PLANS for a lap dancing bar in Manchester's Gay Village have been opposed by residents - because they fear it will bring down the neighbourhood.
Licensing bosses have been asked to approve the opening of the Red Leopard bar, on Princess Street. The proposed venue is in a building which includes residential apartments.
A decision will be made later this month, but residents - along with bar and club owners in the Village Business Association - say they are opposed to the plans.
Spokesman Phil Burke said: "We are concerned that this is the wrong place for a venue of this type. We believe it will attract the wrong sort of people to the Village.
"We have worked hard to clamp down in crime and disorder and feel that if a venue of this type opened all our hard work would be undone."
Alan Starkey, one of around 30 residents who lives in flats in the same building as the proposed club, said he was against the licence application.
Vibrations
"At the moment there is nothing in there, but it used to be a club called Cinderellas," he said. "It was absolutely horrendous. It wasn't just noise, you could feel the vibrations in the flat and things would move on the shelves. The proposal here is for the club to stay open until 6am, I don't want the application to go ahead."
The company behind the application said concerns about the venue were misplaced.
Stewart Dixon, one of the directors of Kayote Group Ltd, said the club would be fitted with soundproofing to ensure it did not disturb residents.
He said the lap-dancing would take place in private booths and not on an open stage and that the Manchester club was one of five to be opened across the UK.
Mr Dixon added: "We are as near to a private club as you can get. We do not do drinks promotions or have stag and hen parties.
"Most of our business is pre-booked with visitors spending between £75 and £100 per head. We don't attract the laddish element whose aim it is to neck as much alcohol as they can for £10. We are a corporate venue. We also have race meetings and golf days."
Adult
He said the reason the company wanted to set the club up in Princess Street was because it is considered an "adult entertainment" area and said he did not believe there would be a problem with it being on the fringes of what is known as the "gay village".
"I didn't realise there were distinctions," he said. "It would be very wrong for us to say, 'this is a heterosexual area we would not be prepared to accept a gay bar', so I don't think it should work the other way around.
"And as someone who has done many property deals in that area for a number of years, I can tell you there is as much heterosexual business as there is homosexual there."
He said the management company was also in charge of the Blue Leopard in Leeds, which has been open for the last seven years. A decision on the licensing application is to take place at Manchester Town Hall on June 26.
Comments
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When did the Gay Village become a self-governing ghetto?
Ever since people decided that mock the poof evenings - drunk lads at the edges of the village, the hen parties, and suchlike - were the next great thing to do.
i used to love going to the gay village. essential was my favourite nightclub. i can't get in anywhere on canal street these days. why? because i'm straight.
Mr Dixon says "I didn't realise there were distinctions," he said. "It would be very wrong for us to say, 'this is a heterosexual area we would not be prepared to accept a gay bar', so I don't think it should work the other way around. Whilst not being bothered one way or the other he has a valid point. This is just another example of how stupid society has become. A minorty of people who have a differnt sexual prefernce are not only awarded special status but now they are laughably complaining on the grounds of lowering the tone of the area. Mark my words the pink pound will win over. Shame on us all for alloowing this nonsense to gather weight and power.
Yes, it would be wrong to say that this is a heterosexual area so we don't welcome a gay bar, but that is what happens in any event and it's no coincidence why all the gay bars in Manchester are in the same place - safety in numbers - because of all the bigots and homophobes around, both historically and today.
Personally, I've no problems with a lapdancing venue there(although I'm interested to know how one can have a golf day in such a place as he claims). However, spare a thought for the residents - would you want a lapdancing club in your basement open until 6am every day? "Welcome to my flat, mum and dad, and don't worry about the strippers downstairs, they're harmless..."
Whats wrong with a lap dancing bar? In america woman and men visit strip clubs and lap bars,so whats the difference.
Why should princess st not have a lap dancing bar.
On clubs are causing noise all night long till the early morning so why havent the residents complained about that noise.
And ive been with a mate getting a coach down to poole from chorlton st and the people who frequent canal st are a handfull of drunken screaming queens shouting all drug fuelled.
This wouldnt happen at a lap dancing bar as it would be monitered and these clubs have a very strict code.
