Nude lap dancing nights on hold
A POOL hall owner has withdrawn his application to turn his Eastbourne business into the town's first naked lap dancing venue.
Darren Bush, owner of Minnesota Jax in Seaside Road, asked council bosses to allow naked men and women to perform at his club.
The venue also applied for a licence for live music events and to serve alcohol until 3am every day.
But borough councillors at Monday's licensing meeting told him to go back to the drawing board, get legal advice and come back with a more detailed application.
Mr Bush said there was a demand for a fully nude lap dancing club in Eastbourne.
He said, "The topless dancing we offer gets a lot of attraction and we are very busy.
"Most lap dancing clubs are fully nude.
"There are six in Brighton and one in Hastings.
"The nude dancing would be on every Saturday.
"The door staff I have are very well trained and I pick them personally.
"I have a members-only club and signing-in books so everyone who comes into my club provides their name and address."
Sussex Police opposed the application because officers do not want venues staying open later.
Inspector Nick Porter, who is in charge of Eastbourne's night-time economy, said, "What must be borne in mind is that the premises will not only be used for pool, pole dancing and live bands but that a significant operation of the premises is its selling of alcohol. This posed the risk of an increase in crime and disorder.
"The applicant has not proposed sufficient steps to reassure the authorities that methods will be put in place to account for any predicted increases in crime and disorder." he added.
"I have never had cause to go to the premises and I do not believe it to be badly run.
"But Seaside has been identified as one of the areas that has high levels of crime and disorder."
In June the council introduced a cumulative impact policy effectively stopping any new bars, pubs and clubs opening in Eastbourne fearing any more would create additional anti-social behaviour.
Minnesota Jax has staged topless dancing every Saturday night after being granted a licence in July last year.
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Thursday 24 May 2012
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