FAQs
Lap dancing ‘safe, glamorous, empowering’?
Still Stripping the Illusion
‘The Free Choice’ Myth
There can be no free or informed choice when we groom girls from a young age to objectify themselves; when they never hear the truth or harms about the industry; when those who do speak out are smeared and libelled; when the ‘sex work is work’ mantra is so ingrained it is unthinkable to think about it
‘The Going Underground’ Myth
It is constantly stated that the industry will ‘go underground’ if strip clubs close. the truth is, it is the strip industry that drives the ‘underground’ industry. Clubs directly feed ‘private parties’, whilst the industry directly drives the supply and demand for prostitution (and the trafficking and organised crime that goes hand-in-hand with this).
‘Putting Women Out of Work’ Myth
An oft-repeated mantra is that closing strip clubs will ‘put women out of work’. In reality, it is strip clubs that keep women OUT of (safe) paid work, not closing them
‘The Easy Money’ Myth
Lap dancing is invariably presented as an easy way for women to make lots of money. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth
‘Flexible, Independent Work’ Myth
It is often stated lap dancing is flexible and healthy work full of ‘independent’ workers. But is it?
The ‘Well Regulated’ Myth
Clubs can, and do, circumvent all regulation put in place. This is evidenced by research, testimonies and countless incidences not just of ‘rule breaches’ but of criminality.
‘The No Touching’ Myth
There is not supposed to be any sexual contact between strippers and punters nor are women supposed to touch themselves or each other sexually. In reality however, this is how the industry operates – it is the only way women can make money. Clubs have even gone to court in (failed) bids to allow Sexual Contact. Sexual contact is rarely seen when councils inspect premises or CCTV (clubs always known when they are coming), but is invariably found when police inspect CCTV or on under cover visits. It is also widely testified to by whistle blowers:
Strip Clubs & the Law
Councils have sweeping powers to refuse to license or relicense strip clubs but seem wholly unaware of this, perhaps because they are constantly misdirected by strip club lawyers. Councils also have a legal duty to support victims of the strip industry. Councils aren’t just ignorant of the law, they are breaching it – both licensing and Equality Law – as two High Court cases have already demonstrated:
What Survivors Say
The truth about lap dancing. This is what women who have left the industry and whistleblowers say:
- ‘Extreme sexual contact’
- ‘Organised crime .. drugs .. fraud’
- ‘PTSD, denial, dissociation’
What Industry Supporters Say
There is an irreconcilable chasm between what survivors/whistle blowers say and what industry supporters say. This could be because of the extreme control strip club operators hold over lap dancers as well as denial, dissociation & ‘higher loyalty’ to the club being essential survival mechanisms. Add to this extreme levels of abuse and intimidation against anyone who dare speak out.
Expert Statements
Women who have exited the industry alongside numerous equality leaders, NGOs and public figures call for its end because of the multiple harms associated with it:
Prior/Ongoing Abuse
Research and testimony from survivors clearly indicate prior/ongoing abuse is common for women in lap dancing. This greatly effects the ‘choice’ to enter the strip industry, makes women that much more vulnerable once in it and much harder to leave.
Abuse in Clubs
Having to provide sexual contact is in and of itself a form of abuse – however verbal, physical and sexual harassment of lap dancers is rampant in the industry, although always publicly denied. Regulation is wholly ineffective in preventing, or detecting, breaches or abuse. However, abuse is so common, that despite the industry’s best efforts, numerous incidences of assault have been documented. Strippers have been bottled and ejaculated on. Drunk, half naked lap dancers have been dumped on the street, raped and gang raped. Violence is not just directed against lap dancers, but punters and passers by and includes mass brawls, near fatal and fatal stabbings, arson, drink spiking, hostage taking, fraud, extreme property damage.
Abuse by Management
Management frequently describe their clubs as ‘big happy families’. But routine threat, harassment, fines, non payment, sexual ‘favours’ and outright sexual assault is how they treat the women in these ‘families’.
Drugs & Alcohol
Substance use and addiction go hand-in-hand with the sex industry – stripping is no exception. For lap dancers, it helps alleviate boredom, gives ‘Dutch courage’ and enables dissociation. Whilst getting punters blind drunk is the real business model of the industry. It’s the easiest way to get men to part with huge sums of money. This is not only harmful in itself (and illegal) but makes women (in and outside of) clubs even more vulnerable to assault.
