Guest Book
Equipage opens on Fridays and Saturdays. We chose to check it out on a Friday evening.
Please follow instructions as this club is set back from the street.
Equipage is situated at 30 Nostitzstrasse («Mehringdamm» on U-Bahn 6, or «Gneisenaustrasse» on U-Bahn 7), right at the south end of the street (going upward). I'm specifying this because going the wrong way in a Berlin street can waste over a quarter of an hour of your time. But fear not, a lighted sign hangs right next to the open gate that leads to the club.At the end of the courtyard, a big and a small door. Press the button next to the small door and wait for it to open. You then enter a small parking lot. Immediately turn left and go straight to the door at the other end. Press the button and you will be welcomed in.
Now please don't let the apparent complexity of these directions put you off. Equipage really deserves to be discovered. A small stairway leads downward to the entrance hall with it's long counter. This is where you pay the entrance fee (5 ¤). Immediately on the left, a small room to change, and immediately on the right, a series of numbered lockers. Same principle as the Gargoyle Club, you just ask for a key (free of charge).
Also on each side of the entrance hall, the two halves of the club. On the right, the main lounge with a bar and many tables (for 2, 4 or 8 people). The setting is splendid. Brick walls with the appearance of old stone, a ceiling made of arch-like recesses, soft lighting, candles... It's like entering another world.Opposite the bar, the lounge is lined with a series of rooms comprising a great variety of furniture, notably a stretching table and a big suspended cage. These rooms are only partially closed off, but some areas are darker than others, such as a small cell complete with wooden bunk, and a narrow dead-end where hangs a leather sling, above which you will also find a platform covered with leather pillows. A steadily fastened ladder allows you to access this cosy space.But there is more equipment spread out in the main room, such as a horizontal bar (with straps) hanging from the ceiling, a St. Andrews cross fixed to the wall, right next to one of the tables, or even a small pit with wired trap-door, right next to the entrance!
The other half of the club is made of two rooms: a small one, and a much bigger one. The small room comprises three wooden stable-like stalls, a vertical stretching table, and a horizontal bar (with straps) hanging from the ceiling. The big room comprises an examination chair, a large bed covered in black vinyl, and (wait for it) a big and beautiful round table! Absolutely! The wall right behind it is also decorated with swords and shields for maximum effect. Upon closer inspection, one can spot a few buckles in the wood of the table, in order to tie someone onto it. As a matter a fact, the hostess explained to us that on certain evenings including meals, the food could be served on an actual person! Awesome!Doors allow you to separate these two rooms from one-another (as well as from the hallway, in which stands a perkly horse, by the way), but these doors have barred windows in them. You can make sure no one will interfere, but people will nevertheless be able to see you.
There isn’t any special smoking lounge, but it is possible to smoke at the bar. This is also where you will find a selection of accessories which you can borrow. Cleaning products and paper towelling are also present in most rooms. The background music is in a pop/rock vein, and thankfully the volume is low.
As is the case with the Gargoyle Club, this place is all about refinement. One can practice whatever pleasure one prefers in total serenity. Actually, one couple kicks off early in the evening, starting off in the small room with the stalls, and then moving on to the stretching table opposite the bar in the main lounge. Meanwhile, most people present have a drink and chat. A group of 6/7 will actually spend most of the evening conversing around a table. A few curious people go take a peek at the busy couple nearby, but no one interferes in any way.
A young couple decides to go check out the club a little more thouroughly. When my Sweetheart and I go for a little stroll, we find them enjoying the examination chair. The doors are open, so I stick around. I slip off my boots to avoid making any noise, and I step a little closer. The young man is taking good care of his lady, so I patiently wait for him to spot my presence. When he does, I simply gesture with my hand to ask if I can come closer. He nods with a broad smile. I seat myself on the big bed right next to the pair and watch, all the while indulging in a little pleasure of my own.Later, the young man comes to see us at the bar, and we chat for a steady twenty minutes.
All this to point out that at Equipage, everything flows naturally and courteously. Earlier in the evening, while I am watching the young couple, a guy comes up to ask if I could use some assistance. I only need to decline politely, and he doesn’t insist. Much later, as my Sweetheart and I prepare to leave, we hear a sweet saraband of sighs emanating from the big room with the round table. Two or three people are apparently very busy with each other on the big bed. This time, the doors are closed. Despite the windows, there isn’t anyone watching. Total respect, once again.
As far as the dress-code is concerned, it is quite flexible: some are in evening clothes, others are more fancily dressed, and others a lot more undressed. Same diversity regarding the material of the clothing.
It all depends what the evening’s theme is. Some parties can be more latex-orientated.The club’s website lists all the upcoming events in the «Parties» section. Some of them have their own websites (notably the Darkside» which resurrects once a month). You will find the links in the list of events.
The entrance fee generally shifts between 5 and 10 ¤ for women, 15 and 25 ¤ for men, 20 and 25 ¤ for couples. Prices can nevertheless vary even more according to the evening’s theme (check the organiser’s website whenever it is mentioned in the «parties» list). Opening time is 9 PM.
There you go! And now, the link to the club’s website (click here). It is in German, but some of the event organisers’ websites have an english translation. You will also be able to see some nice pictures of the club (click on «impressionen»).
Ambiolyta
ambiolyta.blog4ever.com