While campaigners rejoiced, there was a backlash from businesses, some of which were forced to close virtually overnight. Names like Deep Blue, Red Leopard and Wildcats all closed but Silks, Liberte and Purple Door survived the axe.
Two of the closed venues even attempted legal action, but a High Court judge concluded that the authority had acted fairly and rationally.
The council policy states that “the appropriate number of sexual entertainment venues in the city centre is a maximum of four, providing these premises are not near properties with sensitive uses or in sensitive locations”. Areas designated as “sensitive” can include schools, residential neighbourhoods, women’s refuges, cinemas and places of worship.
Currently, there are three lap dancing clubs trading in Leeds city centre. Here are some of the sexual entertainment venues that have closed over the last 15 years- and what’s replaced them.
. What remains of these former lap-dancing clubs
Here's seven Leeds lap-dancing clubs which have closed forever in the last 15 years - and what they've turned into Photo: Google
. Red Leopard
Red Leopard was located in the former Jubilee Hotel on The Headrow, opposite Leeds Town Hall, until its closure in 2014. Photo: James Hardisty
. Red Leopard
It was forced to close following the council’s high profile change of its regulations in 2013, with sexual entertainment venues no longer allowed to operate near “properties with sensitive uses” or in “prominent areas of the city”. Photo: Simon Hulme
. Red Leopard now
The Jubilee Hotel site is now being transformed into 43 apartment hotel rooms and commercial space on the ground and basement floors. The hotel building is being retained, while the adjacent three-storey corner building is being demolished and replaced with a high-quality new build. Photo: Google
. Wildcats
Just a short walk away from Red Leopard was lap-dancing club Wildcats, opposite Leeds Central Library. The Headrow venue was also forced to close following the council’s crackdown in 2013, due to its prominent city centre location. Photo: Jonathan Gawthorpe
7. Wildcats now
The unit sat vacant for several years before being converted into retail space. It is now home to Optimax Leeds, which specialises in laser eye surgery. Photo: Google
8. Silks Gentlemen's Lounge
Silks Gentlemen's Lounge, which had operated in Sovereign Street since 2009, survived the council crackdown in 2013 - but temporarily closed during the pandemic and never reopened. Photo: Tony Johnson
9. Silks Gentlemen's Lounge now
The venue has now been transformed into cocktail bar and events space Hideout, which began operating in February 2022. Photo: Google
10. Deep Blue
Former lap-dancing bar Deep Blue was located on Wellington Street - close to Leeds City Station. It was the third venue shut down by the council in 2013. Photo: Simon Hulme
11. Deep Blue now
More than six years after Deep Blue shut down, plans to transform the vacant site into a bar, restaurant and two serviced flats were approved in 2020. Popular bar and roof terrace Green Room opened in May last year, with two boutique apartments available to rent upstairs. Photo: Simon Hulme
12. Blue Coyote
Marketed as an ‘American Sports Saloon Bar’, Blue Coyote was located in Merrion Street and had closed down by 2012, later becoming a bar known as Mayaimi. The site had been vacant for several years before planning permission was granted to turn it into student flats. Photo: Google