Mental & Physical Health
Being objectified, even if you ‘choose’ it is harmful. Continually feigning desire for men who might even repulse you is harmful. Yet this is the entire premise of the industry. So even if clubs were perfectly run and all the punters really were ‘gentlemen’, the industry is inherently harmful. On top this there is constant harassment, intimidation, abuse and assaults. All of this leads to dissociation, denial and other considerable mental – and physical – health issues:
Prostitution
The lap dancing industry directly feeds the supply and demand for prostitution. The local brothel (or an escort agency) is the obvious ‘next stop’ for sexually aroused, drunk, entitled strip club punters. Pimps often tout outside strip clubs to enable this. And the industry directly ‘grooms’ lap dancers to supply the wider sex trade.
Fraud
Fraud is standard in strip clubs ie getting men so drunk (or drugged – including drink spiking) they spend £10,000s. Clubs know they won’t complain – some don’t want their wives to find out and most are regulars and know exactly what is happening but come back when the next fat city pay cheque arrives. Closer examination of tax records also often reveals strip clubs are barely turning a profit, in fact some of the biggest chains are £millions in debt. How can that be for a business where men spend £10,000s of a night and many lap dancers state they make £1,000s every shift? :
The ‘Gentlemen’ in the Club
The industry creates and cements deeply damaging attitudes towards women in the men who go. The constant harassment and assault of lap dancers testifies to these attitudes . So do the comments of punters:
No Go Zones
Many women feel, and often are, unsafe in the vicinity of strip club – even to the point of not using the surrounding area – a self imposed ‘curfew’. This is anti-equalities and cannot be prevented.
Royal Town Planning Inst. p9: ‘Strip clubs make women feel threatened/uncomfortable’ (UK)
CATW : Industry linked to violent, ‘no go’ areas (International)
The Conversation : Women avoid areas near strip clubs (Int)
CATW: Alcohol consumption in strip clubs increases harm to women outside (Int)
Hypersexual City : Harm of strip clubs on women in cities (Int)
The Conversation: Strip Clubs make cities less safe for women (Int)
ESRC: Many women self exclude from areas with strip clubs (UK)
‘Sex Licensing’ p 87: ‘it is arguably discrimination if a strip club means a woman fears to use area’ (UK)
Bristol : 50m zone around strip clubs ‘hot spot’ for sexual violence
Bristol: 40 sexual offences in 1 year near strip clubs: License Hearing App.1
Bristol: ‘Heightened risk to women in the area’: License Hearing App.1
Bristol: ‘We’d need 10 doormen if we were to intervene immediately’: License Hearing
Sheffield: Deserted street with strip club a hot spot for violence/sexual violence
Sheffield: Numerous women report assault/fear of assault and self exclude
Manchester : Rejects new strip club due to fear of increased sexual assault
USA: Sex Business associated with higher crime rates
The Wider Impact
Strip clubs are entirely based on sexist stereotypes – they objectify and dehumanise women, fuel men’s sense of sexual entitlement, superiority, dominance and hyper machismo. These are exactly the attitudes that underpin men’s abuse of women. While we have the porn and sex industries and the routine objectification of women we will never see a reduction in male violence against women. At the same time the sex trade lobby uses abuse and intimidation to censor these truths:
Spearmint Rhino
There have been ‘problems’ [prostitution, pimps, assaults, fraud] across the chain ever since it opened in 2000, yet no branch has even been refused a licensing by any council. If this is happening at the ‘most glamorous, stringently regulated’ strip chain, what’s happening in the rest?
Strip Clubs UK
250+ incidences found in over half the UK strip industry, many serious including rape, gang rape, GBH, arson, fatal stabbings & mass brawls – even at clubs regulated by Councils deemed ‘models of best practice’. At the same time, an industry leader has publicly admitted they work hard to ‘keep a lid on it‘. So clearly this is just the tip of the iceberg.
ENGLAND & WALES
[* Councils deemed ‘Gold Standard’ by pro-sex industry academics in terms of their regulation & concern for dancers welfare ]
Accrington
icandy [2012] Tries advertising for lap dancers in Job Centre
Barnsley
Wildcats [2015] Man assaulted inside club
Wildcats Prostitution?: Reviews
Basildon
Katz [2008] Attack by punters puts man in coma
*Birmingham
Birmingham deemed ‘gold standard‘by pro-sex industry academics for its regulation of the strip industry
Police Complaints [2016] Numerous complaints to police about Birmingham clubs
Legs 11 [2017] Drink spiking and sexual contact. Not Shut
Legs 11 [2017] Slavery raid, fraud. Both Clubs in chain. Shut
Legs 11 [2019] Owner of Legs 11 tries to open a new strip club
Birmingham [2019] 2,000 sign petition to stop yet another strip club opening
Rocket Club [2021]: Gang rape led by management
Blackpool
Blackpool used to have a dozen strip clubs. All but 4 have been closed since the law changed (in 2011) which stopped them being licensed like cafes. In 2021, Blackpool moved to introduce a policy for zero strip clubs but might be exempting its 4 current clubs
Eden1 [2016-2020] Several complaints of fraud: Trip Advisor
Eden1 [2018]: Fraud, Propositioning: Police Complaints
Eden1 [2019]: Punter torched, 2nd degree burns. Not Shut
Sinless [2020]: Underage dancers, drugs, fraud?
