Lap dancing clubs: licensing issues - Parliamentary briefing paper issued

This Parliamentary Library Briefing Paper looks at the licensing requirements for lap dancing clubs (sex entertainment venues).

The Policing and Crime Act 2009 reclassified lap dancing clubs as sexual entertainment venues and gave local authorities the power, if they adopted the legislation, to regulate such venues as sex establishments under Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. This means that any person wishing to operate a lap dancing club will require a sex establishment licence from the local authority.

Objections to a licence application can be made on the basis that, among other things, a lap dancing club would be “inappropriate” in regard to:

• the character of the relevant locality; or
• the use to which any premises in the vicinity are put; or
• the layout, character or condition of the premises in respect of which the application is made.

A licence application can also be rejected if the local authority considers that the number of lap dancing clubs is equal to or exceeds the number that it considers appropriate for the “relevant locality”.

The briefing document can be found here: 'Lap dancing clubs: licensing issues'