New lap dancing bar and strip club could open in Liverpool city centre

Concerns have been raised about plans to open a new lap dancing bar and strip club in Liverpool city centre.

A proposal has been put forward to Liverpool Council’s general purposes licensing committee to grant a sexual entertainment venue licence for Haus on Eberle Street. It is the latest application to be made by businessman Howard Gwynn who was given the go-ahead for Erotica on Stanley Street to expand back in April.

Issues have been raised however about plans designed by Mr Gwynn, who also holds a licence for the Pen & Wig on Harrington Street, by city centre councillor Nick Small.

Documents released by the city council said the city’s licensing and public protection service received an application for the licence on November 10 last year from Mr Gwynn. The bid seeks to run lap dancing, pole and table dancing and strip shows from the club between 9pm and 6am.

The premises currently operates as a late-night bar with a premises licence until 6am Monday to Sunday, but does not operate as a sexual entertainment venue. The report confirmed should Mr Gwynn be successful in securing the new licensing, he would surrender existing permissions at the Pen & Wig on Harrington Street.

Objections

Merseyside Police have made no comments upon or objections to the application. However, City Centre North member Cllr Nick Small did lodge an objection in November.

It said:  “I want to oppose this application formally on the following grounds: The application is in breach of the Council’s Sex Establishment Licensing Policy.

“This policy sets a limit of 10 SEVs (8 in Central and 2 in Riverside). Granting this application would cause that number to increase, notwithstanding the fact that the applicant has given an assurance that should this application be granted, he will surrender his existing licence at the Pen and Wig.

“If the Licensing Committee is minded to grant this licence, I would suggest that this is only done so if this can be written in as a legally-enforceable condition. I am concerned about the impact of granting an SEV in this location.

“Eberle Street is part of the city’s LGBT+ friendly quarter. While I am not suggesting that the venue would be managed in a way that is not LGBT+ friendly, I do have concerns about the impact of locating a lap dancing bar between 2100 and 0600 on community safety and crime and disorder in a part of the city that is predominantly made up of LGBT+ friendly bars and clubs.”

There are currently six venues in the city that currently hold licences: 31 Princes Street, Angels VIP, Pen & Wig, 18 Cumberland Street, Erotica, and Dreamers. A decision will be made on the licence when the committee meets on Tuesday.