The 1 in liverpool is a great success.
And i can post this as 1 it isnt homophobic and 2 doesnt cause any panic,it mearly tells the truth.
The gay village has become overun by straights . Not a problem , apart from the small minority who see it as a zoo , or freak show. Let alone the minority that go just to go "gay bashing" and yes it does happen.
jsac - your'e right there. I been going to the gay village with gay friends for years (I'm straight) but each new generation brings people who go down to gawp and treat it like some sort of circus. No wonder people feel upset by it. No problem with a lap dancing club but would anyone like to live that close to one ?
Ive been down the gay bars in the village and ive lived in manchester all my life we wasnt allowed in some bars and others said not your not gay,hey how can you say that is there a look to get into these bars for a dance and a bit of fun and a change.
If a gay person went to say sankey's soap or a "straight" club or bar would they be refused because they wasnt straight???double standards if gay people want to be accepted as they have strived for years and years then they must accept that people from all back grounds and gay or straight can go to any club or bar in the whole of manchester with out question.
DONT get on the gay act with me about gay bashing as i dont wash.isolated issues.
Fact.
how does it bring the area down? people walk in have a good time, spend some money then leave! the area is full of drunken yobs anyway whether they are gay or straight!
Jasc have you had people come over too you and say to your face "hey mate what do you think of the circus or zoo" as you put it????i think the answer your looking is NO.
I rest my case.
On th lap dancing bit i think the club would be sound porr as most 21 centuary clubs are and by the way they arnt like a disco ,go and see the 1 in liverpool youll be surprised,its classy and no thugs and pervs like most people think,its actually a good night out.
and 2 more points i probably get more noise on my st than from any club ,as they walk down every weekend and nights during the week after a good night out,and why would any body want to live in the middle of a town centre????is it to look trendy or some thing.
I find it slightly offensive that us straight people apparently can't be trusted to go to the village without feeling the need to go around bashing people. Still, I know there's been problems in the past so the views are understandable, to an extent.
I wouldn't worry if I were a local to the village anyway. These lapdancing clubs are not riotous free-for-alls. they are classy establishments where more than any type of pub, club or bar you feel the need to be on your best behaviour.
Besides, the small print in these new 24hr drinking laws basically says that licenses can be revoked as easily as they are handed out, so any any bad eggs can easily be dealt with.
As for the guy that lives above the club, I'm sorry but you live in the city centre; it was there before you were and you can't expect it to be quiet when you want it to be. Its blatantly obvious that the bottom floor is suited to an evening venue. if you didn't have the foresight to see the potential for a late night bar opening you serve to be kept awake until 6am.
Spot on, Login!
You do know that the lap dancers are male don't you?
The gay village isn't an official district, its jsut an area with a few gay bars. Also, it wasn't purpose built as a gay village, it was actually built during the industrial revolution as an irish neighbourhood. So technically, the gay community don't 'own' it, its jsut a place that happens to have a few gay bars. I'd hate to live in a place where an entire street is exclusive to one group. I live in Oldham, and walk through the asian neighoburhoods to the town centre everyday. If a non asian were to open a business there, nobody would give a damn, so why should homosexuals care if non homosexuals open their own club?
I find the Village Business Association comments laughable regarding the reason for objecting to the proposed lap dancing bar. The hard work to combat crime and disorder is a joke in my opinion. I have worked for 6 years with young people who are homeless or run away and end up in the Village selling sex. Some of our service users have been as young as 15 and have been preyed upon in the Village by older men and groomed to provide sexual favours and sell sex. The Village is rife with crime and disorder and sex is sold in some of the bars in the Village. The good old Village bobbys tend to walk past the Village red light area where we have winessed boys who are homeless selling sex as a means to survive and fund growing drug habits to cope with the abuse that they are suffering.
I perfectly understand residents not wanting a lap dancing bar, but the rest of the comments are ridiculous. Surely the Village Business Association must be aware that sex is being sold and under age boys are drinking both on the street and in various licensed premises.
Maybe there should be more hard work to combat crime and disorder and make the Village a safe and enjoyable place to be regardless of ssexuality.