Sinless [2020]: Manager dubs allegations a ‘smear campaign’. Not Shut
Blackpool Exempts 4 existing clubs from its new policy for zero clubs
Bournemouth
Bournemouth has 3 strip clubs with a long history of abuse associated with their chains, both in Bournemouth and elsewhere. In 2021 the council consulted, twice, on a new strip club policy. Ignoring all concerns as ‘moralistic’ it then further opened up the industry by placing no limit on strip club numbers. This policy was found to be unlawful in the High Court in 2023. It later emerged that alleged sex buyers and a DV perpetrator were instrumental in creating this policy. The council shows no signs of creating a new policy and continues to license its clubs:
FYEO [2013] Credit Card Fraud (also seen at other branches)
Spearmint Rhino [2014] Illegally serves alcohol to drunk punters
Spearmint Rhino [2014] Multiple allegations of financial fraud
Spearmint Rhino [2014] Sexual Contact & Straddling
Spearmint Rhino [2016] Punter sues for intoxicated spending
Spearmint Rhino [2022] License transferred to new operator
Temptation [2022] ‘Come get Pussy’ workers shout outside club
Wiggle [2013] Dancers straddling punters & other Sexual Contact
Wiggle [2016] Wants outdoor seating
Wiggle [2018] Credit Card fraud
Wiggle [2018] GBH leaves woman with lifelong scars
Wiggle [2020] GBH against punter
Wiggle [2022] Gang rape opposite club
Wiggle/FYEO Violent rape in park next to Wiggle & FYEO
Bournemouth [2021] Proposes new policy with NO LIMIT on strip club numbers
Bournemouth [2023] Men accused of Sex Buying/Domestic Violence instrumental in ‘No Limits’ policy
Bournemouth [2023] New policy found to be unlawful in High Court
Bournemouth [2024] course case cost 160K not £30K as council initially stated
Bournemouth [2023] Still re-licensing clubs
Full list of incidents related to Spearmint Rhino chain here
Incidents related to Wiggle and its owner here
Brighton
Brighton [2015] Student exposes the harm of the Brighton strip industry
*Bristol
Bristol currently has 2 strip clubs, both under the same ownership. In 2021 it is consulting on a policy for zero clubs, resulting in a campaign of threat & intimidation by the sex trade lobby- including cyber stalking a local woman, posting pornographic images on a charity facebook page and an incendiary petition targeting MPs & other public figures. Bristol is deemed ‘gold standard‘ by pro-sex industry academics for its regulation of the strip industry. A key argument used to keep its clubs open is that women will otherwise have to strip at ‘unsafe private parties’. But it is the club owner who is already doing this- sending lap dancers & topless waitresses out to private parties in men’s homes.
Bristol Police [2011] 50m zone around strip clubs ‘hot spot’ for sexual violence
Manager at licensing hearing [2013] “We’d need 10 doormen if we were to intervene immediately”
Temptations [2013] Sexual Contact, club fined. Not Shut
Jack of Diamonds (formerly Temptations) [2017] Sexual Contact. Shut
Urban Tiger [2015] Banned from using school girl images
Bristol [Aug 2015] Bristol’s 2 strip clubs now under same ownership
Urban Tiger [Sep 2015] Ads joke about stalking
Urban Tiger. Police Report Appendix H [2017] Multiple assaults, often by club bouncers. Police: ‘Do Not Relicense’
Urban Tiger. Police Report Appendix H [2017] 40 sexual offences in 1 year in vicinity. Police: ‘Do Not Relicense’
Urban Tiger [2018] Lap dancers: ‘club saved my life’
Urban Tiger [2019] Prostitution?
