Fore Street strip club licence renewal attracts 16 written objections
| Posted: July 15, 2015
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Eden Lounge on Fore Street, Exeter
Exeter strip club Eden lounge has applied to renew its licence as a Sexual Entertainment Venue, whilst facing a barrage of written objections.
The objections raised concern issues with the safety and attitudes toward women in Exeter city centre and the close proximity of two places of worship to the venue.
A renewal of a SEV licence costs a business £3,700.
The first of the objections, following the required public advertisement of a renewal application in February, slammed the setting of the strip club - which sits above Fore Street night-club, EX4.
The anonymous objector said:
"This establishment is in a residential and business area. It is sandwiched between two ancient churches. Hardly a suitable setting for a SEV."
It continues: "By granting a licence, I and many others would consider the council to be condoning lap-dancing. Is this really the message you wish to send out to the people of Exeter?"
Another objector, an anonymous female student, said:
"As a student my friends and family do not like to go out in the evening: Even in a small group. We are afraid of what might happen."
The objection goes on to say: "Taking away the licence will mean the amount of sexual comments on the streets at night will decrease, meaning women will have a safer evening."
Another objection raises similar reservations regarding the treatment of women in relation to Eden Lounge.
It states: "This kind of entertainment perpetuates the objectification of women, and encourage unhealthy attitudes in young men."
Exeter City Council's licencing committee previously renewed the clubs licence in late February 2014.
Similar complaints were leveled at the venue at the time.
However Phil Stickly, a customer at the venue, attended the meeting and spoke highly of the establishment and its staff.
As a wheelchair user he said he was made to feel very welcome by the staff, with door staff aiding him into the premises by carrying him in his wheelchair.
In response to a question from then-chairman Councillor Dawson at the meeting, Mr Stickly stated he always arranges to attend in advance, but he still thinks he would receive the same service even if he did not call in advance.
The original licence was issued to Valley Wood Resources Ltd.
At that time, the Licensing Committee resolved that:
"An exception to the Exeter City Council Policy on Sex Establishment Licences is found, in that there is a locality in Exeter, in which it would be appropriate to licence a Sex Entertainment Venue, and that this premises falls within this one such locality."
The Committee is set to make the final decision on the latest licence renewal on Tuesday 21st July.
2 comments
I can see nothing wrong in having a strip club in Exeter. Those do gooders that try and rule others lives should themselves get a life. if they don't like them they don't have to go do they.
It states: "This kind of entertainment perpetuates the objectification of women, and encourage unhealthy attitudes in young men." Surely if the women that work there choose to, it's their individual right, and they are making a good money! No problem!! It matters not if there is a lap dancing club in the city as to the attitudes of the "young men" in the street?! 95% of them haven't been there on a night out anyhow??!!
It states: "This kind of entertainment perpetuates the objectification of women, and encourage unhealthy attitudes in young men." Surely if the women that work there choose to, it's their individual right, and they are making a good money! No problem!! It matters not if there is a lap dancing club in the city as to the attitudes of the "young men" in the street?! 95% of them haven't been there on a night out anyhow??!!