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Original poster

To ask if Thai massage parlours in the UK....

80 replies

cuddingandpustard · 29/05/2015 10:50

.....are actually brothels??

A work colleague went on holiday to Thailand and mentioned how much she enjoyed the traditional massage she had over there so I mentioned that there's a place near me that does them and why doesn't she go there for another. She laughed and asked didn't I realise that Thai massage parlours are brothels?

Am I completely naive? If I wandered in one Saturday afternoon would they look at me like I was insane? Do people actually visit them for traditional massage or is it really all hand-jobs and pearl necklaces or whatever goes on in brothels?

Enlighten me Grin

OP posts:
WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 29/05/2015 10:54

Generally, no they aren't. They are for actual massages. Is your friend normally casually racist?

knittingdad · 29/05/2015 10:55

There is a [non-Thai] massage place in my neck of the woods that advertises its services with the message "Strictly no extras". It took me a long time to work out that this signifies it is a genuine massage parlour, rather than one offering "extra services".

molyholy · 29/05/2015 10:57

There is one by where I live and I have wondered. Only due to the fact that we went to a restaurant nearby on a Sunday evening (about 8pm'ish), and it was open then, which I thought was a bit odd.

EdithWeston · 29/05/2015 10:59

Well, the two Thai places near where I used to live definitely weren't.

Though the steam/sauna opposite had an entirely male clientele and quite a reputation, but nothing in the name that indicated a nationality.

Yes massage is very often a code for other more specialised services. As is French polishing. All a bit 'Carry On', really, but used for things like small ads in newsagents (which would never be displayed if explicit).

fearandloathinginambridge · 29/05/2015 11:01

A good friend of mine is from Bangok. She runs a bar and restaurant in our town. The number of times I have heard rumours that she is operating a brothel or a strip club from her premises is unreal. I have also heard people refer to her as Ting Tong or Tong Ting and joke about her/her staff being Lady Boy's. It's overt racism but when you challenge people they just shrug it off as a joke, they see it as harmless amusement. I am staggered by it on a daily basis.

Skiptonlass · 29/05/2015 11:01

French polishing is code for something??

I'm aghast.. But I must know. What, exactly..?

Koalafications · 29/05/2015 11:02

I wouldn't have thought so!

fearandloathinginambridge · 29/05/2015 11:03

French polishing - hand job, I believe.

sparechange · 29/05/2015 11:04

There are two near me that definitely aren't. They also do reflexology and threading.

This is reminding me of a really old thread from years ago, when an OP found a payment to a thai massage parlour on her DH's credit card statement, and a huge debate ensued, which was only ended when she posted the address of the place, and someone went there to ask for a massage to see what would happen. Turned out it was just a massage place...

Skiptonlass · 29/05/2015 11:04

I'm seeing those old yellow pages ads in a completely different light....

I genuinely never knew that.

slightlyconfused85 · 29/05/2015 11:06

I've been to 2 near my home. Definitely just massage parlours! Smile

EdithWeston · 29/05/2015 11:08

French polishing = rubbing until there is an amazing finish.

It's French (phnerr, phnerr) and either hand or oral. To 'Carry On' the theme, it's sometimes advertised alongside a larger chest.

See also O level and A level practice.

molyholy · 29/05/2015 11:11

Well I have just googled the Thai massage place by mine and one of the links is to UKpunting where men have reviewed their 'happy endings', so I guess that answers my question, but I don't imagine every Thai massage place is operating as anything other than a massage parlour. Actually feel a bit sick after reading it. They way they talk about the women is just horrid.

WorraLiberty · 29/05/2015 11:12

It seems to be pretty mixed in my area.

Some of the Thai massage parlours are very obviously brothels and some obviously aren't.

The ones that aren't, nearly always make it clear on their adverts with the words "This is not a sexual service".

Alisvolatpropiis · 29/05/2015 11:12

The odd massage parlour will be a brothel or at least offer "optional extras".

Not all of them though. Thai massage is a particular style of massage, I'd expect a Thai massage parlour to be offering that and then the usual hot stone sort of ones. Not hand jobs.

BagsyThisName · 29/05/2015 11:13

There was a massage parlour opposite our office (not thai in name) so we got plenty of time to study the clientele (we worked long hours).

Exclusively male. Short lunchtime visits were popular. The girls who worked there never popped out for lunch.

I don't get how the men knew what it was and how no women wondered in there by accident, nothing in the sign that would have suggested to me it offered extra services. I would now assume any massage parlour in this country is dodgy.

My colleague called the police. They visited but didn't di anything. A while later she called the anti slavery hotline, and they sent in police and social workers (concern the girls were underage) and it was shut down.

(outed myself to any mner colleagues now)

WorraLiberty · 29/05/2015 11:14

I meant to say OP. If you google Thai massage 'therapist' or 'therapy', you might stand a better change of bringing up the legitimate ones.

WorraLiberty · 29/05/2015 11:17

I don't get how the men knew what it was and how no women wondered in there by accident, nothing in the sign that would have suggested to me it offered extra services.

The men probably knew what it was from internet advertising and maybe some women did wonder in off the streets. The 'extras' are generally optional, rather than compulsory so technically they could still have had a 'normal' massage if they wanted I suppose Grin

Probably safer to stick with a health spa though.

TedAndLola · 29/05/2015 11:19

Some of them are but certainly not all. I go to one and can confirm I have never paid for or received sex Grin

BagsyThisName · 29/05/2015 11:21

I've just found an archived add for it and it does say 'we offer any massage you like' so I guess that was a giveaway Grin

Honestly though worra we were on constant brothel-watch, no woman wondered in there ever, and it was in the town

BMW6 · 29/05/2015 11:24

Well, a friend of mine went for a massage in a Thai parlour near the red light area of our city. She went in, was shown to a room with the proper massage table, scented candles etc and had a fantastic massage.

She raved about it so much that her husband thought he'd have one. He went into the shop, was shown into a room that had just a bare matress on the floor........

He walked out very Blush

So I guess it depends on the location probably?

MagentaVitus · 29/05/2015 11:26

I love a Thai massage. Never accidentally walked into a brothel so far.

foxinsocks · 29/05/2015 11:26

the Thai massage place in our town got raided by the police/border agency a few years back and was closed because it had been operating as a brothel with illegal immigrants - it had been open for years and years!

WorraLiberty · 29/05/2015 11:28

Bagsy I think women are probably more cautious and would phone to check in advance Grin

TwinkieTwinkle · 29/05/2015 11:35

Is your friend normally casually racist?

Hmm