'Sleazy' strip club is 'amazing', panel told (From Oxford Mail)
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'Sleazy' strip club is 'amazing', panel told
7:00am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News
By Oliver Evans, covering Banbury. Call me on 01865 425271
CUSTOMERS of the only strip club in Oxford have urged council bosses to renew its licence with praise for its “amazing” ladies.
But objectors said The Lodge should be forced to close as it is near a college, ice rink and coach park and objectifies women.
The Oxpens Road venue has applied to Oxford City Council to renew its sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence from the authority.
In public responses published by the council – where names are blacked out – one says it is “one of the best clubs I have ever visited”.
He said: “This club provides excellent entertainment of high standard and I frequently take my wife with me when visiting.”
The entertainment is “at a level that others would do well to aspire to” he added.
One said: “The expertise exhibited by these ladies whilst carrying out their craft is truly amazing.”
One dancer said she “truly enjoys” the job, saying it “pays towards the necessities of life which my full-time job cannot currently fulfil”.
The club, formerly The Coven, got the licence last June after losing the right to continue as Thirst Lodge in Pennyfarthing Place over concerns about its town centre location.
Co-owner Al Thompson said The Lodge said: “Nothing in our location has changed to deem the location inappropriate.”
Eighteen objections were received with concerns over its location opposite Oxford & Cherwell Valley College’s main campus, and near the ice rink and coach park.
Susanna Pressel, Labour city councillor for Jericho and Osney, said: “This sleazy club is an insult to women and unworthy of our city.”
St Ebbe’s New Development Residents’ Association said the location is “most inappropriate for entertainment of this sort”.
It said: “It would be hard to find a place in Oxford more full of impressionable young people.”
The council’s licensing and registration sub-committee will be asked to make a decision on September 24.
Comments(12)
Dilligaf2010
says...
9:57am Tue 11 Sep 12
As Bart mentioned, the hours that the establishment is open, coincide with when the others in the area are closed, although as it's not an open-air venue, I don't see why opening hours are an issue.
The ladies that perform, do so by choice, and one would hope, get treated with respect, if thy weren't they wouldn't be there, some people appear to have the opinion that women aren't able to think for themselves, I assure you they can.
If there have been no crimes committed at the establishment, the licence should be renewed.
iklhik
says...
12:51pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Andrew:Oxford
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1:05pm Tue 11 Sep 12
sparky123456
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2:37pm Tue 11 Sep 12
They don't have to work. They get on the books of the club and then choose to dance. Much like renting a chair in a hairdressers, the club takes a cut. Pressel. Do you earn this much? have you spoken to the dancers? or even visited the club. Or have you taken it upon yourself to form an opinion then stuff it down the throats of the other 150,000 or so people in Oxford without asking what they think.
In fact 18 objections out of a population of this size should NOT be listened to. Unless a majority object out of a substantial poll then why stop what is after all a tax paying enterprise that provides employment opportunities in an otherwise run down area of town.
Whilst i'm on my high horse, what makes citing the club here any worse than say Thirst nightclub being on Park End Street? That area is the gateway to the city from the station, it's also near churches, the uni and the college and almost opposite Malmaisson and the 'cultural' (pahahaha) area of Oxford. but they're deemed fine.
I bet, in fact I'd stake my house and 100% of my future earnings on it if you, under the freedom of information act request the number of police interventions and call outs to Park End St versus call outs to the Lodge you will find a huge difference. So why is alcohol fine but strippers not?
Alcohol causes, violence, rapes, anti-social behaviour, illness and a strain on public sector services. Any proven link that strippers do?
mighty bee
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6:47pm Tue 11 Sep 12
faatmaan
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6:55pm Tue 11 Sep 12
still awake
says...
4:44pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Only 18 objections from a city the size of Oxford is such a small amount i am amazed not renewing the license is even being considered by the council. Especially as i am sure many of those objections will be based on either religious opinions or that the club degrades women. If being paid potentially large sums of money to remove clothes was degrading then i think you should look at the situation more carefully. Also any objections on religious grounds should be ignored out of hand, i have no problem with religious people until they begin to force their views on to me or society as a whole.
docs
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6:20pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Neil Woodcock
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9:32pm Thu 4 Oct 12
still awake wrote:Well said and sums it all up perfectly!
I am assuming Susanna Pressel has visited the club while it was open otherwise i don't see how her comment of "this sleazy club is an insult to women an unworthy of our city" can be justified. Surely she cannot make sure a damning comment without experiencing the venue? I sincerely hope so I don't think it is appropriate to make such a comment without some kind of research, after all the decision to renew or not renew the license has implications on peoples livelihoods. It is completely out of order for a elected official to make such a comment based purely on an uneducated opinion and what i suggest will also be her personal opinion.
Only 18 objections from a city the size of Oxford is such a small amount i am amazed not renewing the license is even being considered by the council. Especially as i am sure many of those objections will be based on either religious opinions or that the club degrades women. If being paid potentially large sums of money to remove clothes was degrading then i think you should look at the situation more carefully. Also any objections on religious grounds should be ignored out of hand, i have no problem with religious people until they begin to force their views on to me or society as a whole.
kiddykidster
says...
6:29pm Sun 7 Oct 12
slygirl
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2:29pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Bartsimpson_uk says...
9:26am Tue 11 Sep 12