Urban Tiger [2019] Lap dancers: ‘Club’s a big happy family’
Urban Tiger [2020] Punters behaving inappropriately ejected approx twice/month into local area
Bristol [2019] NGOs abused for objecting to strip club
Bristol [2019] New draft strip club policy takes un-evidenced pro-industry statements as fact
Bristol [2019] Consultation on new policy pulled as failed to consider advice of experts
Bristol [2019] Former strip club now thriving tapas bar and film location
Bristol Clubs [2021]: Dancer confirms serious sexual assault resulting in conviction [at 15.15]
Bristol [2021]: Head of Women’s Group dubbed ‘misogynist’ for opposing strip trade
Bristol [2022]: Council back tracks on policy for zero clubs & instead opens up industry
Cambridge
Talk of the Town [2010] Advertises on school route & in vouchers at Fresher’s week
* Camden Overview
Camden has 6 strip clubs. Its policy states no clubs are appropriate but all existing clubs are ‘exempt’. Camden is deemed ‘gold standard‘ by pro-sex industry academics for its regulation of the strip industry. In 2021, the police stated pimps have long been associated with all Camden’s strip clubs, including its strip pub (open during the day, located near schools). The council has only detected breaches once in any of its clubs. It inspects each club once on a pre-announced visit and may carry out one further annual visit. By 2021 it had not completed its own investigation into hard evidence we provided 2 years earlier of breaches at 2 of its clubs. In 2021 it instead unlawfully started publishing the name and home address of everyone who objects to strip clubs. It was only after ‘robust conversations’ with the Information Commissioner, with extensive powers to fine, that it finally backed down.
Summary of Concerns [2019]
Undercover Journalist[2018] Harassment, assaults, propositioning, drugs in Camden clubs
Police: Pimps associated with all Camden strip clubs/pubs p283 [2020]
Camden Parkers
Touting, intimidation, fraud/prostitution? [2018] : Trip Advisor
Camden Red Rooms
Touts/Pimps p285 [2017]: Venue Promoters/Touts: Police Report
Touts/Pimp p16 [2017]: Police Report
Venue unlawfully touting for business p286 [2017]: Police Report
Pimps[2018] Pimps pose as cabbies outside: Local Resident
Fraud App. 8 [June 2018] Punter claims fraud
Fraud App. 9 [July 2019] Financial fraud against vulnerable adult: Trading Standards
Fraud App. 9 [July 2019] Concerns of fraud: Trading Standards
Tax Owed App. 9 [July 2019] Club owes council £1/4million in business tax: Trading Standards
Theft App. 8 [Aug 2019] Theft
Assault, Touts App.8 [Sep 2019] Illegal Touting & Assault
Fraud, Poisoning? App.8 [Oct 2019] Fraud, possible poisoning. Club pays off accuser
Assault [Oct 2019]: Assault (ABH) outside venue (Suppl Agenda, 2020 Hearing)
Fraud, False Imprisonment, Poisoning, Sexual Contact [Nov 2019] (Suppl Agenda, 2020 Hearing)
Serious Assault [Dec 2019] Life threatening stabbing in club, club does not even tell police
Police: ‘Risk to Public’ [Dec 2019] ‘Serious concerns venue cannot operate without risk to public safety
Police: ‘Suspend License’ [Dec 2019] Police call for immediate suspension of license
License Re-instated: [2020] Club challenges suspension. License re-instated with ‘more conditions’
Trading Standards:‘Unfit Applicant’ [2020] ‘Unfit Applicant, do not grant license’: Trading Standards
Sill Open 3.10-3.14 [Jan 2020] Council merely sends warning letter & requests ‘more training
Touts [Feb 2020] p284 : Unlawful touting by club: Police Report
Camden Secrets Chain
Summary of Incidences at the 3 Camden Secrets clubs
Sexual Contact [2013] Chain fails in court to allow dancers to touch themselves sexually
Debt [2018] : Chain £4.7 million in debt
Tax Payers Money Suppl Agenda p9 [2020]: Chain seeks £90,000 from Late Night Levy
Secrets [2019]: History of incidences not allowed to be included at 2019 licensing hearings
Secrets [2019]: ‘Never been any serious incidences at any of my clubs’ Secrets owner at Licensing Hearing
Secrets [2019] Not Buying It raises section 21 complaint ‘applicant lied to council’
Camden Secrets Gray’s Inn Rd
Touting [2017] Club breaches license conditions by Fliering (clubs may not tout for business)
