Lap dance club to have licence reviewed

Councillors will decide whether a "sex entertainment venue" can renew its licence after 18 people sent objections to Brighton & Hove City Council.

The objectors said that the Pussycat Club, in Brighton city centre, was in an unsuitable location and would affect the safety of young women and girls.

As a result, the council has scheduled a licensing panel hearing before three councillors on 17 February.

The Pussycat Club's licence permits the sale of drink and "nude lap dancing" from noon to 03:30 GMT Monday to Thursday, and noon to 05:00 Friday and Saturday.

As a sex entertainment venue, its owner Saltire Investments Limited is required to renew the licence annually.

The business is owned by Kristopher McGrath, 36, who said that it had not received so many objections since it opened in 1998.

Campaign group Sister Salon announced last June that it would object to the licence renewal.

Another objection said that, according to council policy, a sex entertainment venue would not be licensed within sightline of colleges, public buildings and community facilities.

But the venue is close to Brighton University, Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum, and police station, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The objection also said: "Granting this licence breaches the council's (sex entertainment venue) policy, according to its location criteria.

"It is practically on the university campus, very close to where a primary school and churches are in an area of consistent and historically high crime."

Mr McGrath has responded to the comments, saying all the dancers are there by choice and many have been linked with the business for years "because they feel safe and appreciated".

Mr McGrath said: "These objections are not specific to the Pussycat Club and are unsubstantiated comments on the industry as a whole.

"We would highlight that we have regular contact with Sussex Police and the council to ensure that we comply with all regulations."

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