A receptionist who books men into a massage parlour has lifted the lid on the industry's secrets - and the impact of the cost of living crisis. She says their business is now the only one in the area as others have been forced to close because of rising costs.
The parlour in an unsuspecting terrace has taken on clients from three nearby parlours that have closed down. BirminghamLive found 15 parlours which advertised their services in 2022, were no longer available, with mobile numbers disconnected.
The surviving venue says despite adopting the trade of nearby businesses, it has seen the number of clients dwindle as a result of the cost of living.
The receptionist said: "We've had to pay more for energy bills, everything. Our prices [for massages] have been £40 for absolutely years. Obviously, we've put the price up in March.
"We've put it up by £10. The customers are happy to pay it, they told us we should've done it a long time ago before now.
"It's about everything really, it's about the people who come here really, the girls themselves. We offer a service and they're happy with the service, I would say. It's more like family, when they keep coming back.
"Across the country, we're the cheapest people here...that's why people keep coming back - and it's a good service.
"Obviously other places are closing down, so we have a lot of new people. We weren't the only people in the village, we had three lots of services in one sort of area. Now, we're the only ones here.
"[The crisis] sometimes affects numbers, it's obvious. The cost of living is catching everybody on the foot really but at the end of the day, this service has been long-standing since the beginning of time really - so it depends what men put as a priority in their own purse.
"The tips are still the same. We offer a full personal service."
Brothels are also being closed down by police. It is not illegal to sell sex in a brothel, or parlour, provided the sex worker is not involved in the management or control of the services. But controlling or keeping such a premises to sell sex is a crime.
