LAHORE: In Britain, where nudity is otherwise regulated by the Public Order Act 1986, the Justices of the Peace Act 1361 and the common law offence of indecent exposure that outrages public decency, the country’s capital London has hosted the inauguration of the first nudist restaurant “The Bunyadi,” at an undisclosed location on Saturday, amidst a lot of criticism on social media, hence making one assume and believe that the Wild West doesn’t think it is fully liberated yet!
“The Bunyadi” means ‘fundamental,’ ‘basic’ or ‘natural.’
Already boasting a waiting list of 44,200 prospective clients, “The Bunyadi” offers optional nudity and raw foods for those who are thrilled to hang out and enjoy a meal while stark naked.
Having a seating capacity for 42 guests at a time, the world’s weirdest restaurant will remain open for three months. A five course food menu costs around £69 or Pakistani Rs 10,286 if one takes into consideration the rupee-pound parity on Saturday evening.
The United Kingdom is generally considered a lot more conservative than other European nations like Denmark, Holland or Germany, where nudity is generally not deemed to be an indictable offence and where it is legal to sunbathe nude in parks, on beaches and on private property without fear of prosecution.
With help sought from the more recent editions of the CNN, The Independent, the Time Out magazine and the Daily Telegraph etc, here follow some key features of this mind-boggling restaurant:
The trendy London restaurant plans to have both 'naked' and 'non-naked' areas.
In the 'non-naked' half, diners can keep their clothes on, while customers can sit in their birthday suits in the 'naked and pure' section.
A changing room with lockers is on hand and modest diners will be given a gown and slippers to protect their modesty if they so wish.
Photography and devices like cell phones and lap tops etc are totally banned within the vicinity.
Places at the restaurant are being offered on a first-come-first-served basis.
Up to 2,000 diners are given a two-hour window to book before their places are offered to the next 2,000.
The CNN had quoted the restaurant founder Seb Lyall as saying: “We believe people should get the chance to enjoy and experience a night out without any impurities: no chemicals, no artificial colours, no electricity, no gas, no phone and even no clothes if they wish to. The idea is to experience true liberation. We have worked very hard to design a space where everything patrons interact with is bare and naked. The use of natural bamboo partitions and candlelight has enabled to us to make the restaurant discreet, whilst adhering to the ethos behind it. No doubt, this has been the most challenging project for us yet, which makes us very excited about it. People want to be naked. Whether it's on a beach or in a sauna, if the opportunity is there to be in a natural state, they will take it."
The CNN adds: “Publicity leaflets proclaim the use of 'edible cutlery, hand-made clay crockery, a canopy of candle lights and woodn furniture. The 'pop-up' restaurant, whose exact location has not been revealed, will be open for three months. Paying up to $95-a-head for food and drinks, diners will be able to choose between clothed and "naked and pure" seating areas, where they'll be served by semi-nude staff. Selfies, mercifully, will be impossible as guests will have to leave their devices behind when entering the candlelit restaurant.”
A renowned British newspaper “The Independent” has revealed that this restaurant under review would operate without gas and electricity for an extremely natural look.
On April 27 this year, another widely-subscribed British newspaper “The Telegraph” had also viewed: “Diners will be encouraged to disrobe and “experience true liberation” while tucking into a tasting menu. On arrival, customers will be escorted to a changing room, asked to place their clothes and belongings in lockers and given a light gown. It is then up to them whether to remove the final item of clothing at the table. Tables will be partly obscured by bamboo screens, creating a semblance of privacy. Large napkins will presumably be provided to prevent unfortunate burns.
"Minimally clothed" serving staff will wait on tables, offering a menu which will include grilled meats as well as vegan options, all cooked on a wood fire and served on handmade clay crockery.”
A renowned London-based magazine “Time Out” had reported: “First, you pull aside the velvet curtain and enter The Bunyadi's bar area, which could easily be a high-end spa. After ordering a drink, you're ushered into a private changing room and instructed to remove your clothes, put all worldly possessions in a locker and change into a robe. Back into the bar, guests sipped cocktails and made small talk in white towelling robes. But instead of a post-facial glow, there was a pre-naked glow about the place; each guest eyeing the door, gearing up to be called through to the restaurant to dine in the buff.”
It is imperative to note that in the United Kingdom, a prosecution will not automatically follow, unless public interest is involved.
The Code for Crown Prosecutors requires prosecutors to consider the following questions:
How serious is the offence committed?
What is the level of culpability of the suspect?
What are the circumstances of and the harm caused to the victim?
Was the suspect under the age of 18 at the time of the offence?
What is the impact on the community?
Is prosecution a proportionate response?
Do sources of information require protecting?
