While the full potential impact of “deadbeat” Smith’s {surely the least successful ministerial appointment since Caligula’s horse !} hare brained new legislation is finally starting to dawn on some people it has not stopped a considerable number of new venues applying to start striptease in one form or another despite the depressed state of the economy
Given that the new law does not as written give any “grandfather” rights I am unsure as to the point of this. I see lots of work for lawyers next year {typical new Labour} while all this nonsense plays itself out.The bill itself passed it’s 3rd reading in the middle of the month with very few amendments so will become law after the summer unless an election interrupts things. Meanwhile an idiot commons select committee have broken from their expenses claims to recommend that councils be able to turn down lap dancing clubs on moral grounds. Welcome to “Big Brother” deciding what entertainment is good for you !
I understand that the long established {over 20 years} and impressively scruffy strip pub the Flying Scotsman near Kings Cross station is to close for a refurb in July. There were strong rumours that it was to be converted into a wine bar but apparently the latest intention is to remain as a strip pub but smarten up somewhat including those legendary toilets. “Bar Acquarium” in Old Street is scheduled to open on June 4th and is to operate on a traditional jug collection basis.
The Absolute Leisure group which owns many nightlife venues in places like Leeds and Newcastle including the 3 Purple Door clubs plus Deep Blue in Leeds has gone into administration. I understand though that the Purple Door Hull has closed but Doncaster still trades, I am not sure what has happened to the Leeds clubs yet. This means that the 3 largest northern chains {Wildcats and AEG being the others} have all hit financial problems in the last 12 months or so as the impact of the credit crunch hits home. “Scribes” Canterbury’s only club has been converted into a gay bar and I understand “Basque” Chesterfield’s only club has also closed.
The “Music Place”, Crouch End license application has been put on hold by the owner for a few weeks after considerable local opposition. The application to turn “N22” {formerly Charlie Browns} in Wood Green into a lapdance club has been turned down by the council after a massive 2 local objections, no doubt an expensive but successful appeal will follow.
The application to open a new club called “Glamour” in Leisure World, Southampton mentioned in last months column was passed despite being objected to by amongst others UBS the landlord for the usual spurious reasons. The application to open the “Eden Lounge” as a lap dance venue in Fore Street, Exeter {mentioned in last month’s column} has also been approved as has the one for the “Villager” pub in tiny Ingoldmells near Skegness . A former bar in York Place Leeds has permission to re-open as “Baby Platinum” a lap dance club under the same management as the one opened in the centre of Manchester last month.
The Tenshi club above the Circus Tavern in Purfleet opened on May 16th and now has a web sitewww.tenshiclub.com and I understand their intention is to open more clubs during 2009 . The “F Bar” in Leicester has started having regular strip nights and a unique new monthly members only night in a luxury country house at Radlett, Herts has started . I understand that the “Players” group {who have several clubs in Yorkshire} have applied to open a new club in Barnsley.
Coventry’s “Club Heat” has staged a 5 a side competition to raise money for the “Help for Heros” charity. Julie Cook who took most of the photographs used in the “Baby oil and Ice” book about the East End strip pubs has a new book out called “ Some Las Vegas clubs”. The ETO show this year at the NEC is set for the 5th and 6th of July see www.etoshow.com . A new Rick Myall film called “Just for the Record “ was partly filmed at the Katz club in Basildon during May.
The Queen Anne in Vauxhall is having a charity all day stripathon on Sunday 28th of June.
Tyke
The implementation of the new “sex encounter” laws
New laws could cost 15,000 stripclub jobs across England and Wales,
None of the sensible amendments about the new sex encounter bill have been accepted
Author: Saxon
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