Bingo ryan well pointed.
The homosexuals want it their way all the time if they want to be accepted then they should make every one welcome,why do the manchester council pay for the gay mardi gras every year,the straight people dont get special treatment do they.
If the homosexuals dont like it then clear off.
redarmy, The council DONT pay for the mardi gras each year , i think you will find they mearly sponsor the parade. Operation Fundraiser , and the other charitys and business' involved pay for it to be held.
Also regarding your comments about people using it as a zoo , yes people have come up to me when im kissing my partner,and call me a freak , i have been beaten up because i am gay , FACT.
I am not saying all straight people are that small minded , just a VERY small minority . I have loads of straight friends and dont for one minute want them all to be refused from bars because of there sexuality,nor would i want legitimate friendly straight people to be refused.
Point of the matter is , the gay village isnt owned by anyone,just companies and bar owners. It is meant to be a place where LGBT people feel safe,not as a way of dividing and seperating us from everybody else.
Fact you council do pay for it as i have a friend that works for mcc and hes told me fact that it is paid for by the council.
Nuff said.
Im not homophobic and wouldnt wish any 1 beating up.
I find it very hard to beleive that people have come up to your face and called you a queer or words to that effect and beat you up???does this happen on a regular basis??if it is id stop kissing your boyfriend or girl friend in public as its likely to carry on.
But i do not think it happens all the time,it might have happened once.
If theres trouble in the village as people have told me it is most likely to be the salfod thugs that used to run all the clubs doors of the straight clubs and now have started to target the canal st area.
On the issue of selling sex in the canal st sackville st area well thats the villages own problem and it up to them to sort it out.
On the lap dancing issue does it panic or scare the gay community.
redarmy, why should gay people only kiss their partners in private? if they all avoided public displays of affection because of a minority of violent meatheads then they would effectively be putting themselves back in the closet which is unacceptable. everyone has a right to live their own lives without fear of being beaten up. i'd say it seems canal street needs a higher police presence.
marc it doesnt bother me as im not homophobic at all,i was mearly suggesting that if it gets him beat then dont do it.
Fact i was walking to the shop in jan for a morning paper and lottery tickets and a guy bottled me from behind for no reason,resulting in a nasty cut.
Now fact that guy was straight and a loser so i do know that there is nasty people around.
The last place i lived my neighbour was gay and a real nice guy.
Im all for mixing and socialising with fellow human beings.
Call me what you will, but slipping women money just because they prance in all their glory in front of you is a bit shallow and base. Regarding the objections to being planned in a gay area, anti-discrimination has to work both ways to work at all.
It certainly does need a bigger police presence. A friend of mine and her then partner got deliberatly ran over in the village by some 'phobes a while back and also to help with the issue posted a while back about the young lads having to sell themselves to survive.
Redarmy...FACT it has happened on more than one occasion that people have called me a queer,faggot , and other names i wont even mention on this. I have been on the scene for 8years now , and the matter of homophobic people frequenting the gay village has increased in the past 18months. I was in a bar a few weeks ago , and went to the toilet , where two straight guys refused to let me leave and tried pushing me around. Acceptable? no , luckily i am not so feeble and just barged through them.
I am what i am , and under no circumstances will i stop kissing my boyfriend whilst in the gay village. I am not living my life in fear because of a small minority of small minded people.
Regarding the funding of Manchester Pride , as i previously said , the council give a small amount of funding (sponsorship)towards it, as well as the Village business ,and corporate sponsors. For information i think you will find this link usefull...
http://www.manchesterpride.com/questions/organisation
Red Army Rochdale, please tell your friend to contact the gay pride Office on Oxford Street as we would like to see his evidence that the council pay for the whole of Gay pride weekend.
I am tired of people like you state things on this forum without proof. Just because your friend works for MCC, it does not mean that he gets all the facts and figures.
In relation to the event, I have worked on this event for the last 5 years and I am straight, the whole event is built upon the village and the need for the village in cities like Manchester.
So you have been to the Lap dancing club in Liverpool, congratulations, it sounds like you have life membership, you mentioned that many times I hope you got a couple of free tickets, so you can go and enjoy yourself.