Council [2020, 2021]: Ignores evidence of abuse in chain at club licensing hearing
Camden Secrets Parker St
Soliciting App. 10 [2017] Soliciting, unsafe for women: Local Residents
Pimps [2018] Numerous Pimps pose as cabbies outside: Resident
Sexual Contact p 251 [2019] Club given ‘Yellow Card’: Council Inspection
‘No breaches’ [2019] No sexual contact’ observed on Pre-Announced Council Inspection
Pimps [Feb 2020] p285 Numerous ‘sex touts’ in vicinity: Police Report
Touting [Feb 2020] p284 Unlawful touting by club: Police Report
Police ‘Revoke License’ p 286 [2020] Police call for license to be revoked: Police Report
Camden Secrets Eversholt Rd
Sexual contact, assaults: Lap dancer [2008]
Sexual Touching [2011] Touching even when performing for women: Evening Standard
Assault p148 [2016] GBH. One customer Assaults Another: Police Report
Council Incompetence p2 Council unaware of 2016 assault at club’s licensing hearing
Fraud App. 10 [2016] Financial Fraud vs intoxicated customer: Trading Standards
Fraud App. 10 [2017] Financial Fraud vs intoxicated customer: Trading Standards
GBH App. 10 [Jan 2017] GBH vs lap dancer, club do not inform police: Police
Assault p 149 [May 2017] Drunk customer complains of assault, police not called: Police
Assault p149 [Nov 2017] Drunk customer assaults waiter, security do nothing: Police Report
Fraud App. 10 [2018] Financial Fraud: Trading Standards
Sexual Contact App.9 [2018] Rampant Sexual Contact, no club intervention: CCTV/Police
Sexual Contact App. 9 [2019] Rampant Sexual Contact, no club intervention: CCTV/Police
License transferred to Sophisticats, which still trades as Secrets Camden Ltd
Fraud [2019] 13 reports financial fraud including drink spiking: Trading Standards
Sexual Contact [2019] Multiple incidences: Police
Sophisticats [2019]: Workers/Supporters defend club
Owner [2019]: ‘Many punters spend £50,000 in one night’
Club provides mental health therapy to lap dancers App. 16 [2019]
Mette, survivor: ‘Don’t put clubs in charge of dancer ‘welfare”
Camden Sophisticats
License still held under the name of Secrets Camden Ltd (above)
See also incidences at Westminster Sophistitcats
Fraud [2019] 13 reports financial fraud including drink spiking: Trading Standards
Sexual Contact [2019] Multiple incidences: Police
Sophisticats [2019]: Workers/Supporters defend club
Owner [2019]: ‘Many punters spend £50,000 in one night’
Club provides mental health therapy to lap dancers App. 16 [2019]
Mette, survivor: ‘Don’t put clubs in charge of dancer ‘welfare”
Camden Spearmint Rhino
Full list of incidents related to Spearmint Rhino chain here
Failed court attempt by club to prevent council access to its CCTV [2013]
Touts (pimps) [2013] Judge states touting (pimps) unstoppable & due to club
Organised Crime [2014] Sexual contact, organised crime, PTSD: ex lap dancer
Touts (pimps) [2014] Numerous police logs of (pimps) touting outside
Chester Council buys venue [2014] Sells the venue but still operates from it
Pimps [2015] Pimps outside, porn events, topless advertising
Sexual Contact [2017] Sexual Contact & Straddling, performers fired
‘Racist’ [2019] Hosts ‘Chocolate Men’, a black male stripper troupe
Sexual Contact, Pimps [2019] Widespread sexual contact, pimps outside: Undercover Investigators
*Council Incompetence [2021]: Council not completed investigation into breaches we exposed in 2019
Carlisle
Rouge [2018] Assault between dancers. Not Shut [2018]
Carlisle [2019] After assault at its current club, Council considers licensing another
Cheltenham
The law has a so-called ‘frequency exemption’ loop hole. This means totally unregulated venues can host ‘occasional’ lap dancing without any kind of license or controls. They do not even need to tell the council. Because of the threat of these operating, Cheltenham is effectively forced to grant strip club licenses to numerous venues which then appear to have carte blanche to do as they please, because if their license is taken away the men running them will simply set up ‘pop ups’. All these venues only operate during race meets when they turn Cheltenham into ‘a walk-tho brothel’. But Councils can call on Parliament to end this loophole. Why hasn’t Cheltenham?
