Leam strip club’s license renewed by narrow vote

Shades, a ‘gentlemen’s’ club in Leamington, has had its Licence for Sexual Entertainment renewed after a narrow 7:7 split vote by the Warwick Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

After the split, committee chair George Illingworth voted decisively in favour of the venue.

Strip clubs require a licence if they wish to provide ‘sexual entertainment’ for more than 11 times per year.

While the committee acknowledged that “students can be vulnerable”, they held that evidence of local antisocial behaviour could not be connected to the club, describing it as “well run”.

Councillor Illingworth highlighted the presence of Warwick University street marshalls in maintaining a safe atmosphere for students.

He stated: “Essentially from the evidence put in front of us there were no changes from last time and no reason not to renew”. He also cited that there were no objections from Warwickshire Police.

Councillors are bound by law to disregard purely religious, ethical, or moral objections, and to focus solely on a venue’s “suitability in relation to other premises”, in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Rob Ankcorn, Students’ Union democracy and development officer, commented: “Shades has been a divisive issue for years now with students on both sides of the debate.

“This close vote shows the power of local politics. I urge everyone to register to vote and make sure your local politicians listen to you!”

Third-year Law student Laura Lipinaite stated: “I think this isn’t harming anyone; it should viewed as just another business”.

Warwick Anti-Sexism Society last year made representations to the council highlighting the detrimental effect that Shades had on the neighbourhood.

A recent consultation by Warwick Council, which concluded that a majority of respondents favoured a nil-limit for Sexual Entertainment Licences, was disregarded on the grounds that the consultation was not yet fully analysed.

The council also concluded that Shades did not adversely impact on the wider “regeneration” of the area.

County councillor Matt Western relayed that the decision-making process was “fundamentally flawed” and that councillors had “little empathy for the feelings of Leamington’s residents”.