Strip club to go to court to challenge licence renewal refusal

A Leicester strip club is to go to a magistrates’ court to challenge the city council’s refusal to renew its licence.

Lily’s Lounge applied to renew a sexual entertainment venue licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009.

Objections were received from Catholic organisation the Militia Immaculate Trust, situated nearby, and from members of the public whose concerns included that the premises were close to a restaurant, a religious shop and the city’s shopping centre.

There were also objections based on the likelihood of increased anti-social behaviour and the presence of a dance studio used by children in the same building as the club.

A licensing enforcement sub-committee report said councillors refused the application saying they had recognised improvements to the layout of the premises, but were “not satisfied that the applicant had demonstrated sufficient consideration of the policies and procedures for the management and operation of the venue”.

They would have “expected to have seen a clear and firm management structure in place which would have involved appropriate policies, procedures and security arrangements”, it added.

A council spokesman said that although an appeal had been lodged with the magistrates’ court, the council had told Lily’s Lodge’s owner Judith Berridge that it would reconsider the application in September if more complete paperwork were provided.

Ms Berridge has been contacted for comment.

Mark Smulian