Strip club granted licence during Cheltenham races

A strip club company has been granted a licence to operate during Cheltenham Festival.

European Events Consultants' application to run its Eroticats events generated 27 objections and 61 supporting statements.

It was granted with certain conditions including helping to improve night-time public safety during race week.

"Whilst not everyone agrees with sexual entertainment, it is lawful," said Cheltenham Borough Council's Angie Boyes. "I would always prefer for the premises to be licensed with the conditions, than not be."

The licence allows Eroticats to open at the town's Under The Prom nightclub from Monday to Friday during the week of Cheltenham Festival in March, and on the Friday and Saturday of the November Meeting races.

Dr David Willingham, who chairs the licensing committee, said: "The committee's job is to apply the legal tests and consider the suitability of the location, the safety of the performers, the customers and the public, as well as any impact on properties in the area."

However, one objector said sexual entertainment venues expose women to "financial, mental, and physical harm".

They make women feel "objectified" and "intimidated", the objector said, adding: "This is not a moral issue, it is one of public protection, safeguarding, and the council's duty of care to its local community."

Eroticats' senior house mother, who looks after performers, said: "The conversation must shift from trying to take opportunities away for women to earn money in a safe place to policing the bad behaviour of men.

"If we don't have a licence for these events you run the risk of unlicensed pop-ups operating underground... those people will exploit the women and the customers within them for quick cash."

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