The annual “ Night of the Senses” ball held at the Clapham Grand on Sept 2nd saw ex strip magazine coverdancer Chiqui crowned “stripper of the year” for 2006. Private party organiser Olympia Moments won the event/club of the year, and Soho’s venerable Sunset Strip won the lifetime achievement award.
The opening of the lap dancing part of the unique Sugar Hut Village at Brentwood has been abandoned due to negative reaction amongst the club’s female customers though private events are likely to continue. Maybe the idea of a lap dancing club as part of a larger nightlife concept will be the next trend, in Stourbridge the old Picture House is being redeveloped into a 1,500 capacity venue including a new lap dancing club.
Ursula Martinez who is mainly famous for a magic act where she strips totally naked is appearing at the Barbican Theatre in London during October.
The market for Burlesque type shows seems to be expanding rapidly, another UK star Gwendoline Lamour has a web site, then there is the Tassel Club { seewww.thetasselclub.com } plus new clubs like Flirt { Nottingham} and the Diamond Rendevous {Birmingham}opening up through the country.
The first new club in York reported last month is to be called “Ziggy’s” in Micklegate though I hear another called “Bohemia” may also be opening soon
. Both are converted nightclubs where the owners feel the new licensing laws require a change of format. Nationwide group FYEO now have a licence to open a 3rd club in Newcastle. An application to open another new club in Walsall in the old Green Dragon pub in the High St has been made. The “Legends” club in Shaw near Oldham succeeded in it’s application for a licence despite hysterical local opposition.
The first club in Crewe “Manhattan” on the High St also opened in September, it seems likely that there will soon be others in town. Skegness looks set to get it’s 2nd club and Leicester a 6th to be called Bentley’s. An attempt to open a first club in Fleetwood has raised local opposition. A new club called ”Harpers” has started lap dancing on Wednesday and Thursday nights in Onslow St, Guildford. Portsmouth’s only club Elegance is now open 7 days a week. Swindon now has a 2nd club called Rouge in the Old Town area.
I understand the “ Private Eyes” club in Luton has abandoned lap dancing after only 3 months of operation, rumour has it that it had trouble attracting enough girls
I also hear that Torquay’s Koko Lounge has changed hands and stopped having dancers though a new venue in the town is likely to open. Edinburgh council’s bizarre vendetta against lap dancing clubs continued with complaints about the signs at Liquorice.
Over 50 organisations have signed an anti lap dance charter in Ireland stating that they will not use clubs for Corporate entertainment.
In a nursing home in Diss, Norfolk staff provided resident Gwen Dorling with a male stripper as a treat for her 102nd birthday, apparently she has requested 2 for next year! Talking of male strip shows a new club called “ Tricky Dicky’s” is scheduled to open in Birmingham’s Chinatown above Legs 11 aimed purely at female audiences. It should have opened in September and has a license but it’s been delayed by lease problems.
Tracy Simmonds of Pole Addicts won the 2006 Miss Pole Dance UK competition held in Newquay, it’s not clear at this stage whether there will be a European or World final this year.
Talking of pole dancers one of the world’s most famous ones Pantera {right} of the USA will be in the UK in October taking classes for Pole Passion, details via[email protected] or 0871 318 3838 .
Tyke
Author: Saxon
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