Cheltenham [2018] ‘Pop Up’ Strip Clubs – legal, unregulated
Cheltenham [2018] The Problem with ‘Pop Up’ Strip Clubs
Cheltenham [2019] Pop up strip clubs back for race weeks
Cheltenham [2023] Strip club is ‘3 floors of whores’ : Punter
Cheltenham [2022] Strip club allowed to post fliers and drive punters to venue
Cheltenham [2021] Uses loophole to justify licensing strip clubs
PCC [2021] Calls for end to strip clubs including ‘pop ups’
Cheltenham [2024] Lays on extra police to ‘protect women’
Cheltenham [2024] lays on extra support sexual violence support workers ‘to protect women’
Chester
Platinum Lounge [2015] Sexual contact, drugs, prostitution: Undercover Investigators. Shut
City of London
Charlie Brown’s [2012] Sexual Contact & other Licensing Breaches
City of London Corporation has since adapted and implemented policy for zero strip clubs
Coventry
Heat [2006] Sexual contact and poor management: Lap dancer
Doncaster
Bentley’s [2017] Serious assault on Lap dancer
* Durham
Red Velvet [2012] Drug dealing: Police raid. Shut
Durham introduces policy for zero strip clubsEaling
After years of serious incidences at its strip clubs, in 2019 Ealing Council sought to introduce a policy for zero clubs
LA Confidential [2017] Bouncer charged with GBH. Police: ‘club a serious risk to public’
LA Confidential [2018] Club seeks to extend opening hours & lower age limit
LA Confidential [2018] Sexual Contact, Prostitution: Undercover investigators. Shut
Purrlesque [2018] Former Ealing councillor seeks to open strip club
Epsom
Stir [2018] Punter attacks passer-by on leaving strip club
Hackney
Hackney has a policy for zero strip clubs but its 3 currently operating clubs are ‘exempt’
Ye Old Axe [2019] Owner guilty of life threatening arson. Not Shut
Halifax
La Salsa [2011] Underage dancers, prostitution in sister Huddersfield club
La Salsa [2019] Councillor visits strip club ‘to ask women if they are trafficked’
La Salsa [2020] Assault inside club (unfit management even when no lap dancing): Police
Council [2019] Council ‘lied to’ by club lawyer, refuses to consider PCC evidence
Council [2021] Council still ignorant of law, refuses to consider PCC evidence
Hammersmith
Mayor and others call for closure of branch of notorious Secrets chain near numerous schools [2021]
Secrets ‘bucket list visit’ in gushing press article [2017]
Council’s licensing policy unlawfully ‘written around’ existing Secret’s strip club
Harrogate
Villa Mercedes [2015] Sexual Contact, ‘Audience Participation’. Shut
Kings Club [2019] Club told ‘fix Panic Buttons’
Heathrow
Full list of incidents related to Spearmint Rhino chain here
Spearmint Rhino [2003] Prostitution, Drugs: Employee whistle blower. Not Shut
Spearmint Rhino [2003] Club settles case out of court with whistle blower. Not Shut
Spearmint Rhino [2009] Serious assault by security guard on CCTV: Ex dancer. Not Shut
Huddersfield
Cleopatra’s Lounge [2016] Dancer refuses sex, punter causes £1,000s damage
La Salsa [2011] Underage dancers, prostitution: Police raid. Owner arrested. Shut
Leeds
Leeds Council’s new policy [2018] states zero strip clubs are appropriate but all 4 currently operating clubs are exempted. For 6 years, Leeds also operated a disastrous prostitution ‘Managed Zone’ (shut 2021)
Silks: Lap dancers not paid: Worker Reviews
Numerous clubs take council to court when not relicensed (all lose)
* Leicester
Leicester is deemed ‘gold standard‘ by pro-sex industry academics for its regulation of the strip industry
Angel’s [2016] Sexual Contact, suspected underage dancers
Lily’s Lounge [2016] Club (unsuccessfully) takes council to court for refusing to relicense
Liverpool
X in the City [2015] Punter attacks lap dancer when she refuses sex
Liverpool [2017] Convicted rapist forces girlfriend to lap dance
Liverpool [2020] Council unanimously approves 24 hour strip club
Pro-prostitution group to ‘support lap dancers’ [2020]
Maidstone
Player’s [2015] Former director steals van, sets fire to club and threatens ex-wife
* Manchester
Manchester is deemed ‘gold standard’ by pro-sex industry academics for its regulation of the strip industry, yet has a long history of serious incidences at its clubs. In 2021 it is looking to introduce a policy for zero clubs to fierce opposition from the sex trade lobby, making intimidating, threatening (and libellous) assertions against international NGO, White Ribbon Campaign
Baby Blue [2012] Strip club opens without planning permission
Baby Platinum [2013] Man stabbed outside club. Not Shut
Council [2014] Denies new strip club license due to sexual assaults
Totties [2016] Mass brawl outside strip club leads to murder. Shut
Silks: Lap dancers not paid: Worker Reviews
Silks [2017] Known Criminals, unfit manager, police call for license to be revoked
Silks [2017] Several Serious Brawls. License transferred to new operator
Obsessions [2019] Sexual Contact rife: Undercover Investigation. Not Shut
