Locals furious at plans to open 'UK's Red Light district' with ‘full nudity’ strip club
A strip club offering a 'full nudity' service for special members has applied to open a venue in London's West End.
The Penthouse Club, which has been named after an adult magazine, offers services such as Cirque de Soleil-style performances and fully-nude stripteases in private VIP rooms.
Once a week, it will also host shows by LGBTQI+ performers.
Soho Prime Entertainment Ltd is managing this venture, as its parent company John Kirkendoll Management, based in New Orleans, has entertainment venues across the US and Australia.
Strip club application approved
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Now, the Westminster City Council approved the strip club's application to open on Thursday (February 27).
The committee said Soho Prime Entertainment Ltd was a 'responsible, professional and experienced operator' and that the company would agree to uphold to the highest of standards.
As reported by My London, the Soho nightclub will appeal to 'high-end' clients and will open at 1-4 Walker's Court.
The property has been closed off since 2014 after it was previously hosted the night club Madame Jojo's.
Some locals are against the decision
Meanwhile, councillors at the meeting reportedly heard objections to the opening.
One objector, who claims to live in a building with a lap dance bar in its basement, said: "It is absolutely appalling and to think you would open a larger, a more glamorous version of exactly [a strip club] that it wouldn't increase the number of those sort of customers who come into this very, very busy part of Soho, is for the birds.
"It will increase the number of those customers. It will therefore increase the pedicabs who get them from elsewhere. It will increase the street drug pushers."
The Sun also reported one local as saying: "Soho is no longer the seedy red-light district of yore. Of course, numerous sexual entertainment venues still exist.
"But how can it be appropriate to add a new full nudity strip bar right at the defining heart of the neighbourhood?
"Is this the direction in which we want Soho to travel?"
Another added: "It's not rocket science that the higher the concentration of sex entertainment venues in one locality/street/area, the greater the risk of crime and disorder."
The club said there will be 'zero security issues'
However, Caroline Kirkendoll, of Soho Prime Entertainment Ltd, insisted that its parent company has managed clubs in high crime rate areas before, and has never had any issues.
She said: "We've had zero instances of security issues with performers or guests, frankly. So, to say this is something so fundamental to our operation sounds fairly basic.
"It is a core tenant under which we operate. Regardless of the extent we must go to to ensure safety for everybody - performers, guests, our staff, at all times of the day and night - we will take those steps, conditioned or otherwise."
A Westminster City Council Spokesperson told LADbible in a statement: “Soho and the West End has a legacy of regulated sexual entertainment venues for decades with the council operating under the Sexual Entertainment Venue policy. This outlines clear guidance for businesses on the requirements they must adhere to.
“Every decision made by the Licensing Sub-Committee is determined on their merits and must be mindful to strike a balance with the evidence in front of them. In this case, based on the evidence presented, the committee made the decision to approve the licence whilst ensuring that strict conditions are followed.”
Entry, food and drink costs
Entry for The Penthouse Club is set to start from £25 per person and table reservations will be £150 per head.
There will also be a food and drink menu consisting of a 40oz Tomahawk steak at £188 and a 30g portion of Imperial Oscietra caviar at £100.
Drinks-wise, a bottle of Clase Azul Reposado tequila will set you back £1,000.
LADbible Group has contacted The Penthouse Club for comment.
Topics: Adult Industry, UK News, Business
Anish Vij