Conservative politician buys Hove Taboo sex shop

Conservative councilor – and local party whip – Robert Nemeth purchased the building which was previously home to Taboo in Blatchington Road, Hove, after a chance encounter with its owner last year.

After getting the keys, he has now began work to strip out the building which used to sell a range of upmarket erotic goods “sure to tickle your fancy”.

Inside Taboo sex shop in Hove

Despite closing nearly a year ago, some eager sex shop customers have been mistakenly visiting the shop – only to bump into the representative for Wish Ward.

Cllr Nemeth said: “I’m very hands-on when it comes to building work and I’m out the front very regularly at the moment – lots of Wish residents have walked past, said hello, and asked if they could peek inside.

“I’ve met lots of the old customers, all of whom have been incredibly pleasant and I’ve given them little update on what’s happened and I’ve said to them to go to and see Tim in the Brighton shop.”

Inside Taboo sex shop in Hove

Tim Richardson, owner Taboo, featured in Chanel 4’s A Very British Sex Shop last year at his other store in Surrey Street, near Brighton Station.

The Hove Taboo store opened in January 2010 after a £50,000 refurbishment of the previous sex shop, Ignition.

When Ignition opened in 2003, residents feared it would attract the wrong sort of people to a street used daily by parents walking their children to nearby schools.

But opposition died down after it changed the wording of “Hove is about to get sexy” on its front window.

Inside Taboo sex shop in Hove

Cllr Nemeth said he has found a range of items while refitting the building, which will no longer be an adult boutique.

“So far, we’ve come across naked gnomes in the garden and nipple tassels in the cupboard,” he said.

Inside Taboo sex shop in Hove

Pictures from inside the building show the old cash register and a wall mirror, where customers could see themselves while trying on various items.

Cllr Nemeth said the building itself has an interesting history as it was first a house, then a butchers and a grocers before becoming a sex shop.

He said: “It was hard to know what to expect when I was first shown around because the front windows are frosted and I’d never been inside before.

Inside Taboo sex shop in Hove

“I was pleasantly surprised to find all sorts of hidden areas, secret rooms and huge ceiling voids.

“The building has been modified in all sorts of interesting ways over the years.

“Blatchington Road began as houses and many of the raised ground floors were lower to pavement level, which means a higher ceiling on ground floors but a basement with a lower ceiling.”

Inside Taboo sex shop in Hove

When asked what his plans for the building are, he said: “Everyone’s working practices have been turned upside down so I’m keeping all options open at the moment and we’ll make a decision once I’ve stripped out the existing interiors.”