VALENTINE’S DAY – a time for romance, candlelight and flowers, but this year it is set to have a slightly more saucy edge to it with the eagerly anticipated release of 50 Shades of Grey.

The film adaption of the enormously successful book follows the story of Ana who embarks upon a relationship with powerful businessman Christian Grey who introduces her to a variety of erotic sexual practices.

It seems in Southampton we are eager to embrace the slightly more unorthodox approach to activities between the sheets as the city was named in the top ten cities to pre-book tickets for the movie.

Meanwhile lingerie shops are reporting bumper sales across Southampton, with the city’s Ann Summer’s store reporting pairs of black fur-clad handcuffs “flying off the shelves”.

Hidden Assets is an adult store that has been trading in Southampton for 20 years. A spokesman for the firm said the release of the book did prompt a huge surge in business and as a result they are now seeing more couples and women come through their doors.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue have stopped short of following the lead of London Fire Brigade who have launched their own campaign called Fifty Shades of Red in a bid to encourage couples to be mindful of their safety if they are playing to recreate any of the saucy scenes.

The brigade have threatened to ‘Tweet’ some of their more unusual and avoidable call-outs during the course of the night which they fear could include rescuing those who have become, stuck, trapped, tied or locked.

Sniggers aside, the issues that the film raises have been broadly welcomed by relationship experts who say raising the subject of experimenting in the bedroom is healthy for couples.

Relationship guidance service Relate said they were expecting a large increase in those wanting to seek sexual therapy as a result of the film’s release.

Deborah Crescente, Centre Director for Relate, Solent and Winchester region said: “I think it has helped couples communicate about the issue.

The film has definitely raised the issue and it has broken some of the taboo around discussing it. I think that is largely a good thing that people can talk about it within their relationships.”

“We are expecting to see more people wanting to access our sexual therapy services as a result of the film’s release.”

In 2013 the Daily Echo featured the story of Jacky Donavan from Hampshire who swapped a high powered city job to become a dominatrix.

She subsequently wrote a book called Instant Whips and Dream Toppings detailing some of her encounters.

She believes that the book and film has given way to ‘kink’ becoming more acceptable in relationships.

“I think you only have to look at the clothes and toys that are displayed in high street shops such as Ann Summers and Harmony to realise that 50 Shades has had an enormous impact on kink becoming more acceptable in relationships as well as playing a much bigger part.

Daily Echo:

Dominatrix Jacky Donavan

“To my mind, it is a huge plus that it has given perfectly normal people the possibility to discuss their secret fantasies with a partner. With less fear of being laughed at or thought perverted.”

Dr Meg Barker, has written extensively on the subject and the impact the film has had and whilst she agrees on the positive impact of the film, she adds a note of caution to people wanting |to experiment for the first time.

She says it is crucial for couples to be “enthusiastically consensual” and to have agreed boundaries before starting out as to what is and isn’t acceptable.

Dr Barker told the Daily Echo that her main concern about the film was the type of relationship between the two protagonists.

“The issue of concern for relationships is that the relationship between Christian and Ana in the novels is not very consensual at all.

“Actually he acts in quite an abusive and stalker-like way, following her on holiday and taking control of her work when she’s explicitly asked him not to.

“He also forbids her from telling anybody else about the kinky part of their relationship. It’s important that people don’t come away with the idea that those kinds of things are OK in a relationship.”

  • Is your partner the most romantic person in Hampshire? Do you have any romantic Valentine's stories to warm the heart? Please let us know by emailing newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk