The owner of the country’s only fetish bar says Brighton’s kinky scene has “taken off” following the Fifty Shades Of Grey phenomenon.

Kitten Skye, who runs Brighton’s Dungeon Bar in Regency Square, said the books and recent film release had encouraged more people to be open about their sexual desires.

However, speaking ahead of the bar’s launch on Saturday, she criticised the film’s main character, Christian Grey, for what she described as his “emotional abuse” of female lead Anastasia Steele.

Ms Skye, 25, from Brighton, took over the fetish bar, which opened in November, last month.

She said: “I want it to be a safe place for people to explore their sexual desires.

“It is a private members club so you have to be recommended. Safety is very important.”

Asked what goes on in the downstairs bar, the 25-year-old added: “You would have to become a member to find out.”

The fetish scene in Brighton and Hove, she added, has failed to take off in the past few years because of the size of the city and the fear of being spotted.

However, she hopes the new bar will provide a safe, confidential environment for people to “play”.

Talking about the impact of the bestselling Fifty Shades Of Grey book and hit film, she said: “I think it has given people the confidence to explore their sexual desires – especially young people.

“I have seen the film and I think some of the scenes are OK but I don’t like the way he emotionally uses her. It is like emotional abuse.”

The book has sold more than 100 million copies with the film hitting the top of the charts worldwide.

The franchise is credited with bringing bondage to the mainstream – which Ms Skye hopes will see more people coming through the doors.

As well as a bar and sofas, the venue features a number of contraptions and props you would not usually expect to come across of an evening.

There is a bondage wheel, on which participants are strapped in and spun round, cages and a bondage coffin which flips open to reveal certain body parts.

The bar is open on Friday and Saturday nights, from 6pm to 2am.