Penthouse inspired strip club approved for Soho

A strip club inspired by adult magazine Penthouse is set to open in Soho despite concerns it would attract more drug touts and pickpocketing gangs.

The Penthouse Club will offer Cirque de Soleil-style performances, fully-nude striptease in private VIP rooms and once-weekly shows by LGBTQI+ performers.

Westminster Council said the club's owner, Soho Prime Entertainment Ltd, was a "responsible, professional and experienced operator" and it had agreed to robust and stringent conditions.

Company representative Caroline Kirkendoll also told councillors the club aimed to attract an older, and more female, demographic.

The club, which sees itself as appealing to "high-end" customers, will open at 1-4 Walker's Court, which previously hosted the night club Madame Jojo's, which closed in 2014 and has been vacant since, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

During the meeting, councillors heard from objectors who expressed concerns about the new club's 300-person capacity.

They argued the area was "saturated" with adult entertainment venues which are said to be attracting drug touts and pickpocketing gangs.

One objector, who said he lives in a building which has a lap dance bar in its basement, said thieves targeted what he described as cash-loaded customers trying to enter late night venues.

"It will increase the pedicabs and street drug pushers," he said.

There were no objections from the Metropolitan Police.

Ms Kirkendoll also said Soho Prime's parent company, Kirkendoll Management, had managed clubs in crime hotspots across the world with "zero instances of security issues with performers or guests".

Entry at their Soho location is set to cost £25 per person, according to the application form.

A food and drink menu shows customers can purchase a bottle of Clase Azul Reposado tequila at £1,000, a 30g portion of Imperial Oscietra caviar at £100 and a 40oz Tomahawk steak at £188.

Soho Prime Entertainment is expected to pay up to £8m to renovate the site, which it says will fund 75 full-time and part-time jobs once it's complete.

Around 25 to 50 self-employed table-side performances are expected to be working on a typical night while the main stage will have between five and 10 performances.

The decision to approve the application for a sexual entertainment venue licence was made on 27 February by the council's licensing sub-committee.

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