Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on June 30, 2014 at 14:42

The venue will be licenced by LB Haringey - full details of the licencing terms and procedures for complaints are available on the council website: www.haringey.gov.uk/index/business/licensing_regulations/licensing....

The Council has a published "Statement of Licencing Policy" which includes the information (at section 13.4) that under current legislation and licencing arrangements venues may be entitled to present "adult entertainment" up to 11 times each year - without the need for additional permissions.   

In recent years a change in regulations has given ward councillors an enhanced role in challenging the operation of licenced premeses. Councillors can make representations about the way a venue is operating and may potentially call for a review of a current licence.

I would, in the first instance, report your concern to your local councillors. Contact details here.

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Permalink Reply by Ruth McKee on July 7, 2014 at 16:06

Hi Susie,

I would like to do an article on this for the Enfield Advertiser. 

Have you had any response from your councillors?

If you could - could you give me a call on: 0208 370 5476

Many Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Jan Williams on July 5, 2014 at 23:24

I agree, Susie. For many reasons I would like to complain about this. I was involved with an organisation called Object who campaigned successfully for a change in the law regulating lap-dancing clubs and it sounds like this is one except in name. We should object to the council who are obliged to take into account local residents' views.

This 11 times a year rubbish is a get-out intended to stop them doing it every month ie regularly. There is evidence that such venues increase prostitution in the area, with the severe attendant risks of violence, PTSD and STDs for women.  And of course such shows contribute to a climate of premature sexualisation of young girls and encourage young men to view young women 'laddishly' purely as sexual objects, ie this is not conducive to healthy relationships. Even lads' mags now are toning down the nudity and crude sexual content (which is available on the net to those adults who want it) so a council that cares about equality should not be allowing such shows.

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Permalink Reply by Administrator on July 6, 2014 at 0:17

To prevent any confusion between the bar in question in this discussion and other innocent establishments with a similar name - the issue concerns the Phoenix Lounge on Bounds Green Road represented by this Facebook Page (warning contains adult images).

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Berthoud on July 6, 2014 at 8:45

To be fair, the Facebook page is talking about burlesque dancers although their profile image isn't doing their cause any favours, neither is the crappy whiteboard outside which refers to 'exotic' dancers. But it's not lap dancing.

I've been in before and it was all very friendly although where they are finding room for dancing ... must be a compact routine.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Williams on July 6, 2014 at 17:02

Thanks again for the clarification Linsey, but the same arguments would still apply, albeit to possibly a lesser degree. There is enough harmful pressure on young girls to look like models and act sexy (teen anorexia, teen suicides, Facebook bullying, STDs, teen pregnancies, underachievement in school etc etc ) - we should be valuing them as whole persons not just for their physique and value as a sexual stimulus. 

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Permalink Reply by Jan Williams on July 7, 2014 at 19:38

Many thanks for the link to the Policy Statement, Richard. Actually it is now out of date and was due for renewal earlier this year, so possibly now is a good time to look again at the evidence about this type of establishment. It seems essentially similar to lap-dancing or pole dancing. New evidence might include the publicity around the Olympics about increased prostitution associated with major sporting events, as well as the heightened awareness we now have about the prevalence of sexual abuse. 

I live in Alexandra Ward and have emailed my three councillors about the Phoenix as obviously it would serve Alexandra too, Bounds Green being our nearest underground station. I also plan to attend a councillor surgery this coming Saturday.

I will post about the response I get.

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Permalink Reply by Liz McShane on July 9, 2014 at 9:35

I am happy to report that the License Holder has been informed that he is breaching the terms of his license. He has been been asked to ensure that the premises operate within the terms of the license issued. He has also been issued with a formal warning.

Cllr. Liz McShane

Alexandra Ward.

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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on July 7, 2014 at 22:06

Hi Susie

Matt Cooke stood down at the council elections last May - Contact details/email addresses for the three current Bounds Green Councillors are available on this link 

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Permalink Reply by Liz McShane on July 9, 2014 at 9:41

I am happy to report that the License Holder has been informed that he is breaching the terms of his license. He has been been asked to ensure that the premises operate within the terms of the license issued. He has also been issued with a formal warning.

Cllr. Liz McShane

Alexandra Ward.

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Permalink Reply by Ruth McKee on July 9, 2014 at 11:41

Yesterday we investigated this story for the Enfield Advertiser. We found out the club is not licensed for lap-dancing or stripping - but club manager insisted they didn't need one as the bar did not have "strip shows" despite the evidence on the FB page.

Read the full story, including owner's explanations,  here: http://www.enfield-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=22989&headline=Bar%2...

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