Clubs ordered to stop lap-dancing
Three lap-dancing clubs will not be given new licences after the city council objected to their locations.
Under new regulations, strip clubs in Leicester need to get permission to operate from the council – which has decided to limit the number of clubs and enforce stricter rules about where they are.
The Leicester City Council's licensing committee has decided that three venues – Angels, in New Park Street; Panache, in Yeoman Street; and Baby Blue, in New Bond Street – will not get new licences.
The clubs can continue to offer lap-dancing until March 31, but after that, they must change the entertainment on offer or close.
Councillor Sarah Russell, assistant mayor with a responsibility for neighbourhood services, said: "It is about striking a balance. There are people who choose to go to these places and many others who do not. It is about trying to get a balance between businesses who want to run lap-dancing venues, and making sure they do not have an impact on those who live and work around them."
Earlier this year, the city council changed its rules on the licensing of sexual entertainment venues.
Its new regulations state that there can only be five clubs in the city centre and Braunstone Gate – and none outside of that area.
They also state that they cannot be near religious venues, major shopping areas or leisure centres.
The committee decided that Panache is too close to homes in Yeoman Street, Angels is too near to the current De Montfort University sports centre and the new one being built, and that Baby Blue was too close to the Highcross shopping centre.
De Montfort University, which objected to Angels, welcomed the decision.
A spokeswoman said: "The university is pleased that Leicester City Council has decided to refuse the Angels club a licensing application to continue trading.
"We felt very strongly that the proximity of the club to the entrance of the new leisure centre causes the potential for conflicting uses as the new facilities will be open late into the evening and we hope they will be used by people of all ages in the community.
"We are grateful that the council took these objections on board and came to the decision that they did."
A spokesman for Baby Blue said he did not want to comment because the club was currently seeking legal advice.
The Mercury was unable to contact anyone from Panache or Angels.
Two lap-dancing clubs, Platinum Lace, in Abbey Street, and Spearmint Rhino, in Belgrave Gate, were granted licences.
4 Comments
by phreakdown
Sunday, December 25 2011, 12:31PM
“Where do DMU stand on this?
http://tinyurl.com/d4tq7wp”
by JayBe11
Sunday, December 25 2011, 12:11AM
“Your very need for such a long in depth comment does in fact suggest that you do frequent such venues"
Ad hom and Pathetic.”
by nursemad
Saturday, December 24 2011, 7:55PM
“Neil0123 they should just move premises away from areas where potential retailers, entertainment venues and pedestrians are put off from going to as they are seedy. Your very need for such a long in depth comment does in fact suggest that you do frequent such venues”
by Neil0123
Saturday, December 24 2011, 6:19PM
“I have never visited one of these clubs - nor would I particularly want to but they are plying a legal and (presumably) successful trade. I would guess that the female "entertainers" are there of their own free will and not by being forced at gun-point to "perform".
Why, in the time of a recession, should the council be deliberately following a policy to force businesses to close and for their employees to be made redundant? Rather than being able to contribute to society through their taxes these ladies will now be a burden on us by having to draw benefits!
These clubs, obviously, have alcohol licenses as drink is one part of this form of "entertainment". So they can all be turned into bars. Then, rather than having a club where everything happens within the privacy of its own walls, we will have more drunks inflicting pain on people in the street, increasing policing costs and creating more anti-social behaviour at the weekend.
Reading the pages of the LM every day highlights a lot of the failing of Leicester and it would, surely, be better for the council to focus efforts into resolving these issues before turning their attention to these businesses.
I have said it in these pages before but Leicester City Council seems to be anti-business and thrives on doing anything that makes it less likely that ANY city-based business will succeed.”