'50 Shades Of Grey' Replaces Bible In English Hotel

The Damson Dene Hotel, which claims it "is the ideal location for a peaceful break away from it all" and is "one of the friendliest hotels in the UK," has certainly done a spectacular job of bringing attention to itself by placing "Fifty Shades" in its 40 guest rooms.

The owner of the hotel in the scenic Lake District of northwest England, Jonathan Denby, had been wondering what to do with the Gideon Bibles in the rooms ever since he bought the hotel from a Methodist group a decade ago.

"I was thinking originally of putting in a book by Ayn Rand - 'Atlas Shrugged' was my first thought," Denby told NBC News.

Denby explained that he felt it was "inappropriate" have a religious book in people's private bedrooms, according to NBC News.

"(But) because everybody is reading 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' we thought it would be a hospitable thing to do, to have this available for our guests, especially if some of them were a little bit shy about buying it because of its reputation."

"Fifty Shades of Grey" is an erotic love story by British "Twilight" fan E.L. James that has graphic pornographic scenes where the characters engage in bondage and sadomasochism.

Denby told NBC News his choice to add the book to the rooms was not a philosophical one, but out of pure fun. He hasn't even read the book but decided to put it in his rooms due to its popularity. 

Michael Woodcock, a parish priest at St. Mary's Church in Crosthwaite, where the hotel is located, believes that the Denby is just trying to pull a gimmick, according to NBC News.

"It is a great shame that Bibles have been removed from rooms and very inappropriate to have been replaced by an explicit erotic novel," Woodcock told The Westmorland Gazette.

"The Bible remains a source of comfort and inspiration that many people do find helpful."

Denby has gotten much criticism for the move, with most of it coming from the U.S. since the Gideon Bible is more popular in America, he said.

"People in the States feel much more strongly," he said. "We've had quite a few emails quoting the Scriptures to us and suggesting that it would be a good thing to put the Bible back."

But Denby said that most people "have loved" finding "Fifty Shades" in their nightstand, he said and added that if people wish to read the Bible there are copies available at the front desk.

"We're not disposing of the books. We're keeping them and if people want to borrow them, then they're very welcome to," Denby said.

Would you be pleased if you found "Fifty Shades of Grey" in your hotel nightstand as opposed to a Bible?