Victoria’s [2019] Sexual Contact rife: Undercover Investigation. Not Shut
Strip Club Supporters [2019] Defend clubs despite breaches
Middlesbrough
Secrets [2010] Sexual Contact. Previous serious assaults at club. Shut
Newcastle
Newcastle’s policy allows for 8 strip clubs and (unlawfully) states equality law ‘not relevant’
Blue Velvet [2018] Assault (with hospitalisations & 6 arrests) outside club
Newcastle [2018] Over 200 calls to police over Newcastle’s 8 strip clubs
*Newquay
Newquay deemed ‘gold standard‘ by pro-sex industry academics for its regulation of the strip industry but there was so much trouble at its 5 clubs that it was known as a ‘Wild West. Campaigners successfully shut down the industry and helped changed the law to stop strip clubs being licensed like cafes:
Halos [2011] Consistent rule breaches: CCTV. Shut
Divas [2009] Sexual contact, underage dancers. Shut
Divas: Owners found guilty of fraud after club shut
Channel 4 Dispatches exposes consistent breaches in Newquay clubs
Newquay – thriving without its strip clubs
Plymouth
Divas [2011] Fraud and other license breaches. Shut
Temptations T2 [2018] 2 men hospitalised after assault in club
Temptations T2 [2019] Punter reports assault and being prevented from leaving
Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s policy states there is nowhere where it is appropriate to have a strip club but its 2 pre-existing clubs (we believe unlawfully) are exempt from this policy (an exemption apparently made behind closed doors). Both clubs are owned by the same operator who runs other problematic strip clubs in the Southwest including Wiggle, Bournemouthouth:
Elegance [2006] Bouncer shot. Not ShutWiggle [2012]: ‘Threatening verbal harassment outside’: Local Residents
Wiggle/Elegance [2013] ‘Owner unfit to hold license’: Police/Council
Elegance [2021] Owner fined for letting ‘high risk’ unlicensed property
Portsmouth clubs [2012] 3.70: ‘These clubs are unfit’: Lap dancer
Harassment [2012] 3.12: ‘I’m regularly harassed outside’ : Local Resident
Preston
Room 32 [2014] One dancer assaults another causing serious injury
Perfect 10s [2015] Drunk customer destroys club & threatens female manager
Reading
Black Diamond [2019] Sexual contact, straddling: CCTV. Not Shut, hours extended
Rotherham
Rotherham introduced a policy for zero strip clubs after abuse exposed at its one long-standing club
Renoirs & Rouge [2018] Under investigation for excessive rule breaches
Sheffield
Sheffield had one strip club, of the notorious Spearmint Rhino chain, which it defended in 2 unsuccessful High Court cases and it continued to license even after whistle blowing by former workers, numerous locals reporting fear of assault outside with rampant sexual contact & sex acts exposed inside. It also leaked 700+ emails (including those of rape survivors), had a councillor linked to an escort agency deciding strip club policy, had a councillor using inciteful language against protestors and allowed whistleblowers to be called ‘liars’ at public hearings. It was the pandemic, not the council, which finally led to the closure of Sheffield’s Spearmint Rhino and its ‘Swingers’ club (with 2 reported rapes). Five years after its strip club policy was found to be unlawful, Sheffield council still has not created a lawful policy for the licensing of ‘sexual entertainment venues’.
Sheffield Council [2016] Council breaching equality law when licensed club: High Court
Sheffield Council [2018] Local resident has to crowd fund to take council to court again
Sheffield Council [2018] Council new strip club policy still breaches equality law: High Court
Summary of Court Proceedings vs Sheffield City Council [2018]
Whistle blowers [2018] Harassment, assault, intimidation: 3 former lap dancers
Whistle Blower [2018] ‘Managers are very seedy’: Dancer Review
Spearmint Rhino [2018] Workers/supporters defend club
All Objections (145) to Spearmint Rhino [2018]
Whistle Blower [2019] p828 Management abuse: whistleblower
Sex Acts [2019] Extreme sexual contact: Undercover Investigators
‘Too Offensive’ [2019] Councillors walk out of public meeting when they hear what happens in the club they keep licensing
Objectors to club [2019] Sheffield Councillors & MPs, clubs’ former dancers
200 Breaches [2019] 200 breaches, unfit management: Council Report
Supporters defend Club [2019] Workers/Supporters defend club
Sheffield Council: Councillor linked to an escort agency deciding strip club policy
Sheffield Council: Councillor uses incendiary ‘hate speech’ against those challenging the club
Spearmint Rhino [2020] Still beaching licensing conditions
Supporters Defend Club [2020] Workers/Supporters/Trade Union defend club
Crime Stats [2020] Deserted street with strip club – a hot spot for violence/sexual violence
No Go Zone [2020] Numerous women report assault/fear of assault, do not use local area
