Ann Summers (Shop)

"Tacky", "Degrading to women", "Only for young slappers" and "Degrading to marriage". All words I have heard people utter about the most successful British High street sex shop, Ann Summers. I saw my first Ann Summers shop in Bristol during 1999. The windows were blacked out so I couldn't see what was inside and a large poster filled the doorway, reading in bold letters "Strictly for over 18's". I was under 18 at the time, but the thought that there was something so secret in that shop that I wasn't allowed admittance was too much for me, and curiosity got the better of me, as it usually did ... more

If you are easily offended by anything of a sexual nature please do not read. I can remember going to my first Ann summers party when I was 18. A friend of mine was getting married and she decided to throw a party as her hen night. In them days I was a bit dubious about sex in public. I wouldn't say I was prudish but I just found it very uncomfortable to talk about sex with other people. As the years went on I became more and more relaxed with my sexuality and began to experiment with sex toys. It wasn't very easy to get your hands on these toys then. The main places were usually sleazy sex ... more

If you are offended by anything sexual, please look away now! Ok, so I was sitting on chat and someone reminded me of an old review which they had decided I might be quite innocent because of. The Ciao member will read this and no doubt be interested in my opinion of this brilliant none sleaze sex shop! Although my home town does not have an Ann Summers store, the city in Cumbria, Carlisle does. I have also been in a few over England including Blackpool and have found them all to be the same in size and stock, with some having a little more room to display items. Typically you move from t ... more

Ann Summers has always treaded a fine line between tacky and tasteful, in my view it veered towards the tacky side when stores started popping up on the high street. Before the stores hit the big time the Ann Summers parties were all the rage, admittedly I have never attended one of these parties. In my view the whole party business didn't do Ann Summers any favours in terms of reaching out to women who wanted to feel special in the lingerie they wore or, indeed, classy. All this said the last few years I have noticed a vast improvement in the marketing strategies of the company and a more ... more

I still remember the days when Ann Summer was still your average sex shop, covered up windows and a big NO UNDER 18’S on the door. This was quite a bit before the infamous parties and the glossy catalogues, now Ann Summers has gone all legit and High Street! Its bright pink and burgundy frontage, the sheer glamour of the outfits in the window make it stand out like a jewel amongst the dull facades of its neighbours. But you still see couples nervously wandering slowly past, peering through the open door, deciding whether to ask the other is they want to go in ‘just for a giggle and a look of ... more