Cheltenham sexual entertainment venue plans approved
The venue will be operating during race weeks
Plans for a Cheltenham town centre strip club to open during Cheltenham race week and the November meet next year have been approved.
European Events Consultants Limited, known as Eroticats, bid to renew its licence for a sexual entertainment venue at Under the Prom at 109-113 Promenade has been approved.
Cheltenham Borough Council considered the proposals at its licensing committee meeting on December 3.
The renewal application sought permission to provide sexual entertainment from 8pm to 5am the following day on Friday and Saturday of the November meeting.
It also requested permission to open from Monday to Friday of Cheltenham Festival Week each year.
The venue plans to open from 8pm on the Monday to 5am the day following, while it will be open at 6pm to 5am the following day on the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of that week.
Public comments on the proposals were read out at the meeting and one objector said the application was being sought during a national “epidemic of male violence against women and girls”.
“Race week is a lucrative time for a strip club. The women working in the club will make some money but will have to pay house fees and fines and they have to be chosen for dances.
“It is a risky business. Most of the profits will be made by the operator who is a man.”
They cited the council’s 2020 community impact statement that states “there is an inherent risk for performers who work in sexual entertainment venues”.
And they said Home Office-commissioned research suggested “most of the women who work in strip clubs go into other work in the sex industry.
“The council impact statement also says the council is aware females in particular feel disadvantaged by sexual entertainment and licensing of SEVs.
“This is manifested in both the general feeling of being objectified and more specifically in feeling intimidated and unwelcome in the vicinity of licensed SEVs”
They said the situation is “dispiriting” as the law allows strip clubs.
However, a letter from an Eroticats performer and house mother, who wrote in favour of the plans, was also read out.
She said was the only operator that approached performance staff and customer safety with such seriousness and consistency.
“That’s one of the main reasons I’m happy doing the role I do,” she said.
“I work alongside an excellent security team and feel incredibly safe and supported during my shift. I’m always taken home on the free bus service that is available.
“While I understand the reasoning behind some of the objections this licence receives every year, I also feel many of them are coming from a moral stance and fail to recognise the fact Eroticats is a well run, safe, organised, conscientious and legal business.
“I would not continue to be involved in the events if I didn’t fully agree with the way things are conducted.”
Imogen Moss, applicant Steven Burrows’ solicitor, said the premises have operated as an SEV since 2022.
She said the applicant has also operated such premises elsewhere in the spa town for a number of years.
“Under The Prom has operated on the very specific hours and dates since grant and it has operated legitimately and lawfully.
“It has been open and transparent and worked with the local authority and police at each stage.”
During the debate, Councillor Tabi Joy (G, St Pauls) said some of the problems society is facing do not stem from the presence of SEVs.
“It’s a wider, more systemic issue,” she said.
“My personal stance on this is I really support that we can licence SEVs and we have the ability to do that.”
And Councillor David Willingham (LD, St Peters) said the council looks at the application every year.
“There is no material difference from last year,” he said.
“From a purely legal point of view, it would be irrational for us as a committee to do anything other than approve it.”
Councillor Steve Harvey (LD, Charlton Park) said the council takes its responsibilities on the matter very seriously.
He said the council has done what it can to request a change in the law.
“The response from the current Government is ‘no, we’ve got no plans to change the way things are’.
“So the best way to be is regulated, as happens now and as is happening with this application before us today.”
The committee voted to grant the application by seven votes in favour with one abstention.