3rd Legal Challenge [2020] Judge allows 3rd legal challenge against Council
For Sale [2020] Spearmint Rhino puts venue up for sale
Shut [2020] Club withdraws license application, building sold, club shut. Council never refused license
Council [2023]: Council still not created a new, lawful strip club policy
Skegness
Flirtz [2017] Class A Drugs. Not Shut
Southampton
FYEO [2019] Fraud
Financial fraud also reported in other clubs in FYEO chain
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 [2017] Drink spiking, drug dealing, violence, prostitution
Swindon
It wasn’t until 2018 that Council banned straddling, ‘grinding’ & sexual contact – to protest by clubs/workers/supporters
Fantasy Club Owner destroys interior when club shuts
Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets has a policy for zero strip clubs but still has 4 (down from a staggering 12, in 2010)
Charlie’s Angels [2015] Sexual contact. Harassment by ‘feminist’ Moslem Lib Dem candidate during Ramadan
Nag’s Head [2017] Sexual contact, serious sexual assault
Nag’s Head [2017] Sexual contact, serious sexual assault of dancer
Nag’s Head [2017] Management/Staff support club, deny incidences
Nag’s Head [2017] Club worker and union member defends club
Whites [2019] Sexual contact: undercover investigators. Shut
Twickenham
Playhouse [2012] Punters drunk & disorderly, license holder convicted of 11 offences. Shut
West Bromwich
Bing [2017] GBH, suspected prostitution/trafficking/underage performers
Westminster
Westminster clubs [2018] Harassment, assaults, propositioning, drugs: Undercover journalist
Capricorn [2009] Strip Club run as brothel
Sophisticats [2005] Judge rules Council cannot restrict opening hours
Sophisticats [2019] Hacking to increase google rankings. Black listed by google
Sophisticats [2020] ‘Back to school’ promotion, touting
Sophisticats [2020] Complicit in Credit Card fraud
Platinum Lace [2016] Sexual contact, management claims ‘set up’ by rival
Platinum Lace [2019] pg 20. Sexual contact: Undercover investigators. Not Shut
Vanity [2023] Criminal gangs spike punter drinks at commit fraud. Temporary Closure
Windmill Theatre [2018] Sexual contact, prostitution: Undercover Investigators. Shut
Windmill [2019] Former strip club reopened as thriving celebrity cocktail bar
Westminster [2020] Selfridges steps in to stop new strip club opening opposite. Not Licensed
Weston-Super-Mare
Shadow Lounge [2010] 14 year old lap dancers
Weston-super-Mare [2019] Punter ejaculates on dancer’s leg
Weston-super-Mare [2011] Former strip club now a thriving family business
Weymouth
Wigan
Baby Platinum [2016] 8 police call outs, including for drugs
Baby Platinum [2019] Staff ‘s bag, with baby scans, snatched
Wolverhampton
Cobra Club [2011] Man stabbed in club
Worcester
Black Cherry [2019] Slavery Raid
SCOTLAND
In Scotland 1/3 of men who buy prostitution do so at strip clubs. Yet strip clubs were still licensed like ‘leisure venues’ until at least 2021, unlike in England and Wales. Some Scottish regions have now moved to close their strip industry (most notably Edinburgh) or pre-emptively prevent it from gaining a foothold (like East Lothian and North Lanarkshire). Where the industry has flourished, so has the organise crime that accompanies it. By 2014, a sting operation was needed against 3 clubs owned by one lap dancing mogul, Steve Macdonald with prior violent convictions. Both Macdonald and another strip club kingpin, Tony Cochrane, have been on a Holyrood taskforce on sex trafficking.
Aberdeen
Private Eyes 2 [2015] Lap dancer attacks another, later acquitted of serious assault
Private Eyes [2017] Places unauthorised fly posters across town
The Mask [2019] Incidences lead to closure order forced by Police
The Mask [2020] Club manager assaults punter causing permanent disfigurement.
Edinburgh
Strip clubs still licensed like ‘Leisure Venues’ [2021]
Scottish Judge: Strippers ‘undertake risk of violence and abuse’ [2021]
Burke & Hare: Sexual contact, stalking, lap dancers not given the money they earn [2021]
Burke & Hare: Lap dancers ‘treated like pieces of meat’ [2023]
Edinburgh council creates new policy to end stripping at venues
Edinburgh venues challenge policy to remove stripping licenses [2022]
Judge confirms councils’ right to stop issuing stripping licenses [2023]
Edinburgh Council: Reconsulting on its policy for stripping licenses [2023]
Glasgow
Despite serious incidences at its strip clubs, in 2022 Glasgow decided to adopt a policy to keep all current clubs which they would then ‘regulate’, despite regulation proven to have comprehensively failed everywhere else.
Spearmint Rhino [2009] Sexual contact exposed months after opening. Shut
Seventh Heaven [2009] Sexual contact
Legs N Co [2013] Tax Fraud
Diamond Dolls [2017] Half clothed, drunk lap dancer dumped on street
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