On Birmingham’s outskirts, this unconventional hotel proudly brands itself as ‘clothes-free’, permitting guests to utilise all amenities whilst completely nude.

While on first glance this might appear quite a contentious option for a weekend getaway, Tim Higgs, the establishment’s proprietor, hopes to transform public perceptions of naturism, one unclothed overnight stay at a time. Since opening its doors in 2010, the venue has attracted considerable interest from those baffled by the concept of naturism, alongside earning numerous glowing testimonials from visitors.

The concept for such an establishment emerged from pure innocence and Higgs’s passion for enjoying saunas and spas across Switzerland, Germany and Finland. It’s within these European locations where donning clothing at such venues is generally discouraged, and for him, it represented liberation.

Tim explained: “It’s so much more relaxing, and actually becoming confident in your own skin without any labels and clothes and cover is just freedom – it’s unbelievable, and there are not many places in the UK. So it dawned on me that, hey, there must be a business opportunity here offering it to people who, once they’ve tried it, generally love it.”

He added: “That’s why our reviews are so good, I think, because people think ‘I’m apprehensive’, and then they leave thinking, ‘What was all that trash that I was carrying around with me about taking my clothes off? I am just me.'”

Discussing his rivals within the naturist sector, he revealed there are certain establishments which permit “sexual behaviour”, which he believes “misses the point completely”. As a hotel and spa operating under the ‘naturist’ banner, Tim feels that other venues “hijack” the term entirely by providing sexual services or permitting swinging in public areas.

This conduct he categorically stresses is not naturism. Detailing how he and his team ensure all visitors feel secure during their stay at Clover Spa, Tim revealed it maintains a strictly “clothes-free, nonsexual environment.” To put it simply, he declares “sexual innuendos or behaviour won’t be tolerated.”

He stresses the facility was constructed with this philosophy in mind, guaranteeing there were no hidden corners or shadowy spots where individuals could “sneak off and muck around”. You might still be pondering, with a puzzled expression, what the greatest advantage to naturism actually is, and for Tim it’s a straightforward response – absolute freedom.

“Most people think, ‘Yeah, I’m free,’ but they’re stuck by social stereotypes and social expectations:, he explained, ” he revealed. “And it is the most common word people use to describe how free they feel once they accept their body for whatever it is. And it really doesn’t matter.

“You can be bumpy, saggy, stretched, and scarred, but when you’re with a group of naked people, you’re most respectful. You maintain eye contact more, and it just gets away from all that stuff that society expects of you. When you take off all your labels and all your clothing and you are just there, you’re being totally honest with the world. So, here I am. There you are. We’re just human beings.”

The 69 year old hotelier drew parallels with skinny-dipping – a rather more familiar practice. He explained: “Most people have skinny dipped… and when they did, the world didn’t cave in. It’s just an exciting experience, as people are discovering the freedom of it.”

While the concept of ‘naturism’ has attracted its fair share of criticism, Tim appears determined to reframe the notion as something that, rather than being sexual, is purely liberating. His philosophy centres on the belief: “If you can just calm down a little bit and be happy in your skin, you don’t need quite so many clothes; you don’t actually need to go and have your lips pumped up and your saggy bits Botoxed, because you learn to live with yourself and be nicer.”