Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application made by Tokyo Industries (Lincoln York Hull) Limited, concerning premises located at 25 Crown Street, Leeds LS2 7DA, licensed by the Authority to operate as a sexual entertainment venue for the provision of lap dancing. The Sub Committee is requested to consider the approval of a change of name from “Black Orchid” to “Whiskey Down” and to also approve the advertising material including the external signage of a sex establishment licence.

(Report attached)

The Sub Committee considered the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application submitted by Tokyo Industries (Lincoln York Hull) Limited in respect of premises currently known as “Black Orchid” and located at 25 Crown Street, Leeds LS2. The applicant sought consideration of two matters –

·  Approval for the change of name of the premises to “Whiskey Down”

·  Approval for related advertising material including the external signage used to promote the business.

The premises benefitted from a Sex Establishment Licence granted on 14^th March 2017 for 12 months. Appendix A of the report contained example advertising materials. Following discussions between the Applicant’s representative and the Licensing Authority, revised examples of advertising materials were supplied by the Applicant and these were supplied to Members at the meeting.

No representations to the application had been received.

Mr Aaron Mellor, Managing Director, attended the meeting and made representation on behalf of the applicant. Several observers also attended the hearing.

Mr Mellor explained that during the course of refurbishment, it had been decided to change the style of the venue. The applicant sought to remove the stigma attached to the SEV club by moving the focus away from the Sexual Entertainment Venue entertainment activities and towards the venue being more of a gentleman’s whiskey club. The premises would now focus on two distinct areas – one area to accommodate a quiet bar, for drinks and meetings; and a second area designated for providing entertainment permitted under the SEV licence.

In response to Members queries, Mr Mellor provided the following information:

-  Although the applicant liked the tagline “Superluxe Playground” within the sample advertising material, the applicant would consider using other wording, including simply “Gentleman’s Club”, having regard to the Sub Committees preference. The Sub Committee noted the alternate straplines offered

-  The applicant had provided a variety of formats for the marketing material, including draft leaflets, business cards, flyers and wristbands as this was the first time they had been asked for this level of detail.

-  The intention was to market the venue as a whiskey bar, patrons would not have to purchase a lap dance.

-  Reference to provision of a user code entitling patrons to free taxi/private hire transport to the venue had been withdrawn and removed from the marketing materials as this was not permitted under the licence

-  Clarified the difference between the proposed entry passes – an ‘Industry Pass’ was aimed at patrons of the venue who also worked in the licensing trade and around Call Lane; the VIP pass would be aimed at other patrons who may attend and/or hold meetings at the venue.

The Licensing Sub-Committee carefully considered the report having regard to the Statement of Licensing Policy for Sex Establishments. Members noted that no representations had been submitted to the application. The Sub Committee also had regard to the submissions made by Mr Mellor at the hearing; the material supplied in respect of the external appearance/advertising information contained in Appendix A (revised); and the applicant’s offer to accept revised wording to the tagline.

RESOLVED – That, in respect of the premises located at 25 Crown Street, Leeds LS2 7DA, to grant the application in the following terms:

a)  To agree to the change of name to “Whiskey Down”

b)  That having regard to the applicant’s offer to accept revised wording to the advertising tagline, the wording Superluxe Playground” to be removed from all advertising material used to promote the business (including external signage) and be replaced with “Gentleman’s Club”.

c)  That, subject to the amendment in b) above; all advertising material using the new name “Whiskey Down” including the external signage be approved