Lap Dancing in Reading

The Brewery Tap in Castle Street, Reading may be transformed from a traditional pub after owner Punch Taverns submitted plans to vary its premises licence to allow 24-hour drinking as well as live and recorded music. The application also details new dance facilities to include striptease, table dancing, pole dancing, lap dancing and other similar styled entertainment of an adult theme.

But local residents predictably said they cannot bear the thought of such a club on their doorstep. Neighbour Terry Parsons said: We don't want it. It was bad enough as a pub. They couldn't keep the noise down when it closed at midnight, so we are concerned this would make it even worse. It's not even the right location – not somewhere you expect to find a strip of bars. Where we live the parking area is quite small. We have people making noise at four, five o'clock in the morning and it echoes through the courtyard.

Punch spokeswoman Jo Navin said: It is always our priority that our sites are open and trading and serving the community around them. The Brewery Tap has been closed for a number of months and we are exploring options around the future of the site. One option is a speculative application to vary the premises license to include extended drinking hours and the opportunity for the site to operate as a lap dancing venue.

Reverend Edward Malcolm, from St Mary's Church in Castle Street, opposite the pub, said: It doesn't seem at all appropriate. Apart from the unsavouriness of that form of activity, it is in a residential area. There are already enough drinking establishments with long licences in Reading. We don't need another one. There seems to be no justification for it. I wonder if they are after something less than a 24-hour lapdancing club and putting in an extreme case, so they get knocked back on some things but end up with 24-hour drinking.

Deputy leader of Reading Borough Council Tony Page, who is ward councillor for the area, urged people living near the Brewery Tap to take part in the consultation: Without passing any moral judgements...[BUT]...I have very grave reservations about 24-hour drinking in an establishment in a residential area on the people that live close to the Brewery Tap. He emphasised his objections were not moral since he used to run a club in Reading – the Majestic in Caversham Road – in the 1980s which had both male and female strippers.

Punch Taverns wanted to reopen the historic Brewery Tap pub in Reading's town centre as a gentleman's club.

But its proposal was thrown out by Reading's licensing committee.

More than 40 locals voiced concerns about the potential noise from drunken behaviour. Business owners in Castle Street claimed they were worried about the safety of staff walking home late at night.

Abbey ward councillor Bet Tickner said: The feeling was this was unwelcome. The biggest worries surrounded noise from the premises as it is not correctly soundproofed. Business owners were not happy either because of staff working late. They didn't want a place where, after drinking, people in the town centre could go in and possibly get sexually aroused. Then you have women leaving the office and meeting people they don't want to.

Fellow ward councillor Tony Page agreed: This was a first class result. Many people were concerned about the activities going on inside. This is not the place for this sort of thing, certainly not on a 24-hour basis.

Punch's application included the provision of 24-hour drinking, live and recorded music, and new dance facilities including striptease, table dancing and pole dancing.

Punch spokeswoman Kat Auckland said: As previously highlighted this was a speculative application and we are continuing to explore other options for the site.

A lapdancer claims she will be ogled more if unjustified proposals by Reading licensing bosses are given the go-ahead.

New licensing rules could see performers restricted to dancing at least a metre away from customers, although councillors admit it would be difficult to enforce the policy.

Sophie Norris who performs at the Sugar Lounge in St Mary's Butts, said: It is not a lapdance if you are a metre away. It takes away a bit of the intimacy. When you are closer there is more eye contact, but if you step back it becomes more intrusive as they are going to be ogling your body more like a strip-o-gram.

The dancer, from Tilehurst, who runs the club with husband Michael, added: What the council is saying is unjustified. There has never been a complaint or problem and I cannot see the point in changing something that works so well.

Reading Borough Council's licensing applications committee considered changes to a draft policy on the regulation of sexual entertainment venues. These refer to any premises where there is a live performance or display of nudity designed to stimulate the audience. Councillor Deborah Edwards proposed the change to the policy, seconded by Cllr Peter Beard, after concerns a 50cm rule was too close.

Cllr Tony Page asked whose professional judgement stipulated 50cm was the distance and asked if the Lap Dancing Association UK (LDAUK) had been consulted.

Council officers admitted there wasn't any set criteria and the decision had been made simply on what they deemed was appropriate.

The proposed policy was agreed by the committee and recommended for approval at the next full council meeting on November 29.