to think this could be not what it looks like? (source = DM disclaimer)

[supremelygrumpyface]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5488051/Ralph-Fiennes-takes-visit-Thai-massage-parlour.html

Don't feel one way or the other about RF - seems nice, good actor but not a fangirl or anything. Clear attempt to insinuate use of prostitute rather than Thai masseur usual DM blah - what interested me was more about these places; walked by them for yeeeeears & never more than idly wondered. Slash am massively naive and unaware person.

Assumed the shop fronts with medicinal adverts & herbs in the window, lovely glowy looking people within etc were legit Eastern medicine/wellbeing? DM went to a Chinese herbalist wellbeing place for a herbal soup once and it was amazing in there. But then why open all hours? Does anyone know? Could Ralph have just gone for a massage at 10.45pm rather than Champneys during the day and realised they didn't take Amex so ran to the cashpoint?

And if they are dodge, are they legal? Feel shit for the people working therein if so. Why not bust them and liberate the workers?

Ooh great, a lovely speculative, potentially libelous thread about something from the Daily Heil.

It does look like a legit massage place. The things like ‘medical massage’ are things that are put on places as code for ‘please do not expect us to touch your penis’.

London is a 24/7 city. We dont close at 5.

What are you implying op - out with it - all this fannying round the houses, be an adult say what you think.

Looks legit to me.

Who knows what goes on behind closed doors, but you could say that about any business.

I flicked through the DM in a coffee shop earlier and my first thought was, and the rest. If legitb place theyd just say pay us next time or go get the money, not send someone to accompany, I would have thought. I may be suspicious minded though

Is OP seriously asking if there are illegal massage parlours offering sex for sale? Really? No-one could be that naive.

The spa is on Treatwell offering pregnancy massage, among other things. There isn’t anything to suggest it offers anything other than complimentary therapies.

Thanks. Strangely relieved & would quite like to go, it looks lovely, but WTF are the DM playing at publishing absolute non-news as though scandalous? I know it's the DM but surely the goadier bits of this one cross a line for both RF and the salon. Anyway no reply required, it's the DM, sure it'll be removed once the lawyers ring.

Actually genuinely am shocked that a blind eye sometimes seems to be turned to those that are illegal (having read more in the last ten mins) & can't understand why.

I don’t think poor Ralph is going to get anywhere getting this removed. They have simply reported an accurate story, and left the reader to assume he’s visiting prostitutes, as they know the reader will.

As for why a blind eye is turned- generally because plain sight is easier to control and check. Just because something’s illegal doesn’t mean you prosecute it (and technically, there could be potential that it’s not illegal, since it’s only illegal to profit from
Prostitution. Really depends on how they claim the set up works

The last time I had a massage it took place on the top floor of a lovely Victorian house that had a hairdresser on the ground floor and therapy rooms on the upper floors. I drifted down to the till to be told that the therapist only took cash, so I went to the nearest cash machine and took out some cash.

So, same events, only difference is I'm not an award-winning actor. (Please don't let more details be dug up, it was just a massage because I'd done my back in. Okay, I admit it, it was Bowen Therapy, the truth will out.)