2 well financed North American groups are planning to make major investments in the UK

At the time of the entry of Spearmint Rhino into the UK there was a great deal of speculation that other US entertainment groups would set up in the UK but at that point none actually came. I hear though strong rumours that 2 well financed North American groups are planning to make major investments in the UK during 2005. Expect interesting announcements shortly.

The exodus at Browns continued during the month with Alex { also a successful model as Capri Ashby} retiring to Cyprus during February, also leaving the scene are Vida { Miss Shoreditch runner up in 2005} and Vicki Holloway who has given up live strip shows to concentrate on modelling and video work. On a more positive note I hear ex Browns star Sunni has re-emerged at the nearby Metropolis and also a strong rumour that Argentinean beauty Varona { Miss Shoreditch 2002} will be working in Shoreditch again regularly in 2005.

The London scene has just lost 2 of the prettiest girls in my opinion in Vicki Holloway and AlexWelcome news of the re opening of a long lost strip pub. The Double Century Slough which was a Rainbow pub in the mid 1990s has started having girls on again now renamed the Five Rivers. Slough is actually becoming quite a centre for strip pubs with the recent opening of the Printers in Stoke Rd to go along with the long established Flags. Unfortunately the Flags , which has been a strip pub for 8 years now, is currently having problems with the council over it’s license renewal caused it’s thought by confusion over the new system.

 Talking to Glenn Nicie the boss of FYEO the court case between Glasgow’s moronic council and it’s own licensing committee over the latter’s decision to grant FYEO a license to open a club takes place in March. The new Southampton club is currently closed for refurbishment and they hope to have it open for business by the end of March. The long awaited opening of FYEO’s Croydon club is being held up due to a dispute with the landlord. Glenn though remains confident that the group will have 10 clubs open in the UK by the end of the year {currently they have 6}.

I understand that the Leeds based group Purple Door is to open a 4th UK club in Carlisle. In Leeds however the council has started making restricive noises about tighter controls and CCTV and the current clubs are looking to band together to oppose this. Talking of Leeds I understand the Tappas Bar in Briggate has started lap dancing on certain nights. A 2nd attempt by the same person to open a first club in Mansfield is being made this time in Dame Flogan St following the lack of success in August last year. I understand that Liverpool’s Angels club is subject to a compulsory purchase order and will have to move or close. A 3rd club to be called “Lust” is to open in Preston late in March or early April. An application has been made to convert the Happy Hours karaoke bar in Bridge St, Northampton into that towns 2nd club has been made. Birmingham council has given permission for yet another club { I make that 11} as yet unnamed to be opened in Bristol St. The Evolution club in Barrow has now got permission to open in Holker St and expects to be up and running before the end of September.

I understand Pauline Gold has sold the Stiletto agency and is not involved in the scene any more. I hear of a new Entertease strip pub called the Three Pigeons in Thame which has started having girls on Friday.

Despite Nottingham’s famous anti strip council a 4th club is now opening in that town, it’s an offshoot of Sheffield’s long established Dancing Dollar club which will run from the Euro Bar Hotel near the Lace Market every Thursday and Friday nights from March 3rd. Conrad’s the longest established club {private members only} in Nottingham has lost it’s liquor licence after various bit’s of undercover police activity and it’s future now looks very uncertain.

Actress Kiera Knightley plays a lap dancer in the new feature film “Domino” and apparently needed a double as her bottom was not of the required quality!

News of an online pole dancing competition at www.PoleKatz.com which has cash prizes and will run until July. New pole dancing lessons in Glasgow and Newcastle see www.diydivas.co.uk. The Honeypot pub chain now has a web site www.honeypot.com that works .

Aberdeen’s Fantasy Bar { subject of a C4 documentary a few years ago} has closed as the owner Joe Park { who owned several bars in the town} has gone bankrupt. The Scottish Parliament { the biggest waste of money since the Dome} has set up a task force under Linda Costello Baker to look at the licensing of the adult industry. Expect it to take a long time before coming up with a load of nonsense.

A number of clubs opened in the boom of 2003 and 2004 are now coming on the market including the likes of Goodefellas { which is now shut only opening in march last year} of Sheffield and Blue Leopard of Liverpool which are both very well decorated and fitted out.

Tyke