 Plans
for exotic dancing in the Portland Hotel, Portland Road, Hove, have been
met with predictable 'fury' by local nutters.
But John Sturgeon, the joint licensee for the hotel and pub, said the
main thrust of the application was to allow smokers to satisfy their
habits until 4.30am, rather than turn the venue into a strip club. He
added that if he does decide to hold events they will not involve full
nudity.
He said: Smoking has killed the trade and we need to do anything we
can to pay the bills. We are not trying to upset anyone and if we do use
it would be table dancing and it would not be regular.
Celia Barlow, nutter MP for Hove, has written to the chairman of the
council's licensing committee to express her opposition: This
application is utterly inappropriate for a residential area such as
Portland Road. There are a large number of young families in this area,
as well as a local junior school. These clubs have no place in a
community such as this. I hope the licensing committee rejects this idea
for the madness it is.
City councillor and prospective Green Parliamentary candidate for Hove
Ian Davey lives near the venue. He said: Local residents are both
shocked and scared by this move from the pub to set up a pole and lap
dancing establishment on their doorstep. Whilst this is a generally
peaceful residential area, residents like many others in the city are
suffering increasingly from sleepless nights as a consequence of ever
later licences.
Residents have gathered more than 50 letters and a petition with 150
names objecting to the proposals.
If the licence is granted, it would become the sixth venue to hold
exotic dancing in the city. Consultation has now closed but because of
opposition to the move a licensing committee will rule on the
application in the New Year.
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