's simply being realistic as opposed to being zealous.
Perhaps you should read Tim's own statement on the clothing optional policy on his site. In truth, it is very much naturist and from reports on naturist sites, it is usually near 100%. However there are other halves of naturists who do not mind nudity but prefer to stay dressed themselves. It is those people he has in mind. He also only has 7 rooms so obviously would have closed. Four million naturists in the UK, and many more 'holiday' naturists..yes, limited in one way but he has filled a gap in the market here..a genuine naturist spa which is commonplace across the water but not here.
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Old 29-09-2015, 16:18
Tommo781
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I can't see how or why the environment is going to appeal to people who have no desire to be unclothed in public places and I do think it's strange to accuse people with that point of view as being narrow minded. It's simply being realistic as opposed to being zealous.
Thanks SolarSail.
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Old 29-09-2015, 16:24
nancy1975
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The spa is open for day visits and packages of course, just to add, not just for hotel stayers which would be an insane business model. There are also many people who wouldn't describe themselves as 'naturist' but appreciate being able to use a spa nude including foreign visitors.
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Old 29-09-2015, 16:37
SolarSail
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I hope you're on commission Nancy

Edited to add
For attracting hordes of travellers to Erdington, you'd deserve it!
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Old 29-09-2015, 16:40
nancy1975
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Sometimes it's necessary to keep posting facts...I actually wish some would try what they criticise....

I was going to Clover last year but I had to unfortunately cancel. I hope to make it there sometime. As for the production they are interested in good telly and to them, that means pitting opposites against each other..there is nothing random about it. Whatever else,Tim is open and honest on his naturist ideals and it shouldn't be condemned. To thine own self..
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Old 29-09-2015, 17:02
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It looks rather sterile.
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Old 29-09-2015, 17:02
SolarSail
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... As for the production they are interested in good telly and to them, that means pitting opposites against each other..there is nothing random about it...
To be fair on this thread you're talking to a lot of long standing posters on the Four in a Bed topic and I think that's a long established fact.
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Old 29-09-2015, 17:03
HumptyDumpy
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It looks rather sterile.
Good. Anything else doesn't bear to think of.
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Old 29-09-2015, 17:04
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Good. Anything else doesn't bear to think of.
lol
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Old 29-09-2015, 17:06
HumptyDumpy
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It looks like a very residential area.
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