Over 700 people flock to watch strip show which caused Devenish controversy, while a group of local ministers condemn the performance.
The return of The UK Pleasure Boys strip show to Northern Ireland tonight faced a Free Presbyterian protest.
More than 700 people defied a picket by around two dozen members of Moneyslane Free Presbyterian Church at The Bannville Hotel in Banbridge for the return of the Magic Mike-style dance troupe.
The controversy surrounding the erotic dance group after viral videos of their performance at The Devenish in west Belfast in February didn’t seemed to deter people from all over Northern Ireland coming to see the strip show.
Many of those who turned up on Saturday night said they only became aware of the Pleasure Boys because of the viral videos from The Devenish which showed a number of women mimicking sexual acts with the nude erotic dancers on stage.
Police and council officials launched separate investigations. The PSNI later closed their case but a Belfast City Council inquiry is ongoing.
Lewis Latimer (36) from Ballyclare, was one of the first on the scene at The Bannville before doors officially opened.
He said: “I’ve been to Thailand, these shows are like nothing compared to everything over there, so calm down everyone!”
His friend, Niall Carson (34) even has a favourite Pleasure Boy – Jay – and he joked that he’s hoping to “find Mr Right” now that the performers are back in town.“
Either that or I’m hoping they’ll pick me from the crowd and ask me to join the group,” he said.
“I think people overreacted [to The Devenish show]. I’d say all their shows are like that, but over here it’s so backwards and it’s only because those videos got out.“
Tonight could be the same [as The Devenish] but people won’t know because there’s no recording allowed.
“I don't think it’s a big deal.”
When asked if they would feel embarrassed to be photographed or filmed at the show, Lewis stated: “No way – my granny’s not alive anymore, so I don’t care who knows I’m here!”
Natalie Ryans (24) said she had been to Magic Mike shows in England before so wanted to check out the Pleasure Boys’ performance.
"I want to see what all the attention on this was about. It will be a different type of night out.”Big Nate, one of the Pleasure Boys involved in the controversy the last time they were in Northern Ireland with their XXL tour, said that he had “a really good experience the last time, barring everything that was said about it”.
He added: “Overall, it was a positive experience, hence the reason we came back.“I hope everyone enjoys it, and that the roof lifts and there’s a scream and a half.”
Big Nate also noted that the clips of their Belfast appearance – which have been viewed and shared online hundreds of thousands of times – have changed many of the Pleasure Boys’ lives completely.“
From the second we got off the plane in Northern Ireland here – before we even got on the plane, in Newcastle Airport – people noticed us and then knew that we were coming here, and were taking pictures,” he revealed.“
It’s literally like being a celebrity. It’s been the maddest 24 hours, and I’m not used to it. I’m a normal guy who works Monday to Friday otherwise, so for people to come up to us and all know who we are, it’s just crazy.”
They have even grabbed the attention of Ruairi McSorley – better known as Frostbit Boy – who has launched his own podcast, with three of the Pleasure Boys becoming his first guests.Ruairi himself found fame thanks to a viral video of him as a schoolboy on UTV news in 2015 during a cold snap when he said “you wouldn’t be long gettin’ frostbit”.
However, not everyone was pleased with the strippers’ Co Down comeback.
The Moneyslane Free Presbyterian Church protest came after a group of local Free Presbyterian ministers deemed Saturday night’s performance “a filthy display of perversion”.
In an open letter to The Bannville, Rev. Daniel Henderson, Rev. Gregory McCammon, Rev. David Smith and Rev. John Gray said they felt it was “necessary to expose such wickedness and challenge those who would publicise it”.
“The conduct of such ‘entertainers’ is sinful in the sight of Almighty God and whatever the prevailing opinion may be to the attendees of these iniquitous and immoral ‘performances’, there is ultimately only one opinion that matters – and that is the opinion of Almighty God whom we must all stand before and give account,” it read.
Saturday night’s show involved extra security personnel, no video recordings of any kind, and the dancers had agreed not to go fully nude.
Managing director of The Pleasure Boys, John Woodward, said that while the show is still a ‘full monty’ act in the rest of the UK, due to “legal barriers” in Northern Ireland, they have had to ‘respect’ local regulations.“But, we do get right down and close to the knuckle,” John added.
The Pleasure Boys will also be back again in Co Tyrone next month, with the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh advertising a show for June 22.
by Seamus_Hean3y
16 comments
> a filthy display of perversion
“Thanks for the free advertising” _helicopters off_.
🎵 Mummy don’t know daddy’s getting hot
At the body shop, doing something unholy 🎵
https://i.redd.it/79evmyjsazzc1.gif
So do the strippers get lucky with the females at these cfnm shows or only females who wear a coloured bracelet?
> The Moneyslane Free Presbyterian Church protest came after a group of local Free Presbyterian ministers deemed Saturday night’s performance “a filthy display of perversion”.
Should put this on the posters 😂
Frostbit boy will do near anything to get some sorta spotlight
I drove past this last night. A mean age of 80 at least and old people being helped out of vans / cars confused as to where exactly they were.
So are the Moneyslane Presbyterians taking notes from the Westboro baptist Church now? 🤔
Free P’s are some sex mad horny bastards
A novelty for the UK Pleasure Boys – going somewhere where the biggest pricks weren’t actually the ones that were dangling off them.
Yet they all end up right outside the show, probably just hoping for a glimpse.
Oh to live in a world where the headline is “
Pleasure Boys picket Free Presbyterian church and brand service a ‘filthy display’”
Free advertising
That’s the point.
Well I would certainly hope so. People paid good money for it
Lol.
Personally I find the likes of these performances sad and pathetic. But I wouldn’t advocate in trying to prevent them if people want to go.