Lapdancing club could open in Bath Road, Cheltenham
| Posted: January 14, 2014
CLUB CHANGE: Voodoo nightclub in Bath Road, Cheltenham
A NIGHTCLUB in Cheltenham's Bath Road will be turned into a permanent lapdancing venue if business owners get their way.
The current Voodoo club will be converted into Diamond Gentlemen's Club if Cheltenham Borough Council decides to grant the premises a sexual entertainment venue licence.
The application has sparked outrage from the club's residential neighbours.
But Mark Shorting, managing director of Bath Road Property Limited, which runs both Voodoo and Kukui nightclubs, believes any hysteria is ill-founded and that the arguments against lap dancing clubs are "tired".
He said: "How venues operated 15 years ago and how they are now is worlds apart.
"There is no way we would be granted a licence without the full confidence of the authorities that the venue will be operated in a safe and professional manner."
The licence – which is due to be considered next month – would see the club open from 8pm until 4am, seven days a week, and from 11am until 4am on Cheltenham race days.
But Mr Shorting told the Echo the conversion of the club would be "unlikely to take place straight away" with the work likely to be done later this year.
Mr Shorting said: "Our view is that there isn't a venue like this, an upmarket lapdancing or gentlemen's club, in Cheltenham.
"There seems to be a need for it and the venue would be well suited to it."
Mr Shorting stressed Voodoo, the upstairs part of the building, will remain open until the conversion works while Kukui is part of the company's long-term plans.
Mike Huysinga, 46, who lives in College Road, is firmly against the plan.
He said: "This is a residential area which backs on to a family park.
"I am not trying to preach to anyone and it is not a moral issue for me, it is about the people that it will attract.
"We can do better as a town. Maybe I am being a Nimby but I don't want this where I live.
"I don't want my children growing up a stone's throw from a lapdancing club."
Helen Bailey, who has a nine-year-old daughter and lives in Bath Parade, echoed that sentiment.
She said: "What goes on within the four walls of the club I have no objection to, it is what could happen when people spill out of the club.
"We already have a high level of disturbance from the night clubs and this will exacerbate the problems we have presently.
"It is not what I want to see on my doorstep."
The borough council had not received any objections as of yesterday morning.
The deadline for lodging an objection or your support for the application is tomorrow by 11.59pm.
You can make your views known by emailing licensing@cheltenham.gov.uk
5 comments
A "Gentlemens" Club eh? In this context surely a bit of a contradiction in terms.
id laugh my head off if they got this license and opened then realised why theses lap dancing clubs don't last long the reason they get boring and then the women get more daring to earn more money and break conditions of the license its always happens but by then all your student trade will have gone elsewhere one very expensive gamble I think Mr shorting doesn't know the history of these clubs in this area none have survived so why should his
Oh I don't know, Timonline, Tilleys lasted quite a while on that site...which makes me wonder, if this goes ahead - and I hope it doesn't - will it become known locally as the Crumpet Factory?
Don't suppose it'll last long - nothing on that site has so far!
Oh well. That's right in keeping with Cheltenham's newly acquired sleazy image isn't it? It's up to you CBC on whether you permit this or not, just make sure you charge them the late night levy.