Lapdancing bars have licences extended for another year

Whiskey Down in Crown Street and Silks in Sovereign Place, met with Leeds City Council decision-makers this month to renew their sexual entertainment licences for the coming year, with the authority confirming permission has been extended for a further year.

Each will continue with their current hours of 10pm-4am on Sunday to Thursday and 10pm-5am on Friday and Saturday.

Following a clampdown on sex establishments in Leeds back in 2013, the city is now only permitted four, with each now needing to renew its licence annually.

Following the meeting on August 20, Leeds City Council has now confirmed that both the clubs have had their licences extended for another year.

A statement from the authority said: “The committee decided to grant the renewal of the licence (for Silks) for 12 months from March 1, 2020 and to remain in place until midnight on February 28, 2021.

“The committee decided to grant the renewal of the licence (for Whiskey Down) for 12 months from April 1, 2020 and to remain in place until midnight on March 31, 2021.”

The application for Whiskey Down stated: “The premises are situated in the heart of the entertainment area of Leeds. They are on the first and second floors and have their own discreet entrance.

“The licence shall ensure that no nuisance is caused by noise or vibration emanating from the licensed premises resulting from the use of this licence. The licensee shall provide urgent attention to any reports of noise nuisance.”

It added notices would be placed at all exits reminding customers to leave quietly, while queues would be restricted to cordoned areas.

On public safety measures, it added: “Children shall not be permitted in areas of the premises that would enable them to view tableside dancing or entertainment of a like nature being performed.”

The application for Silks stated: “It is impossible to see the exterior of the premises during the gentleman’s club opening hours. Even when the front door is open, the view is to the reception only and the interior of the premises is obscured by curtains.

“There is no interaction with residents are there are none in the vicinity. The usage as a gentleman’s club does not interact with businesses in the vicinity, which are generally closed by the time the venue opens.”

Neither of the applications attracted any objections from members of the public, authorities or campaigners.

In 2013, new legislation led to the closure of four lapdancing venues due to their locations. The remaining three were Silks, along with Purple Door and Liberte in York Place. Whiskey Down was then granted its first sex establishment licence in 2017.